Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Inductees: Where's Rush, KISS?

From left, Alex Lifeson and Geddy Lee of Rush get a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame on June 25, 2010.

/ Getty Images

(CBS) When the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductees were announced this week, a couple of names were noticeably absent: Rush and KISS.

Guns N' Roses, Beastie Boys, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Laura Nyro, Donovan and The Small Faces are among the 2012 class.

Read more: Guns N' Roses, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Beastie Boys make rock hall cut

Rush has been eligible for more than a decade, but has been left out of the 296 inductees the Rock Hall has honored since its start in 1986.

The Canadian rock trio has sold more than 40 million records worldwide, and according to the Recording Industry Association of America, Rush is third after The Beatles and The Rolling Stones for the most consecutive gold or platinum studio albums by a rock band.

Rock Hall CEO Terry Stewart even believes Rush should get in. "They simply haven't gotten enough votes to make the ballot," he told Cleveland's The Plain Dealer back in April. "I can't tell you why. Based on impact, influence, innovation, and excellence, they're worthy. I think it's just a matter of time before it happens."

So, just how does the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame make its decisions?

It comes down to the more than 500 voters of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Foundation made up of music critics, historians and the like. Artists are eligible 25 years after the release of their first recording.

But still, a band like KISS, who has been eligible since 1999, is consistently overlooked. Other groups yet to be inducted include Jethro Tull, Hall & Oates, The Doobie Brothers, Chicago, The Cars, The Moody Blues and Yes, just to name a few.

The Rock and Roll Hall of fame induction ceremony will be held on April 14.

Tell us: Who do you think got snubbed?

[alspeed]

Guns and Roses? Really? My 2nd grade teacher gave everybody in class a gold star simply based on good attendance. I'm just sayin'. This is a clear cut case of the O-Needers (see "That Thing You Do") slippin' in through the back door. A mediocre band who did nothing to further the genre or leave any lasting impact. Any number of more deserving bands and performers still waiting for their shot at the podium. Hope this ain't a harbinger of what's to come, otherwise we're gonna be looking at plaques immortalizing Flock of Seagulls, A-Ha, Tiffany, Menudo and Bieber in the coming years. Minimum standards ain't a lot to ask, is it? Style does not equal substance. Never did, never will.

[garjen55]

Here are the top 30 vote-getters at:
http://www.rateitall.com/topic.aspx?topicid=2529&sename=deserving-of-the-rock-and-roll-hall-of-fame
Only Red Hot Chili Peppers, Guns n' Roses and Donovan made the Top 30.

1) Rush

2) Chicago

3) Yes

4) Deep Purple

5) Doobie Brothers

6) Moody Blues

7) Dire Straits

8) The Cars

9) Electric Light Orchestra

10) Jethro Tull

11) Pete Townshend (solo)

12) Heart

13) Journey

14) Steve Miller

15) Carole King

16) Styx

17) Kiss

18) Jim Croce

19) Peter Gabriel (solo)

20) Squeeze

21) Red Hot Chili Peppers

22) Supertramp

23) Stevie Ray Vaughan

24) Badfinger

25) Hall & Oates

26) The Guess Who

27) Foreigner

28) Guns N' Roses

29) Donovan

30) Cat Stevens

[VinceFromLaFlavour]

I completely agree with your list. There are a few people missing. For example, while Peter Gabriel certainly deserves recognition as a solo artist, so does Phil Collins - and so does Sting. For some reason, all of prog-rock is being ignored. They're obviously lumping the Moodys in with that crowd - although they couldn't get away with leaving out Pink Floyd and Genesis. From what I've seen, they're bound and determined that YES, ELP, Jethro Tull, and King Crimson get the shaft (they all deserve to be there). Additionally, none of the pop/rock bands who dominated both the charts or the concert venues are even nominated. Those are bands like Journey, Styx, REO, Cheap Trick, Foreigner, etc. Hall & Oates being left out is simply shameful. Same with Stevie Ray. Chicago and Cat Stevens are LEGENDARY. Cat has only been nominated once to my knowledge - Chicago not at all. KISS changed Rock & Roll - particularly with regard to the concert stage. Of all the bands and artists you've identified, I'm SO glad you placed RUSH at the very top of your list. NOBODY deserves to me in the Rock Hall more than those three guys. They have been both musically and lyrically relevant for DECADES - yet have never compromised ANYTHING for the sake of business or record sales. They've been appropriately recognized by everyone except the voting body that constitutes who gets into the Rock Hall, largely because many of the voters are current for former rock writers who never "got" Rush in the first place. Therefore, they're insulting the vast majority of the public by snubbing one of the most important rock acts in the history of the genre. I honestly believe it's the "Hall of SHAME". They have inducted many far more contemporary artists and overlooked their direct influences. I'm going to add just one more thing. The most overlooked and ignored genius & innovator - he's not even on YOUR very comprehensive list - is Todd Rundgren. While I think it's a positive endeavor (historically) to even have a Hall of Fame for Rock music, I think the "body of experts" who nominate and vote are absolutely shameful. Shame, shame, shame!

[chemaj]

THE SCORPIONS SHOULD BE THERE!!! I MEAN COME ON!! THIS IS BS!!! ALMOST EVERY BAND FROM BACK IN THE DAY WAS INSPIRED BY THE SCORPIONS EARLY HEAVY METAL!! GUNS N' ROSES IS GOING TO BE INDUCTED 2012 AND THEY ONLY HAVE ONE GOOD ALBUM!!! THE SCORPIONS HAVE AN AMAZING DISCOGRAPHY!!! THIS IS JUST STUPID!!! ITS BECAUSE THE ROCK N ROLL HALL OF FAME ARE FREAKING RACISTS!! THE "AMBASSADORS OF METAL" SHOULD BE THERE!!!

[Buck_Dharma]

You are exactly right chemaj. The Scorps should be in. See below for my other comments about the groups that should be in. Especially before the Dave Clark 5 and the Lovin' Spoonful.

[Buck_Dharma]

Whoops, didn't forget KISS...thought I did. But I know I forgot some others. How about Frampton and Iron Butterfly. Everybody I knew bought a copy of the In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida album. That song alone should get them in.

[Buck_Dharma]

Oh, I forgot KISS and Ten Years After. Not to mention Southern Rockers like the Outlaws and Blackfoot.

[Buck_Dharma]

The list of those who should be in the Rock Hall go on and on. Deep Purple, Jethro Tull, Rush, Boston, the MC5, the Stooges, Judas Priest, KISS, Moody Blues, Golden Earring, Wishbone Ash, Alan Parsons Project, Blue Oyster Cult, Ted Nugent, Grand Funk Railroad, Heart, Dire Straits, Spirit, Steppenwolf, Scorpions, Kansas, Shooting Star, Triumph, Robin Trower, .38 Special, etc. etc. I'm sure there are others I've left out. For example, you're telling me the Faces and Laura Nyro are more deserving of induction over Deep Purple, Rush, the MC5, Steppenwolf, or Blue Oyster Cult? Not hardly. These are rockers who have recorded such classics as Smoke on the Water, Highway Star, Working Man, Fly By Night, Kick Out The Jams, Poison, Born To Be Wild, Magic Carpet Ride, Don't Fear The Reaper, Burnin' For You, etc. etc. Basically, anyone who is a rock and roller knows the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame is a joke.

[Haw_Haw]

Guns N' Roses, Beastie Boys, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Laura Nyro (WHO), love it.

we know who rocks, and who doesnt! dont need some ballot THATS for sure!
no yes, no rush, lol, the HOF wont get ANY press if everyones in!

[jacs196405]

I hope that when RUSH gets nominated they tell the rock and roll hall of shame to stick it where the sun don't shine.

[Jason5168]

Something the R&R Hall of Fame is forgetting here: this is NOT a "hall of quality" or a "hall of Jann Werner's pets," it's a Hall of FAME. The Beastie Boys had ONE top 40 hit and they're in?

Meanwhile, we have people who have sold MILLIONS of records and sold out countless concerts who aren't NOMINATED, let alone inducted: Linda Ronstadt, the #1 female artist of the 70s; Steve Miller, who was Capitol Records' #1 act for three consecutive years in the 70s; the Moody Blues, who are selling out arenas today after 40 years (let's see the Beastie Boys sell out the front row of a venue the Moodies can pack); and yes, Rush and Kiss. I don't like either but like I said, it's a hall of FAME, and there are few bands more well-known (FAME, guys, FAME!!!) than Kiss and Rush.

As long as the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame continues to insult my intelligence by inducting such undeserving people like one-hit wonders (Beastie Boys) while ignoring the truly FAMOUS but not critically loved (one more time, it's a hall of **FAME**) I'll continue to bypass that exit in Cleveland.

[hkjonus]

Uh, say what you want about the costumes and makeup, KISS rocks ass!
Rush rocks brains! These 2 bands would be the first to get inducted into the Jonus Rock n Roll Temple of Gods. With so many people upset with the RRHOF in Ohio which is run by the music industry insiders, why dont we real rock fans get together and start our own Hall?