Awards shows can be a tiresome old thing. We sit for hours on end, watching celebrities be wheeled out one after the other to give carefully scripted introductory speeches, before handing awards to their celebrity mates, who give carefully planned, endlessly long speeches of their own, thanking everyone they've ever met in their decades of existence, before finally walking off with a gong that'll inevitably end up in a draw or on a toilet shelf somewhere.

Alright, maybe that's a little over the top - when done right, awards shows can be a legitimate and emotional way to pay tribute to our heroes - but whether it's an overly sanitised Brit Awards or a Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame that can't seem to go a year without pissing off a fanbase or two, it certainly feels like, for the most part, when it comes to awards, we've just seen it all before.

It's perhaps why legendary Rush guitarist Alex Lifeson decided to take matters into his own hands when Rush were inducted into the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame in 2013. The induction was widely accepted in the rock community as a huge victory for prog music, and a moment of vindication for a band who had often been treated snidely by certain corners of the rock media and fanbase.

This didn't stop Lifeson, however, deciding to undermine the whole shindig in the most hilarious way possible. Following warm, eloquent and heartfelt speeches by his Rush bandmates, bassist/vocalist Geddy Lee and drummer Neil Peart, the guitarist proceeded to spend no less than two and a half minutes 'blah blah blah'-ing into the microphone.

We're not being facetious. He literally spends his entire speech saying 'blah' in more ways that we ever thought possible, from imitating instruments to pretending to have a phone call and, most brilliantly of all, mocking the teary-eyed acceptance speeches of many an awards show gone by.

As it dawns on the star-filled audience that this isn't merely an opening gag, Lifeson's bandmates look on in amusement, and a ludicrous moment of Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame history is born.

Years later, Lifeson would comment on the speech, telling Rolling Stone: "Well, it just seemed like a good idea at the time. I had a speech written and I was trying to memorize it and I couldn't remember it. And I thought I might as well just [go] 'blah blah blah.' And I thought, 'Well, that's a good idea.' And so I thought it would tell the story of our history and how we got to that stage without using any words. And the interesting thing is that everybody remembers my speech."

Watch the iconic moment below.

This Saturday, artists including Bad Company, Soundgarden, The White Stripes and Joe Cocker will be inducted into the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame at a ceremony in Los Angeles.

The evening will be broadcast live from the Peacock Theater through Disney+. ABC viewers will be able to tune into a highlight package of the ceremony on January 1, with Hulu showing the ceremony from January 2.

Bad Company, Soundgarden, The White Stripes and Joe Cocker and joined in the Performer category by Chubby Checker, Cyndi Lauper and Outkast, while Salt N Pepa and Warren Zevon will be inducted via the Musical Influence category.

This year's Musical Excellence inductees are Thom Bell, Nicky Hopkins and Carol Kaye, while the 2025 Ahmet Ertegun Award goes to producer and music industry executive Lenny Waronker.

The ceremony will also see appearances and performances by artists including Elton John, Heart's Nancy Wilson, Pearl Jam's Mike McCready, Jerry Cantrell, Bryan Adams, Avril Lavigne, Mick Fleetwood, Beck, The Killers, Chappell Roan, Olivio Rodrigo, Tedeschi Trucks Band, Taylor Momsen, Twenty One Pilots and Red Hot Chili Pepper, Flea.

How to watch the induction ceremony

Disney+ have exclusive rights to show the Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame induction ceremony. If you've still to sign up to the popular streaming service, there's loads more to dig into if you pick up a subscription.

All the family-friendly Disney content you'd expect is here, but it's also home to the entire Star Wars universe, all the Marvel movies, series and shorts, Pixar, The Simpsons, National Geographic and the Hulu channel.

For music fans, you'll there's loads to dig into, including Peter Jackson's The Beatles: Get Back which sits alongside The Beatles' 1970 film Let It Be. There's also Thank You, Goodnight: The Bon Jovi Story, Elton John Live, the 2024 Beach Boys doc, Pam & Tommy, London music film Camden, Hip Hop Uncovered and more.

Disney+ subscriptions start from just $9.99/£4.99 per month for the Standard with ads tier and go up to Premium which comes in at $13.99/£10.99 per month.

Earlier this week, Bad Company's Paul Rodgers pulled out of appearing at this weekend's ceremony, with drummer Simon Kirke set to be in attendance to accept the award and will also perform.

Rodgers said: "My hope was to be at the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame induction ceremony and to perform for the fans, but at this time I have to prioritise my health. I have no problem singing, it's the stress of everything else. Thank you for understanding."

Rodgers added: "Simon, along with some outstanding musicians, will be stepping in for me - guaranteed to rock."

The evening’s entertainment will be shown on Disney+ from 5pm PT, 8pm ET and 1am BST.

The White Stripes, Soundgarden, Bad Company and Joe Cocker have been confirmed as members of the Class of 2025 at the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame.

OutKast, Cyndi Lauper and Chubby Checker will also be inducted during the ceremony, while late singer-songwriter Warren Zevon and pioneering rappers Salt-N-Peppa will be recognised in the Musical Excellence category.

Wrecking Crew bassist Carol Kaye, late Philadelphia soul legend Thom Bell and pianist Nicky Hopkins – who died in 1994 – will be recipients of the Musical Influence Award.

"Each of these inductees created their own sound and attitude that had a profound impact on culture and helped to change the course of rock'n'roll forever," says John Sykes, chairman of the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. "Their music gave a voice to generations and influenced countless artists that followed in their footsteps."

Improvisational jam band Phish, who won the fan vote convincingly, will have to wait at least another year to be recognised. Other acts to lose out included The Black Crowes, Oasis, Billy Idol, Joy Division/New Order, Mariah Carey and Maná.

The induction of Chubby Checker, which comes more than 60 years after his global smash The Twist made him a household name and nearly 40 years after he was first eligible for Hall of Fame recognition, is the latest example – in addition to Zevron, Bell and Hopkins – of posthumous awards being given to artists who could have been recognised while they were still alive.

The Class of 25 will be inducted during a ceremony at the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles on November 8. The events will be broadcast on Disney+.

Billy Idol is one of 14 artists long-listed for induction into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame this year, and, alongside the likes of Oasis, Soundgarden, The White Stripes, The Black Crowes and Joy Division/New Order, the artist formerly known as William Michael Albert Broad is currently a candidate for the Hall's public vote.

As ever, some artists are more bothered about receiving an invite into the Rock Hall than others, and Idol is very clear as to why he merits inclusion.

“Because I’m just fucking incredible!” he tells The Independent in a new interview. ‘It’s pretty amazing that I went from something like punk rock in England to mainstream success in the States. I was not only involved in punk, I became a big part of the ’80s New Wave. And then I carried on making the music, living the rock’n’roll life.

“I’ve also gone beyond what people expect, with things like cyberpunk,” he adds, referencing his 1993 album of that name. “I didn’t stay in my lane. I took chances. Even coming to America, I had no idea I was going to do really well. And the risks I took worked. All of that shows an enterprising spirit – a spirit of rock’n’roll.”

Artists become eligible for nomination into the 'prestigious' institution 25 years after the release of their first commercial recording. The shortlist of nominees will be revealed at the end of this month. Other artists on the long-list include Bad Company, Joe Cocker, Mariah Carey, OutKast, Cindy Lauper and Phish.

Idol is set to release Dream Into It, his first album of new music in over a decade, on April 25 via Dark Horse Records. The album features guest appearances by Avril Lavigne (on 77), Joan Jett (on Wildside) and Alison Mosshart of The Kills, on a song called John Wayne.

Speaking recently to Drew Barrymore on her talk show, Idol said, "Avril's just fantastic on 77, it was great working with her. With her on it, it got three times better."

The singer is going on tour with Joan Jett, who he first met at a Germs / Dead Kennedys gig, from April 30. His It’s a Nice Day To… Tour Again! trek will launch at the Talking Stick Resort in Phoenix Arizona.

Idol will return 'home' to the UK to play alongside Kraftwerk, Death Cult, The Damned, Public Image Ltd, The Jesus & Mary Chain, The The and more at the inaugural Forever Now festival at The National Bowl, Milton Keynes on June 22.

Forever Now is billed as a celebration of the "cultural phenomenon of the darker underbelly of creativity, from new wave to post-punk, psychedelia and alt-rock".

Earlier this week it was announced that Billy Idol, alongside Oasis, Soundgarden, The White Stripes and more, is on the longlist of nominees for induction into the Rock And Roll Hall of Fame this year. And it's fair to say that the British punk veteran is pretty chuffed by the news.

In a new interview with Vulture, Idol (born William Broad) admits that he's “knocked out” to be among the nominees, and all the more excited because he got to witness the pomp and circumstance of the occasion for himself last year, when he was one of the musicians paying tribute to Ozzy Osbourne following the Prince of Darkness' induction into the Rock Hall as a solo artist.

“My eyes were opened,” he admits. “It’s a bigger deal than I thought”

At the 2024 ceremony, Idol sang Ozzy's 1991 single No More Tears, the title track of the sixth solo album from the Black Sabbath frontman. Idol was backed on the night by an all-star band which included Metallica bassist Robert Trujillo, Red Hot Chili Peppers’ drummer Chad Smith, Ozzy's producer Andrew Watt, Adam Wakeman, and guitarists Wolfgang Van Halen, Steve Stevens and Zakk Wylde.

“Ozzy called me a rock-and-roll icon, and I was like, Whoa!”, Idol tells Vulture's Devon Ivie, reminiscing about the evening. “That’s exciting coming from him. One of the first gigs I saw was Black Sabbath. It was one month before their first album came out, and I was 12 or 13. Ozzy’s tassels were touching me at the front of the stage. So it was fantastic getting to honor him and induct him in with that performance. I enjoyed that big time.”

As to the possibility of being inducted in his own right this year, Idol tells Ivie that he would consider it “incredible”.

“A lot of people I really like or have been influenced by - John Lennon, David Bowie, Link Wray - are in there,” he notes. When I realized the extent of who’s in there whom I love, the idea that I could end up alongside them is an incredible honor.”

Read the full Vulture interview with Idol here.

Artists become eligible for nomination into the Cleveland, Ohio-based Rock and Roll Hall Of Fame 25 years after the release of their first commercial recording.

Also on the 2025 longlist are Bad Company, The Black Crowes, Joy Division/New Order, Joe Cocker, Mariah Carey, OutKast, Cindy Lauper, Chubby Checker, Mexican pop-rock band Maná and Phish.

Fans are now invited to cast their votes for the acts they deem most worthy of inclusion, with the shortlist of nominees to be revealed in April.

Soundgarden, Oasis, The White Stripes and Joy Division/New Order have been selected for the longlist of artists eligible for inclusion into the Rock And Roll Hall of Fame this year.

They're joined on the 14-strong list of nominees by Bad Company, The Black Crowes, Billy Idol, Joe Cocker, Mariah Carey, OutKast, Cindy Lauper, Phish and more.

Artists become eligible for nomination into the 'prestigious' institution 25 years after the release of their first commercial recording.

Fans are now invited to cast their votes for the acts they deem most worthy of inclusion, with the shortlist of nominees to be revealed in April.

On this day last year, Oasis frontman Liam Gallagher expressed his sentiments towards the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame when the Manchester band were nominated, writing on X, “Fuck the Rock n Roll hall of fame its full of BUMBACLARTS LG x.” When a follower suggested that the singer is already keeping "rock n roll alive", the singer responded, "You know it I don’t need some wank award by some geriatric in a cowboy hat."

In October, Ozzy Osbourne, Foreigner and Peter Frampton were inducted into the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame at the awards ceremony in Cleveland, Ohio.

On the night, Ozzy kept his speech mercifully short.

Speaking from a throne adorned by a vast pair of bat wings, the Prince Of Darkness said, "Well, here we are. You know what? I can’t believe I’m here myself. Let me get the thank yous out of the way, because I’m not going to bore you with a long, drawn-out fucking monologue. I’d like to thank whoever voted me into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame for my solo work. A great thank you. Thank you from the bottom of my heart. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you."

The Offspring doubt they'll ever be inducted into the Rock and Roll of Fame – but they admit it would be cool to get that kind of recognition.

The pop punk heroes say the fact they've never won any major awards in their long career, despite huge success in terms of chart positions and record sales, means the chances of the Rock Hall considering them at all is pretty unlikely.

But unlike a lot of other artists, they won't dismiss the Rock Hall as meaningless. In fact, they'd quite like to be included.

Guitarist Kevin 'Noodles' Wasserman tells Tuna On Toast: "So many great bands have been snubbed, it's almost kind of more elite to be in that club, it can be argued.

"I think would be a great honour to be in it, but I'm not gonna hold my breath."

Frontman Dexter Holland agrees, saying: "We've never won any awards. We haven't gotten a Grammy, we've never been on the cover of Rolling Stone, any of that stuff.

"So I don't know if that's on the cards for us. But I mean, sure, it'd be nice to be recognised."

As for the perception that the Rock Hall has diluted it's importance by including artists from musical genres other than rock and roll, Noodles says that argument doesn't make sense.

He adds: "I think rock and roll should be inclusive. Willie Nelson people think of him as a country artist. 'Doesn't he belong in the Country Hall Of Fame?'

"You know, screw that. He also writes great songs. He rocks in his own way. So does Dolly Parton, of course.

"There are all the hip-hop guys. Like when NWA was inducted, people came out of the woodwork for that. That's great. They're punk as hell. They were defiant. That's what rock and roll is all about – being defiant."

The Offspring will play a UK arena tour in 2025.

The Offspring UK tour dates 2025

Nov 10: Utilita Arena, Cardiff
Nov 14: The O2, London
Nov 15: Utilita Arena, Newcastle
Nov 16: AO Arena, Manchester
Nov 18: OVO Hydro, Glasgow

Former Foreigner singer Lou Gramm has revealed that the original band members were not allowed to perform a medley of hits at their induction into the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame this year.

In an interview with SiriusXM, Gramm says the organisers denied his request to perform a medley, and instead selected younger performers Kelly Clarkson and Demi Lovato – in addition to Sammy Hagar – to perform on their behalf.

"The thing for me is, I’m first and foremost a rock singer and it’s the Rock Hall of Fame," says Gramm. "Somehow, I couldn’t sing a rock song at the Rock Hall of Fame when I’m being inducted? It doesn’t make any sense to me, and it sticks in my craw."

Gramm, who fronted Foreigner for two stints, from 1976 to 1990 and again from 1992 until 2003, did appear at the ceremony during a performance of I Want To Know What Love Is, when he duetted with Clarkson.

During the interview, Gramm also shed some light on founding drummer Dennis Elliott's decision to shun the ceremony. It appears that Elliott, who was originally rumoured to have backed out because band members' spouses were reportedly not allowed to walk the red carpet before the show, had prior knowledge of the organisers' decision to sideline the founding members.

"I didn’t know sooner," says Gramm. "When I found out that’s why he didn’t come, I even got more angrier, but not at him. It was almost like there was a fast one being played. The Rock Hall insisted that 'time restraints' kept it from giving Foreigner a meaningful amount of time.

"We found out last minute that it was the ‘new Foreigner’ who was gonna be playing, and Rick and Al [original bassist Rick Willis and keyboardist Al Greenwood] would be standing there singing background vocals."

Fellow founding member Mick Jones, the band's longtime creative leader, did not attend the ceremony as he is battling Parkinson's Disease.

Official footage of Judas Priest's historic live performance at the 2022 Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame induction ceremony has been uploaded to YouTube to mark the second anniversary of the occasion.

The band – made up of singer Rob Halford, bassist Ian Hill, guitarists Richie Faulkner and Glen Tipton plus drummer Scott Travis – were joined on the night by former members guitarist KK Downing and drummer Les Binks, and performed truncated versions of three classics: Breakin' The Law, Living After Midnight and You've Got Another Thing Coming.

Before hitting the stage, Judas Priest were introduced by Alice Cooper, who described them as “the definitive metal band.”

After the performance, which celebrated Priest's entry into the Hall Of Fame via the Award for Musical Excellence category, Halford took to the mic to make a typically heartfelt speech.

"I'm the gay guy in the band," said Halford. "We call ourselves the heavy metal community which is all-inclusive, no matter what your sexual identity is, what you look like, or what you believe in or don't believe in. Everybody’s welcome.

"We should get out another 50 years, but the joy about music is that it lives forever. And that’s the reason why we're here. We live for heavy metal. We live for music. And we're living for the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame.”

Earlier this week, Judas Priest announced a run of dates in mainland Europe for next year. The band also play six Japanese shows next month. Full dates below.

Judas Priest: Invincible Shield tour dates

Dec 05: Nagoya Aichi Prefectural Art Theater, Japan
Dec 06: Amagasaki Amashin Archaic Hall, Japan
Dec 09: Okayama Performing Arts Theatre, Japan
Dec 10: Yokohama KT Zepp, Japan
Dec 12: Yokohoma PIA Arena, Japan
Dec 13: Tokyo EX Theater, Japan

Jun 14: Oslo Tjuvholmen Arena, Norway
Jun 17: Stuttgart Hanns-Martin-Schleyer-Halle, Germany
Jun 18: Frankfurt Hessentag Festival, Germany
Jul 01: Ferrara Summer Festival, Italy
Jul 03: Zurwich Hallenstadion, Switzerland
Jul 07: Lodz Atlas Arena, Poland
Jul 10: Rattvik Dalhalla, Sweden
Jul 13: Munich Olympiahalle, Germany
Jul 15: Carcassonne Festival De Carcassonne, France
Jul 17: Sion Sous Les Etoiles, Switzerland
Jul 19: Luxembourg Rockhal, Luxembourg
Jul 20: Oberhausen Rudolf-Weber-Arena, Germany

The UK Music Hall of Fame was a short-lived affair. Launched to great fanfare in 2004, it lasted less than four years before being quietly closed for lack of funding.

The inaugural event, held at Hackney Empire in East London, saw 10 artists inducted – two from each decade, from the 1950s to the 1990s – and the stars showed up: Madonna and Bono were both on hand to pick up their awards, while Priscilla Presley flew in to accept Elvis's.

In year two it was even bigger. The ceremony moved to the iconic Alexandria Palace in North London. Pink Floyd were inducted by The Who's Pete Townshend. Jimi Hendrix received a posthumous induction from Experience drummer Mitch Mitchell and then-Velvet Revolver man Slash. Bob Dylan was recognised by Hollywood star Woody Harrelson. And, over in the hard rock corner, Ozzy Osbourne and Black Sabbath were both inaugurated.

"Brian May inducted us," Tony Iommi wrote in his autobiography, Iron Man: My Journey Through Heaven and Hell with Black Sabbath. "There was a bit of a commotion about that, because Sharon wanted Angus Young of AC/DC to do it. I wanted Brian. Then she wanted Angus and Brian to do it together, but Brian just didn't want to do it that way.

"I'm glad he stuck to his guns. He wasn't going to do it and I had to phone him up and said: 'Please do it. Do it for me.' He came and made a great speech, absolutely fantastic. I was really proud of him."

In the end, Ozzy – the solo performer – was inducted by Angus and, as you might expect, the speech was less effusive.

"Angus Young said about three words about that," wrote Iommi. "Well, his first few words were: 'Hello, can you hear me? Can you hear me?' He's probably as good a talker as I am on those bloody occasions."

Black Sabbath's performance was notable for a couple of reasons. First, it would be the last time all four original members would play together onstage until 2025's Back To The Beginning blowout. And second, for something that happened during the short set, in which the band played the intro to Sabbath Bloody Sabbath before launching into Paranoid. Halfway through the latter, a cheeky grin creeps over Ozzy's face before he turns to face drummer Bill Ward, drops his trousers, and moons the audience.

Ozzy, who reportedly exposed his buttocks because the crowd weren't enjoying the music as much as he thought they should be, "stole the show with a bottom-baring performance," according to the BBC, who went on to say that he received a standing ovation at the song's climax.

Iommi, meanwhile, was less enthusiastic. "I've seen Ozzy's arse more times than I've seen my own," he said.

Ozzy Osbourne has been inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame, and while the Prince Of Darkness's contributions to the festivities may have been slender – he didn't perform, and delivered his brief acceptance speech while seated at a bat-themed throne – there's no doubt that the room was full of love for the former Black Sabbath man.

Jack Black said it best, inducting Ozzy with a fiery, passionate speech that referred to him as the "Jack Nicholson of rock" and ended with a plea to future generations of musicians and music fans.

"I’m talking to you 13-year-olds watching the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony," said Black. "All five of you put down your phones unless you’re watching on the phone, then put it closer to your face. Oh, man, rock aficionado is about to drop some truth. Sure, you could go stream Post Malone and Taylor Swift and get all the warm hugs you need for your broken hearts, or you can stay up all night and get your minds blown by Ozzy’s entire catalogue for the first time."

After Ozzy's acceptance speech, an all-star band assembled onstage to pay tribute to the great man, with a lineup including Metallica bassist Robert Trujillo, Red Hot Chili Peppers’ drummer Chad Smith, Wolfgang Van Halen, Andrew Watt, Adam Wakeman, Steve Stevens and Zakk Wylde.

Three different frontmen took over for Ozzy's vocal parts, with Tool's Maynard James Keenan taking the lead on Crazy Train, country star Jelly Roll doing the same on Mama I'm Coming Home, and Billy Idol singing No More Tears. Watch the performance below.

Ozzy's induction was his second, after receiving the same honour as a member of Black Sabbath in 2006. Other inductees at this year's ceremony in Cleveland included Peter Frampton, Foreigner, the Dave Matthews Band and the MC5.

Ozzy Osbourne has been inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame. And, unlike many of his fellow inductees, Ozzy kept his speech mercifully short.

Speaking from a throne adorned by a vast pair of bat wings, the Prince Of Darkness said, "Well, here we are. You know what? I can’t believe I’m here myself. Let me get the thank yous out of the way, because I’m not going to bore you with a long, drawn-out fucking monologue. I’d like to thank whoever voted me into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame for my solo work. A great thank you. Thank you from the bottom of my heart. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.

"My fans have been so loyal to me over the years, I cannot thank them enough. I’ve been fortunate over the years to play with some of the world’s greatest guitar players, drummers, bass players, and a few of them are here tonight. But I’ve got to say one thing for a guy by the name of Randy Rhoads. If I’d hadn’t have met Randy Rhoads, I don’t think I’d be sitting here now. And more than that, my wife Sharon. Saved my life. And my grandbabies and my babies. I love them all."

Ozzy then handed over to the live band, who included Metallica bassist Robert Trujillo, Red Hot Chili Peppers’ drummer Chad Smith, Wolfgang Van Halen, Andrew Watt, Adam Wakeman, Steve Stevens and Zakk Wylde. Three different frontmen filled in for Ozzy, with Tool's Maynard James Keenan taking the lead on Crazy Train, country star Jelly Roll doing the same on Mama I'm Coming Home, and Billy Idol singing No More Tears.

Jack Black's induction speech was as impassioned as you'd expect, with the Tenacious D star relating his first encounter with the Black Sabbath legend's music.

"I remember the first time I heard of Ozzy," said Black. "I was 13 years old, wandering around the record store. What should I get? Styx? Journey? An older rock aficionado noticed my indecision, and he said, “Stop fucking around, kid. This is the album you need to get, Blizzard of Ozz.”

"Man, was he right! Thank you, nameless rock aficionado, wherever you are, you changed my life. I remember looking at that album cover at Ozzy’s face before I even heard the music. I was transfixed. He looked so cool, that red-white suit with the white fringe on the sleeves, that crazy look in his eyes, the skull, the cross. Holy shit. The whole thing just looked so badass.

"It was the most metal thing I’d ever seen, and I didn’t even know what metal was. He was teaching me. I didn’t realize I was entering a whole new world of heavy metal music."

Ozzy's induction was his second, after receiving the same honour as a member of Black Sabbath in 2006. Other inductees at the ceremony in Cleveland included Peter Frampton, Foreigner, the Dave Matthews Band and the MC5.

This coming Saturday, Ozzy Osbourne, Foreigner and Peter Frampton will be inducted into the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame at a ceremony in Cleveland, Ohio.

The evening will be broadcast live from the Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse through Disney+, with Hulu showing the event the following day. ABC viewers will also get a chance to catch up on the night on a future date still to be announced.

Ozzy, who was previously inducted into the Rock Hall as a member of Black Sabbath in 2006, previously told Rolling Stone that actor and musician Jack Black would induct him, while it was also revealed Billy Idol, Maynard James Keenan and country artist Jelly Roll would perform vocals in an Ozzy tribute band.

They’ll be joined by long-time Ozzy guitarist Zack Wylde, Wolfgang Van Halen, Steve Stevens and producer Andrew Watt on guitars, Metallica bassist and Ozzy’s former solo band member Robert Trujillo will handle bass duties, Red Hot Chili Pepper Chad Smith will be on drums, and Adam Wakeman will be on keyboards.

The evening’s entertainment will be shown on Disney+ from 4pm PT, 7pm ET and midnight BST.  

How to watch the induction ceremony

Disney+ have exclusive rights to show the Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame induction ceremony live. If you've still to sign up to the popular streaming service, there's loads more to dig into if you pick up a subscription.

All the family-friendly Disney content you'd expect is here, but it's also home to the entire Star Wars universe, all the Marvel movies, series and shorts, Pixar, The Simpsons, National Geographic and the Star channel.

For music fans, you'll get access to Peter Jackson's documentary The Beatles: Get Back which sits alongside The Beatles' 1970 film Let It Be. There's also Thank You, Goodnight: The Bon Jovi Story, Elton John Live, the 2024 Beach Boys doc, Pam & Tommy, London music film Camden, Hip Hop Uncovered and more.

Disney+ subscriptions start from just $9.99/£4.99 per month for the Standard with ads tier and go up to Premium which comes in at $13.99/£10.99 per month.

Joining Ozzy, Foreigner and Peter Frampton in the induction's Performer category is Mary J. Blige, Cher, Dave Matthews Band, Kool & The Gang and A Tribe Called Quest.

The Musical Influence Award features Alexis Korner, John Mayall and Big Mama Thornton, while Jimmy Buffett, MC5, Dionne Warwick and Norman Whitfield will receive the Musical Excellence Award. Finally, the Ahmet Ertegun Award will go to Suzanne de Passe.

Upon learning of being one of the class of 2024, Frampton said: "This is something I never expected. I am overwhelmed that I will be inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, especially alongside so many incredible artists who have gone before me. I can’t thank everyone enough for voting for me. You are the best. Somebody pinch me please!"

The annual Hall Of Fame induction ceremony is a source of rancour as often as it is a celebration, and this year's event are set to be no different. Just days before the show at the Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse, Cleveland, Ohio, founding Foreigner drummer Dennis Elliott – who played on every album the band released between 1977's self-titled debut to 1991's Unusual Heat – has announced that he won't be going.

Writing on Facebook, Elliott pulls no punches, saying, "Don't look too hard, we will not be there. We were finally given the schedule last night, and it is not to our satisfaction. So we are staying home. We have been asking for this for weeks, and they have waited until the very last minute to send it knowing we were all packed and going to bed. Totally unacceptable to us. Hope you have a good time."

It's unclear which part of the schedule gave Elliott cause to withdraw, but sources in Cleveland tell Billboard that the problem may have arisen because the musician's spouses were not being allowed to walk the red carpet prior to the show, only the band members.

Just hours later, Foreigner posted a message of their own, naming those who would be in attendance - and it appears that founder and creative force Mick Jones isn't one of them.

"Foreigner is greatly looking forward to Saturday’s Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction ceremony," they wrote. "The band will be joined by Demi Lovato, Sammy Hagar, and Kelly Clarkson in a set celebrating the induction of the guys who started it all almost fifty years ago. Original members Lou Gramm, Al Greenwood, and Rick Wills will be there to accept the awards on behalf of the band’s leader and founder Mick Jones, drummer Dennis Elliot, and Ian McDonald and Ed Gagliardi who are no longer with us."

In February 2024, Jones revealed that he had been diagnosed with Parkinson's disease some years ago, citing this as his reason for not touring with Foreigner since 2023, and only sporadically in the years before that.

"I’ve always liked to be at my best when performing onstage, and sadly, at present, I find that a bit difficult," said Jones in a statement. "I am still very much involved in the background with Foreigner and remain a presence.

"Parkinson’s is a daily struggle; the important thing is to persevere and remind myself of the wonderful career I’ve had in music. I thank all the fans who have supported Foreigner throughout the years and continue to attend our concerts – I want you to know I appreciate your support; it always means so very much to me, but especially so at this point in my life."

As well as Foreigner, Ozzy Osbourne and Peter Frampton are among this year's Rock Hall inductees.

Ozzy Osbourne has revealed what to expect for his induction into the Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame later this month.

The Black Sabbath vocalist has told Rolling Stone that he’ll be inducted into the Rock Hall at the ceremony on October 19 by actor and musician Jack Black. Furthermore, Billy Idol, Tool frontman Maynard James Keenan and country star Jelly Roll will sing in a star-studded tribute band to the metal legend.

Rolling Stone also reports that longtime Osbourne guitarist Zakk Wylde, Wolfgang Van Halen, longtime Billy Idol guitarist Steve Stevens and The Prince Of Darkness’s producer Andrew Watt will play guitar at the ceremony. Metallica bassist Robert Trujillo, previously a member of Osbourne’s solo band, will man the low end while Chad Smith of the Red Hot Chilli Peppers will drum. Adam Wakeman, who’s worked with Osbourne since 2004 and handled live keyboards for Black Sabbath, will play keys.

Of Black, Osbourne says, “Jack invited my family to the School Of Rock movie premiere in 2002. I’ve always been a big fan of his. Jack is one of the few great actors that is also a genuine rock and roller and not acting the part.”

He adds, “Billy Idol is a rock icon. His music is timeless. Billy Idol should be inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame.” Plus, “Maynard has been a true family friend since 1997. He is such a creative force. There are few artists who can keep three successful bands going for multiple decades [Tool, A Perfect Circle and Puscifer].”

Osbourne also sings Jelly Roll’s praises, saying, “Who doesn’t love Jelly Roll? His voice is soulful, pure, and dirty. I’m so honoured that someone would do this for me who I’ve never had the pleasure of meeting.”

Regarding Trujillo and Smith, Osbourne tells Rolling Stone, “The rhythm section is the anchor of the band,” Osbourne says, “and you honestly couldn’t get a better rhythm section than Robert Trujillo and Chad Smith.”

Osbourne’s induction into the Rock Hall was confirmed in April. Foreigner, Cher, Peter Frampton and others will also be inducted this year. This year marked the first time Osbourne was eligible to join the Rock Hall as a solo artist, and he was voted in immediately.

It is currently unclear whether or not Osbourne will himself perform at his Rock Hall induction. The singer retired from touring last year as a result of health troubles, including Parkinson’s Disease.

Eric Clapton has some harsh words for the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame – despite being the only person to have been inducted three times.

The guitar icon was inducted as part of The Yardbirds in 1992, as a member of Cream in 1993 and as a solo artist in 2000.

Despite that unprecedented triple honour, Clapton believes he was suckered into ever getting involved in the first place.

He tells The Real Music Observer: “I think of it as a frat boys club that happened to lure me in."

Explaining how he was convinced to join, Clapton says the involvement of former Atlantic Records president and Rock Hall chairman Ahmet Ertugen was a key factor.

He adds: "I think the fact that they had Ahmet Ertegun was the ticket for me. He was doing it for people like Ruth Brown and the Drifters, all those early Atlantic artists that were being forgotten. And then, it just kind of started to snowball."

He says he was "suspicious" of Rolling Stone magazine Jann Wenner's involvement in launching the Rock Hall. But ultimately it's the names that haven't been inducted that prove to Clapton that the Rock Hall should be taken with a pinch of salt.

On J.J. Cale never being nominated, Clapton says: “The fact that someone like J.J. has never even been suggested is proof of what that thing is, or proof of what it isn’t. It’s not likely he’ll ever come up. It’s not their thing. I don’t know what their thing is. But he’s too anonymous for those guys."

Bad Company and Free singer Paul Rodgers not being inducted is another example Clapton points to. He adds: "He’s a rebel. It’s not a place for rebels. It’s establishment stuff."

The Kinks hero Dave Davies was shocked and saddened to find his Rock and Roll Hall of Fame trophy being sold for $12,500 on eBay.

The gong was listed on the website some time after it was found in a storage locker auction of the type made famous on TV shows like Storage Wars.

According to the listing, Davies had not paid the rental fees for the unit for more than a year, allowing the storage company to auction the unit off to the highest bidder.

The award changed hands multiple times before it ended up with its current owners, Colony Records.

Davies was stunned to see the trophy listed for sale and believes he may have lost track of the award around 2004 when he suffered a stroke.

In a post on X, he says the listing was made without his consent, adding: "This auction makes me very sad. I lost track of my award years ago and didn’t know where it was. If the person bought it at a storage unit it may have been around the time of my 2004 stroke when I was incapacitated in UK.

"I’m grateful to have made a full record from my stroke but it’s a shame that I wasn’t contacted. I’m assuming this is what happened.

"We’ve written to the seller and are waiting to hear back. I don’t want to have to pay 12 grand to get my own award back. But maybe we can work something out more reasonable."

The good news for Davies is that the sellers have since removed the listing and they have been communicating with him.

He says: "I have no problem with Colony Records, they bought it in good faith from a legitimate seller. It had changed hands many times. We are working something out so I can get it back when I’m done traveling. They have been very helpful and communicative."

The Kinks were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1990.

Jimmy Page made his first live appearance in 12 years with a surprise appearance at the 2023 Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame induction ceremony.

The former Led Zeppelin guitarist was part of a tribute to late rock’n’roll guitarist Link Wray, who was inducted into the Hall Of Fame at this year’s ceremony, held at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn on November 4.

Page appeared in a video tribute to the guitarist, who died in 2005, alongside Iggy Pop, the late Jeff Beck and The Band guitarist Robbie Robertson, who passed away earlier in 2023.

After the video finished, Page himself appeared onstage holding his iconic double-necked Gibson to play Wray’s signature song, Rumble. 

Page’s last appearance onstage was in 2011, when he made a guest appearance with Roy Harper at London’s Royal Festival Hall, duetting on the song The Same Old Rock. 

At the same ceremony, singer and guitarist St Vincent cover Kate Bush‘s Running Up That Hill (A Deal With God), in honour of the British singer, who was also inducted.

Bush did not attend the ceremony, instead sending a letter explaining her absence.

Bush wrote: “I’m afraid I won’t be able to attend the ceremony tonight, but for me the real honour is knowing that you felt I deserved it. The RRHOF has welcomed me into the most extraordinary rostrum of overwhelming talent.” 

The singer also paid tribute to Bernie Taupin, Elton John’s longtime lyricist, who received the Award For Musical Excellence.

“I poured over his music, longed to be able to play piano like him and longed to write songs that could move people in the way his work moved me. That little girl in South East London could never have dreamed she’d be sharing the event tonight with Bernie Taupin, Elton’s writing partner, an incredible lyricist who inspired me to keep writing songs – to keep trying. Congratulations Bernie! Congratulations to everyone who is being inducted tonight!”

John himself presented Taupin with the award, saying: “Our success story is what it is, you all know. Through the years we grew and we grew and we grew. We climbed mountains that we never thought were possible to climb, and we scaled heights that we never thought were possible to scale.

“And throughout that time, we never ever really had an argument. He was disgusted with my behavior, yes, that’s a given. But to this day, we are still growing as a partnership.”

Rage Against The Machine were also inducted into the Hall Of Fame. Guitarist Tom Morello told the audience: “The job we set out to do is not over. Now you’re the ones that must testif. If you’ve got a boss, join a union. If you’re a student, start underground paper. If you’re an anarchist, throw a brick. If you’re a soldier or a cop, follow your conscience not your orders. If you’re bummed out that you didn’t get to see Rage Against The Machine, then form your own band, and let’s hear what you have to say.”

The full list of artists inducted into the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame this year are Kate Bush. Sheryl Crow, Missy Elliott, George Michael, Willie Nelson, Rage Against The Machine and The Spinners.

Link Wray and hip hop pioneer DJ Kool Herc were inducted into the Musical Excellence category, while Bernie Taupin, Al Kooper and Chaka Khan were given the Award For Musical Excellence. 

On April 18, 2013, Rush were inducted into the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame, at a star-studded ceremony at the Nokia Theater in Los Angeles.

The band were inducted into the Rock Hall by Foo Fighters duo Dave Grohl and Taylor Hawkins, both self-confessed Rush nerds. In his speech, Grohl talked about his introduction to Rush in 1976 via a "cool stoner older cousin" who handed him a copy of 2112, an album he hailed as "heavy shit." He then pulled up a photo of the band in white kimonos and skin-tight 'pants' - "the most infamous band photo of all time" - and joked that, all these years later, the image of Alex Lifeson could still be found on 'CamelToe.org'.

"If you aren’t into Rush," Spin noted, "the speech is basically like Homer Simpson describing the merits of Grand Funk Railroad. If you are into Rush, this is a validation of your life."

As Rush took to the stage to deliver their acceptance speeches, one might have assumed that would be the end of the evening's 'banter'. Neil Peart thanked the group's road crew, co-producers, friends and family. Geddy Lee spoke of his "two really terrific partners" in the band, and spoke of "the privilege" of making music together. And then Alex Lifeson stepped to the podium, and spent over two minutes saying 'Blah Blah Blah" in a variety of ways, to audience reactions ranging from confusion to hilarity. 

His bandmates, smiling through somewhat forced grins, were not in on the joke. Their reaction afterwards? "They wanted to kill me," said Lifeson. "They were really upset."

The guitarist spoke about the incident in depth in 2019 to writer James McNair for the now defunct Planet Rock magazine. Asked if it was true that his bandmates had no idea of his plans, Lifeson admitted, "I didn’t know myself."

"We had a little rehearsal in the afternoon, just checking the teleprompter was working," he told McNair. "I was reading my speech and trying to memorise it - no easy task when you get to this age. In the end I thought, 'I should just get up and go blah, blah, blah or something.' And then it was, 'Oh my God! Do I actually have the balls to get up there and do that?' So, during the actual show when we were sitting at the table I leaned over to my wife to tell her my plan. Then somebody gave this very serious and grand speech and she was like, 'And you’re gonna blah, blah, blah?'

"I committed to it as I was walking up to the podium," Lifeson continued. "And, yeah, I did have a mischievous smile on my face, because I was thinking to myself, 'Al. You’re gonna do this.' All these people were getting up and giving these long-winded speeches, most of which were really fucking boring. I thought, 'Here we are in The Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame - isn’t rock supposed to be irreverent?'

"Geddy and Neil had no idea what was was going on. I think they were confused. I had my back to them and they couldn’t see that I was acting-out the whole story of  Rush and how we got there." 

Lifeson went on to explain that his bandmates didn't initially get the joke... but saw the funny side soon enough.

"They wanted to kill me," he recalled. "They were really upset. They were like, 'What is the matter with you? How could you do that after our heartfelt speeches?' Then the following day I got an email from Neil saying 'I owe you and apology the size of Texas. I am so sorry that I got upset. I’ve been inundated with emails from everybody I know saying, Wasn’t Alex’s speech great?’ So I was vindicated!"

Watch the speech below:

It's a pattern that repeats itself every year. The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame announces its nominees, and meltdown ensues. Some of it's about the overlooked (some deserving contenders, from Joy Division to Nick Drake, have been eligible for decades yet remain un-nominated), and some of it's about the perception that somehow the nominated artists aren't rock'n'roll enough. 

One artist who seems to agree with the latter group is much-loved country star Dolly Parton, who was nominated for this year's class of inductees in February. She initially expressed surprise at the decision – telling Billboard, "I’ve never thought of myself as being rock'n'roll in any sense of the word" – and now she's gone a step further and declined the nomination altogether.

“Even though I am extremely flattered and grateful to be nominated for the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, I don’t feel that I have earned that right,” Parton writes in a statement. “I really do not want votes to be split because of me, so I must respectfully bow out.”

She continues: "I hope the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame will understand and be willing to consider me again – if I'm ever worthy. This has, however, it has inspired me to release a hopefully good rock'n'roll album in the future, which I have always wanted to do! My husband is a total rock'n'roll freak and he has always encouraged me to do one!"

Parton then signs off with the phrase, "Rock on!"

While Parton's decision to step away in the wake of the undignified hoo-hah that followed her nomination is typical of her diplomacy, she wouldn't have been an entirely novel inductee: country legends Hank Williams, Johnny Cash and Brenda Lee are all in the Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame already, and the more recent inductions of hip hop stars Jay-Z and The Notorious B.I.G. confirm that the RARHOF continues to do what the RARHOF has always done: celebrate popular, influential musicians. 

Your mileage may vary when it comes to how well The Hall's organisers have managed this process – they've been accused of being unqualified gatekeepers, of being open to music industry lobbying, of ignoring public votes, and of perpetuating a selection process that's utterly opaque – but show us an awards show that doesn't generate controversy and we'll show you a ceremony no one is watching.  

Part of it is in the name. If the Hall were called the Popular Music Hall Of Fame, some of the bickering would subside overnight, and perhaps a switch is in order. It's a much more accurate description of what the Hall's job is and what it does every year, but the narrow-minded are drawn to the 'Rock & Roll' moniker like rubberneckers to a towering inferno, as if it's a restriction rather than an umbrella. 

And so it proves with every new set of nominees. The people who complained about Parton's inclusion this year would almost certainly have been bleating about The Coasters' nomination back in 1988, The Bee Gees in 1996, and Run DMC in 2009. 

Parton clearly did what she felt was most appropriate in graciously backing away from her own nomination, but her presence on the ballot was legitimate. She may not yet have made her "hopefully good" rock'n'roll album, but she's been a musical giant for decades and an influence on generations of musicians. 

And there's more: from her ongoing library programme for underprivileged children, to the various scholarships she funds, to her donations to the coronavirus research programme at Vanderbilt University that helped produce Moderna’s Covid-19 vaccine, she's a literal force for good.  

And that makes her way more rock'n'roll than most. 

The Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame Class Of 2022 will be announced in May, with the induction ceremony taking place later in the year.

This year's Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame induction ceremony has been postponed due to the coronavirus outbreak.

The annual event was due to take place at the Public Auditorium in Cleveland, Ohio, on May 2, with artists including Nine Inch Nails and  Depeche Mode, set to be enshrined.

However, the ceremony won’t take place as planned  due to the spread of the flu-like virus, with a statement from bosses saying: “The health and safety of our fans and visitors is our highest priority. 

“Given recent news regarding coronavirus and the urging by Ohio governor Mike DeWine regarding large public gatherings, we have made the decision to postpone the 2020 Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame induction ceremony and Induction Week festivities until later this year.”

The statement continues: “This week, Cleveland Mayor Frank G Jackson issued a proclamation of civil emergency with the goal of minimising the impact, severity and duration of COVID-19 as it spreads.”

Mayor Jackson added: “To me, the most important thing is minimising the impact of the coronavirus. County executive Armond Budish also issued a state of Emergency declaration yesterday that helped inform our decision.”

The Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame museum will remain open, while details of the rescheduled event will be announced in due course.

Nine Inch Nails and Depeche Mode will be joined in the Class Of 2020 by T-Rex, The Doobie Brothers, The Notorious B.I.G. and Whitney Houston.

Keep up to date with all the latest news on tour and show postponements and cancellations due to coronavirus on Louder’s dedicated hub page. This will be updated regularly with news as we get it.

The World Health Organisation have posted public advice in light of the spread of the virus which covers basic protective measures.

Metallica’s Kirk Hammett has spoken about Motorhead and Thin Lizzy missing out on induction into The Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame this year.

The guitarist was a guest on the Let There Be Talk podcast when the topic of the Rock Hall came up.

The guitarist said: “I really think that when things like that happen, it might be a generational thing where maybe some of the older people just don't get it. They just don't fucking get it. They don't see the range of influence and the impact and the inspiration that certain bands have. 

“They don't hear it because maybe they're part of a different generation and were told that vocals sung like that are bad. But they're not, they're just another type of vocal. And they believe recordings like that have no merit. Some of those Motorhead recordings are so beautifully raw.

“For those kind of people, Motorhead are a little bit of a bitter pill. And it could be a little better comprehended. I think that's the problem – it's merely a generational thing.”

Hammett adds: “I don't like saying that because I think if it's good music, it's going to transcend generations. But then, at certain times, people are just closed off from it from the get-go, for whatever reason. It's just one of those things that just happens."

As for Thin Lizzy missing out, Hammett says: “They were such a huge influence with me and all my fiends – and all the bands that were coming up at the same time we were – and they’re still not in The Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame! Again, maybe it’s generational, I don’t know.”

A total of 16 artists were nominated for The Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame, but this year, only six will be inducted: Nine Inch Nails, Depeche Mode, T-Rex, The Doobie Brothers, The Notorious B.I.G. and Whitney Houston.

The 2020 Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame induction ceremony will be held at the Public Auditorium in Cleveland, Ohio, on May 2.

Earlier today, The Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame announced that this year’s inductees would be Nine Inch Nails, Depeche Mode, T-Rex, The Doobie Brothers, The Notorious B.I.G. and Whitney Houston.

The decision means that artists including Judas Priest, Motorhead, Thin Lizzy, Soundgarden, MC5, Pat Benatar and Todd Rundgren, who were shortlisted, didn’t make it in.

And that’s drawn criticism from Judas Priest guitarist Richie Faulkner, who has called the decision “a total joke.”

Responding to one fan on Twitter, who was bemused by the final selection, Faulkner replied: “Doesn’t make sense does it? Hence why the Rock Hall holds no credibility for me and never has.”

He went on to say: “I’ve said it before but 50 years in and still making music, touring the globe to the best fans in the world is the biggest accolade I can think of. 

“These institutions are founded on what these guys helped create and to not be included is a total joke. I have spoken.

“If you wanna call it the Rock Hall, then you should start with a healthy foundation of rock – in all its forms – to build on. The founding brothers and sisters that created and developed our beloved style of music and aided its evolution. Otherwise, what does it mean?”

Judas Priest, who were also nominated in 2017, will kick off their 50th anniversary celebrations in Helsinki on May 30 and complete the first run of shows with a headline set at the UK’s Bloodstock festival on August 9. 

They’ll then head out across the UK and Europe with Ozzy Osbourne on his rescheduled dates.

The Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame have announced their Class Of 2020.

A total of 16 artists were nominated, but this year, only six will be inducted – and those are Nine Inch Nails, Depeche Mode, T-Rex, The Doobie Brothers, The Notorious B.I.G. and Whitney Houston.

That means there’s no space for Judas Priest, Motorhead, Thin Lizzy, Soundgarden, MC5, Pat Benatar, Todd Rundgren, the Dave Mathews Band, Kraftwerk and Rufus featuring Chaka Khan.

It’s also the very first time that the winner of the popular fan vote have failed to be inducted, with the Dave Matthews Band’s tally of more than 1 million votes having no impact on the final results.

The seven previous winners have all been inducted.

The 2020 Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame induction ceremony will be held at the Public Auditorium in Cleveland, Ohio, on May 2, 2020.

Last week it was announced that Motorhead had received their very first nomination for The Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame.

While fans were happy to see the band nominated for the Class Of 2020, only Lemmy, ‘Fast’ Eddie Carke and Phil ‘Philthy Animal’ Taylor were named, leaving out the rest of the musicians who played a part in creating Motorhead’s legacy.

Drummer Mikkey Dee told Billboard he thought it was “pure wrong” for Rock Hall bosses to exclude himself and guitarist Phil Campbell, saying: “We did 25 years out of the 40."

He added: “The original band lasted just a few years. They started it off, but as Lemmy said himself, they wouldn't have lasted another six months doing that lineup. 

“I don't think we would've been where we are today without the 25 years we spent touring.”

But after fans made their objections known, The Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame has now added both Dee and Campbell to the lineup – although they’ve stopped short of adding any other members of Motorhead.

A message on the band’s social media channels reads: “Thanks to everyone who spoke up loudly. Thanks to The Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame for listening and adding Phil and Mikkey. All for one and one for all!”

Motorhead were named alongside Judas Priest, Thin Lizzy, Soundgarden, T-Rex, MC5, Nine Inch Nails, Pat Benatar, Todd Rundgren, Depeche Mode, Dave Matthews Band, The Doobie Brothers, Kraftwerk, Whitney Houston, The Notorious B.I.G. and Rufus featuring Chaka Khan – who all have a shot of making it into the Rock Hall in 2020.

Fans once again have the chance to cast their vote in the annual fan ballot. For the first time, you can search Google for “Rock Hall Fan Vote” or “Vote” with any of the nominees name to cast your choice immediately.

Fans will be able to vote once a day through January 10, 2020, and pick up to five nominees per ballot.

The 2020 Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame induction ceremony will be held at the Public Auditorium in Cleveland, Ohio, on May 2, 2020, with the final selection of artists set to be announced early next year.

The Class Of 2019 was Def Leppard, The Cure, Stevie Nicks, Radiohead, Roxy Music, The Zombies and Janet Jackson who were all named in March this year.

Earlier this week it was revealed that Motorhead had received their very first nomination for The Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame.

The band were named alongside Judas Priest, Thin Lizzy, Soundgarden, T-Rex, MC5, Nine Inch Nails, Pat Benatar, Todd Rundgren, Depeche Mode, Dave Matthews Band, The Doobie Brothers, Kraftwerk, Whitney Houston, The Notorious B.I.G. and Rufus featuring Chaka Khan – who all have a shot of making it into the Rock Hall in 2020.

However, one point that has drawn criticism from some fans is the fact that if Motorhead do indeed get the nod for next year’s ceremony, only the lineup of Lemmy, ‘Fast’ Eddie Carke and Phil ‘Philthy Animal’ Taylor will be enshrined.

And it’s a point which former drummer Mikkey Dee has picked up in an interview with Billboard.

He says: “That is pure wrong, I would say – and I know Phil Campbell will be very disappointed, too. We've been carrying the flag for 25 years together, and actually brought Motorhead to what it was. 

“We did 25 years out of the 40. The original band lasted just a few years. They started it off, but as Lemmy said himself, they wouldn't have lasted another six months doing that lineup. 

“I don't think we would've been where we are today without the 25 years we spent touring."

However, Dee says that despite the personal setback, he’d be delighted to see the band given the recognition they deserve if they’re named as part of the Class Of 2020.

He says: “If anyone really deserves to be in that Hall Of Fame, it's Motorhead in so many ways because of the inspiration on thousands of bands. Even the biggest of the biggest have been so influenced by Motorhead and Lemmy. 

"It's the real deal. If you talk to Ozzy Osbourne, he thinks that Motorhead should have been in before Black Sabbath.”

And, should Motorhead be inducted, will Dee be at the ceremony?

“Absolutely,” he says. “I think that’s a must – Phil and me have to attend and play. It would be a real honour.”

The 2020 Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame induction ceremony will be held at the Public Auditorium in Cleveland, Ohio, on May 2, 2020, with the final selection set to be announced early next year.

The Class Of 2019 was Def Leppard, The Cure, Stevie Nicks, Radiohead, Roxy Music, The Zombies and Janet Jackson who were all named in March this year.

Rob Halford says he’s thrilled that Judas Priest have been nominated once again for entry into the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame.

The band were left disappointed when they failed to reach the Rock Hall in 2018 – but earlier today, it was revealed they’ll be in with a shout to make the Class Of 2020 after receiving their second nomination.

The Metal God tells Billboard: “It's just another thrill, again, to be nominated and so quickly because I know sometimes the nominations can get stretched out for quite a long period of time. 

“So to get another one so quickly is wonderful and another great moment for the Priest and for our fans.”

Priest were named alongside Motorhead, Thin Lizzy, Soundgarden, T-Rex, MC5, Nine Inch Nails, Pat Benatar, Todd Rundgren, Depeche Mode, Dave Matthews Band, The Doobie Brothers, Kraftwerk, Whitney Houston, The Notorious B.I.G. and Rufus featuring Chaka Khan – and Halford is happy that rock has been well represented in the list of 2020 nominations.

He adds: “There's always a tinge of controversy about the Hall, but the fact that Priest is here again speaks volumes about the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame respecting heavy metal music – especially British heavy metal music. 

“I’m so thrilled to be in esteemed company. We're very big friends of Scott Gorham from Thin Lizzy and equally with Phil Campbell and Mikkey Dee from Motorhead. 

“It's just an extra feeling to know that we're surrounded by our great friends in the music world."

Halford also says that if Judas Priest were to get the nod it would be “extra special” as 2020 marks the band’s 50th anniversary.

Fans can once again cast their vote in the annual fan ballot. For the first time, you can search Google for “Rock Hall Fan Vote” or “Vote” with any of the nominees name to cast your choice immediately.

Fans will be able to vote once a day through January 10, 2020, and pick up to five nominees per ballot.

The 2020 Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame induction ceremony will be held at the Public Auditorium in Cleveland, Ohio, on May 2, with the final selection set to be announced early next year.

Whitesnake frontman David Coverdale says he was delighted to see his friends in Def Leppard inducted into the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame.

The Sheffield outfit were enshrined in March along with The Cure, Stevie Nicks, Radiohead, Roxy Music, The Zombies and Janet Jackson.

And in a new interview with Scene, Coverdale, who is in the Rock Hall with Deep Purple, says: “I’ve known them since they started. They’re North Yorkshire and I’m South Yorkshire. If you don’t support your fellow Yorkshire guys, there’s a special place in hell for you. 

“Joe Elliott and I are in touch with each other every fucking day. If his mother could see the dirty filthy memes he sends me, it would make her toes curl, but I’ve been sworn to secrecy. We’re dear friends. 

“Last year, I was touring with Foreigner and Joe and the guys were out with Journey. We were all having great crowds. Nothing pleases me more than to see people I care about doing well.”

Whitesnake, meanwhile, will release their new studio album Flesh & Blood this coming Friday (May 10) via Frontiers Music srl on CD, CD/DVD Deluxe Edition, LP, Box Set, and on digital and streaming platforms.

The band have also just reissued their 1984 album Slide It In, with Coverdale previously posting a 10-minute unboxing video of the deluxe edition.

Whitesnake are currently on tour across the US and will return to Europe this summer for further live dates.

At a star-studded ceremony at the Barclays Centre in Brooklyn on Friday night, Def Leppard, Stevie Nicks, The Cure, Radiohead, Roxy Music, the Zombies and Janet Jackson were inducted into the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame.

Def Leppard were enshrined by Queen’s Brian May, while the band launched into a range of classic tracks and led a star-studded jam at the end of the evening.

Roxy Music reunited to play a six-song set – a performance which saw Bryan Ferry team up with Phil Manzanera and Andy Mackay for the first time since 2011.

Stevie Nicks was entered into the Rock Hall with her Fleetwood Mac bandmates in 1998, but this year she was inducted as a solo artist.

She took to the stage to sing Stand Back with guitarist Waddy Wachtel and was then joined by Don Henley for Leather And Lace. Nicks then performed Stop Draggin’ My Heart Around with Harry Styles – who inducted Nicks beforehand – before bringing the four-song set to a close with Edge of Seventeen.

The Cure were inducted by Nine Inch Nails frontman Trent Reznor, with Robert Smith – fresh from his viral red carpet soundbite with a TV presenter – giving a short acceptance speech in which he reflected on the band’s 40 years.

The current lineup then performed a set featuring Shake Dog Shake, A Forest, Lovesong, Just Like Heaven and Boys Don’t Cry.

Radiohead were inducted by David Byrne, who said: “They’ve both changed our idea of what popular music can be and how it can be released and marketed to us.”

Drummer Phil Selway and guitarist Ed O’Brien were the only members of the band to attend the ceremony - and didn't perform as a result – but took to the stage to acknowledge the accolade.

Selway said: “I’m beyond proud of what the five of us have achieved together, and I know that Radiohead wouldn’t have become what it is without the five of us.”

The Zombies were inducted after a speech by Susanna Hoffs from The Bangles, with the band, who had waited for 30 years to be recognised by the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame, playing Time of the Season, This Will Be Our Year, Tell Her No and She’s Not There.

Rod Argent and Colin Blunstone later joined the all-star jam which played Mott The Hoople’s All The Young Dudes, which also featured Ian Hunter.

Aside from being fucking awesome, what do Judas Priest, Iron Maiden and Motörhead have in common? That’s right: none of them have been inducted into the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame. At best, it’s a tricky fact to process. At worst, this is pure insanity. As a result, I do empathise with people that explode in hot pockets of sweaty rage when each new year’s Hall Of Fame inductees are announced and, with crushing inevitability, some of the biggest bands of all time – from any genre – have once again been overlooked in favour of, erm, Janet Jackson and The Cure. It’s almost enough to make us metal folk a bit paranoid about how our genre is perceived by the mainstream... and yet, don’t we know all of this already? 

I would argue that getting upset because the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame are ignoring the metal scene is an extraordinary waste of energy, and not just because we should expect nothing more from an organisation that has decreed that N.W.A. (inducted in 2016) and Joan Jett & The Blackhearts (2015 - name more than one song, I dare you!) are more deserving of acknowledgement for contributing to rock’n’roll’s evolution than Slayer or Megadeth. The most important reason to totally disregard the entire farcical enterprise is that the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame is a private, profit-making enterprise and in no way reflects the passions of real music fans, let alone metalheads.

Of course, there is always the argument that awards and trophies are basically just nice things and it would be churlish to say no to a bit of innocent praise from a lovely museum in Cleveland, Ohio. It’s certainly true that the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame organisation is not advocating genocide or selling heroin to children – so far, at least – but it’s not a fucking charity and they have never heard of Bathory. This organisation doesn’t exist to help struggling musicians or to “support the scene, man”. It’s about sticking established, routinely-venerated artists behind glass and charging people a fortune to press their noses up against it. 

Usually at the annual induction ceremony, lots of wealthy, bland, mainstream music industry people and desperately insecure musicians, who should almost certainly have more self-respect, will mingle and network, necking champagne and wanking each other off in an ever accelerating dance of soul-sapping, blank-eyed death before sloping off to the bogs for a massive line of self-satisfaction.  If that’s what metal is supposed to aspire to, I think I’ll cut my hair and become a monk. 

It’ll be different this year, of course, but the principle is the same. Unless you think receiving a pat on the head from a bunch of rich people who don’t actually like metal is something to aim for, the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame is manifestly not for you or your beloved subculture. As is so often the case, Iron Maiden’s Bruce Dickinson hit the nail on the head when he noted that "rock and roll music does not belong in a mausoleum in Cleveland. It's a living, breathing thing, and if you put it in a museum, then it's dead. It's worse than horrible, it's vulgar."

And worse than vulgar, it’s boring. Don’t get angry, just ignore it. It’s not for us.

Iron Maiden frontman Bruce Dickinson says if Iron Maiden were ever inducted into the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame, he’d refuse the invitation.

Dickinson hit the headlines last month when he said the Rock Hall was “an utter, complete load of bollocks.”

Asked by The Jerusalem Post about those comments and if he thought the band had been overlooked by the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame, Dickinson replies: “I was so annoyed with that coverage because they took my statement out of context to make it seem like I was upset that we weren’t in the hall of fame.

“I’m really happy we’re not there and I would never want to be there. If we’re ever inducted I will refuse – they won’t bloody be having my corpse in there.”

He adds: “Rock’n’roll music does not belong in a mausoleum in Cleveland. It’s a living, breathing thing, and if you put it in a museum, then it’s dead. It’s worse than horrible, it’s vulgar.”

The vocalist and pilot was also asked what he would pick if he had to choose between flying and singing.

Dickinson responds: “I would have to choose performing onstage. You only have to look out the window in the sky to figure out that there’s loads of people who can fly airliners pretty well.

“But there’s not too many people who can front Iron Maiden.”

Last week, Maiden announced they would bring The Legacy Of The Beast tour to the US, Canada and South America throughout 2019.

Tickets for the shows are now available.

Iron Maiden Legacy of the Beast Tour 2019
Jul 18: Sunrise BB&T Center, FL
Jul 20: Atlanta Cellairis Amphitheatre at Lakewood, GA
Jul 22: Charlotte PNC Music Pavilion, NC
Jul 24: Washington Jiffy Lube Live, DC
Jul 26: Brooklyn Barclays Center, NY
Jul 30: Philadelphia Wells Fargo Center, PA
Aug 01: Boston Xfinity Center, MA
Aug 03: Hartford Xfinity Theatre, CT
Aug 05: Montreal Bell Centre, QC
Aug 07: Quebec Videotron Centre, QC
Aug 09: Toronto Budweiser Stage, ON
Aug 10: Toronto Budweiser Stage, ON
Aug 13: Buffalo KeyBank Center, NY
Aug 15: Cincinnati Riverbend Music Center, OH
Aug 17: Pittsburgh PPG Paints Arena, PA
Aug 19: Nashville Bridgestone Arena, TN
Aug 22: Chicago Hollywood Casino Amphitheatre, IL
Aug 24: Indianapolis Ruoff Home Mortgage Music Center, IL
Aug 26: St Paul Xcel Energy Center, MN
Aug 28: Winnipeg Bell MTS Place, MB
Aug 30: Edmonton Rogers Place, AB
Aug 31: Calgary Scotiabank Saddledome, AB
Sep 03: Vancouver Pepsi Live at Rogers Arena, BC
Sep 05: Tacoma Dome, WA
Sep 06: Portland Moda Center, OR
Sep 09: Sacramento Golden 1 Center, CA
Sep 10: Oakland Oracle Arena, CA
Sep 13: Las Vegas MGM Grand Garden Arena, NV
Sep 14: Los Angeles Banc of California Stadium, CA
Sep 17: Phoenix Talking Stick Resort Arena, AZ
Sep 19: Albuquerque Isleta Amphitheater, NM
Sep 21: Dallas Dos Equis Pavilion, TX
Sep 22: Houston The Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion, TX
Sep 25: San Antonio AT&T Center, TX
Sep 29: Mexico City Sports Palace, Mexico
Oct 04: Rio de Janeiro Rock In Rio, Brazil
Oct 12: Buenos Aires Velez Sarsfield Stadium, Argentina
Oct 15: Santiago Estadio Nacional, Chile

Def Leppard frontman Joe Elliott says he’s taking nothing for granted after the band received their first Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame nomination yesterday.

The Sheffield outfit were named alongside Todd Rundgren, Stevie Nicks, Radiohead, The Cure, Rage Against The Machine, Roxy Music, Devo, Kraftwerk, the Zombies, MC5, John Prine, Rufus featuring Chaka Khan, LL Cool J and Janet Jackson.

Speaking with Billboard about their nomination, Elliott says: “You're looking at the likes of Todd Rundgren, Roxy Music and Devo, and it took them long enough to get a nomination, so I don't feel so bad now that we got overlooked when you see people like them – people I was out buying their records when I was 12 years old. So it's all right. It's kinda cool.”

Elliott reports that it’s not going to change his life one way or another, but adds: “Jon Bon Jovi has been telling me for at least 12 months that yes, it will.”

The vocalist adds: “I’m not gonna hold my breath because I know how this can go. Judas Priest didn't get in last year, and it's a big disappointment for them that they didn't. So I'm not taking anything for granted.”

The current Def Leppard lineup of Elliott, Rick Allen, Vivian Campbell, Phil Collen and Rick Savage have been listed, along with late guitarist Steve Clark and the band’s original guitarist Pete Willis – and Elliott says that if the band are inducted, it could give them the chance to reconnect with Willis.

Elliott says: “I really couldn't tell you how that's going to pan out. Would we welcome his company? Well, why not? If he's nominated, he's rightly nominated. He does deserve to be on the list.”

The winners will be announced in December, with the induction ceremony taking place at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, on March 29, 2019.

Def Leppard recently wrapped up a North American tour with Journey and will return to the UK and Ireland for a run of UK and Ireland dates in December, which will see the band revisit Hysteria.

Find a full list of dates and how to get tickets on our Def Leppard tour page.

The Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame has announced the nominees for the Class Of 2019.

It’s the usual mixture of artists from across the musical spectrum – we don’t agree with some of the names included, but then we never do – but one name stands out from the crowd this time around: Sheffield's Def Leppard, with the late, great Steve Clark and original guitarist Pete Willis listed. Well done, Hall Of Famers, wherever you may be. 

But what on earth took you this long? They’ve been eligible since 2005!

It’s about time Joe Elliott & Co. were given proper recognition for their years of hard graft. In fact, we're well past that point. Wars have been fought and won and fought again since they've been eligible. 

Not only have Leppard shifted millions upon millions of albums since they formed in the late 70s, they've entertained hundreds and thousands of fans across the globe, and were a key part of the NWOBHM, transforming the musical landscape and continuing to inspire artists to this very day. 

Unimaginable commercial success? Check. Influence on a generation of musicians? Check? Huge fanbase? Check. Check. Check. And they've done it all despite going through enough trauma to finish most bands.

It’s baffling why it’s taken this long.

Last year, we all got a bit excited when Judas Priest were nominated. Of course, they didn’t get in, despite being one of the biggest names in the business and a band set to celebrate their 50th anniversary in 2019. That’s 50 years, folks. Five decades of melting faces and thrilling crowds. Or is that not enough for the Rock Hall voters? It would appear not. 

And don’t get us started on why bands including Iron Maiden, Deep Purple, Motorhead, Jethro Tull and others aren’t already resident in the Hall Of Fame. 

Hell, even The MC5 aren't in, and they're the very embodiment of those important words in the Hall's name: Rock. And. Roll. Look it up in the dictionary. You'll find a picture of Wayne Kramer with his middle finger extended towards the camera. 

Many artists say they simply don’t care whether they get the nod, that it’s not important – but the fans care. We might pretend not to, but we care.

When our favourite artists – the ones we really care about and love, the ones whose t-shirts we proudly wear, the ones we travel hundreds of miles to see live – get mentioned, we want to see their achievements celebrated in the full glare of the world’s media. We feel part of something special. There’s a connection.

Remember the outpouring of joy from the army of raucous Rush fans when Geddy Lee, Alex Lifeson and Neil Peart were finally inducted in 2013? That's what we're talking about. Sheer, unadulterated delight.

Yeah, some bands have waited longer than Def Leppard to get even a whiff of recognition from the Rock Hall, but here’s a band that should have been in years ago. 

Let’s all keep ‘em crossed for Sheffield’s finest come December. 

Jon Bon Jovi says he’ll invite former members Richie Sambora and Alec John Such to Bon Jovi’s Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame induction ceremony.

The band have been eligible for the Rock Hall for almost a decade and finally got the nod yesterday, along with The Moody Blues, The Cars, Dire Straits, Nina Simone and Sister Rosetta Tharpe.

The ceremony will take place on Saturday, April 14, 2018, at the Public Auditorium in Cleveland, Ohio – with the band’s classic lineup of Bon Jovi, Richie Sambora, David Bryan, Alec John Such and Tico Torres named as the members who will be inducted.

And the vocalist says he wants everyone to share the moment onstage, including bassist Such who left in 1994, and guitarist Sambora who departed in 2013.

Bon Jovi tells USA Today: “I haven’t had the opportunity to hear from either of them but without a doubt, they both will be invited and asked to not only come and share it, but to perform.”

Sambora previously reported that he’d be open to playing with the band again should they be inducted – and he tells Trunk Nation: “Of course I’ll play. It’s so good to be recognised. It’s a thrill.”

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Bon Jovi says he’s “humbled” to be one of the class of 2018 after such a long wait, and tells USA Today: “I feel like everybody who was nominated should get in.

“I feel like making music is not easy and making records for 25 plus years is definitely not easy, so it’s hard to say that someone is in and someone’s out.

“The continued support of the public vote was something they put into effect after we didn’t get in the first time. We didn’t have the benefit of that last time we were nominated. To receive such overwhelming support from the fan base, we’re grateful for it.

“But then the 900 plus people who actually vote confirmed what the people said for so long and I’m humbled by it, we all are.”

The ceremony will premiere on TV network HBO and will be broadcast via SiriusXM, with further details to be announced in due course.

Bon Jovi: How the New Jersey album nearly killed the band

Guitarist Richie Sambora says he’s open to performing again with Bon Jovi at next year’s ceremony at the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame should the band be inducted.

Sambora and Bon Jovi parted ways in 2013, leading to a war of words between both camps that eventually settled down. The relationship between Sambora and frontman Jon Bon Jovi appeared to be on the mend after the singer invited the guitarist to do the ‘ice bucket challenge’ in 2014, with Bon Jovi later reporting that he had no bad feelings towards the guitarist.

And with the band among the nominees for next year’s Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame, Sambora was asked by Billboard if he’d be open to performing with Bon Jovi at the ceremony should they get the nod.

Sambora replies: “Sure. Of course, why not? There’s not a lot of malice there. I mean, there’s just… it was just time for me to leave at that point. So yeah, of course.”

Mulling over what songs the band could possibly perform should the occasion arise, Sambora says: “Livin’ On A Prayer would have to be one. Prayer is a song that has lived through the ages. It’s one of those songs that means more today than when we wrote it.

“When you’re a songwriter and you hit that note when everybody relates to it, and it becomes a part of humanity, for God’s sake. And you know, Wanted Dead Or Alive, obviously.

“With the Rock Hall, you have to almost sum up your life in three songs or so. That’s a really tough thing to do, something that the band would decide on.”

As for being on the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame ballot for the first time since 2011, Sambora says “it’s wonderful to be recognised” but adds: “I’m not counting my chickens before they’re hatched.

“I’ve been nominated before, so you never know what’s gonna happen. And looking at the list of nominees, there’s so many great people that I think should’ve been in already. Like the Cars and Dire Straits and everybody that’s up.”

Fans are able to register their vote at the official Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame website until December 5. The five artists who receive the most votes will make up a “fan’s ballot” that will help determine who makes it in.

Last month, Sambora released the five-track EP Rise with his partner Orianthi in their RSO project.

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Richie Sambora's 5 Essential Guitar Albums

Judas Priest frontman Rob Halford says it would be a “dream-come-true moment” if the band were to be inducted into the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame next year.

The veteran UK outfit were named on a shortlist of nominees for the 2018 ceremony yesterday – the first time they’ve appeared on the ballot despite being eligible since 1999.

And Halford says the fact they’ve finally been nominated helps to “chip away” at the prejudice that has traditionally surrounded heavy metal.

Halford tells Billboard: “This is our Oscars. When the nominations come up and the inductions come up, you often wonder what it would feel like if you were able to be onstage at that moment, making an acceptance speech and particularly having the pleasure to be in the company of all the other musicians and industry people.

“So, yeah, if we do get in it will be an absolute dream-come-true moment. Fingers crossed.”

He adds: “I’ve often talked about metal being the underdog. We remember the times through the punk and New Wave moments when it was proclaimed that heavy metal was dead, it didn’t stand a chance of surviving, that it was Neanderthal music that had limited scope and wasn’t very intelligent and all those bad things.

“I still don’t understand the kind of pushback that we still have to bump up against now and again, but this recognition by the Hall Of Fame helps to slowly chip away at that kind of stereotype.

“The metal dog is wagging its metal tail, which is a great feeling. We do deserve this.”

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If they are inducted, former guitarist and Priest co-founder KK Downing could be one of the names enshrined into the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame. He left Priest under a cloud in 2011 after spending more than four decades in the band.

But Halford says if they do get the nod, he’d welcome a reunion with the guitarist.

He says: “Everything’s on the table for anyone that’s been associated with Priest in and out of the band. It’s going to be an absolutely spectacular night, should we be inaugurated.

“I think it’s now time to start cracking the metal whip and vote, vote, vote! I shall be going into my politician mode shortly!”

For the sixth year running, fans are able to register their vote at the official Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame website until December 5. The five artists who receive the most votes will make up a “fan’s ballot” that will help determine who makes it in.

Judas Priest are currently working on the follow-up to 2014’s Redeemer Of Souls, which is expected to be released in 2018 and accompanied by a run of tour dates.

They were recently confirmed as headliners for next year’s Bloodstock festival in the UK.

Judas Priest Quiz

Megadeth leader Dave Mustaine thinks it’s only a matter of time before he’s inducted into the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame.

His old band Metallica were inducted in 2009, but Mustaine wasn’t one of the names on the list, with James Hetfield, Lars Ulrich, Kirk Hammett, Robert Trujillo, Jason Newsted and the late Cliff Burton getting the nod.

But Mustaine insists he’s “basically in” because of his involvement with the band in the early 80s – but now wants in on his own merit.

He tells The Columbus Dispatch: “I’m basically in there with the Metallica thing – that was basically just a diss those guys pulled. But it would nice to be in there on my own two feet.

“I’m sure at some point it will happen. You can’t create a whole frickin’ music style and not be recognised for it.”

Megadeth picked up a Grammy for latest album Dystopia in the Best Metal Performance category earlier this year – the first time they’ve won despite being nominated 12 times.

And reflecting on the win, Mustaine says: “As crazy as I am, I was thinking about the Grammy the other day and how it was given to Megadeth.

“I was thinking it would surely be a lot better if it was given to Dave Mustaine and not to Megadeth. I guess you’ve got to keep the fire burning.”

Last week, Mustaine revealed that Megadeth would get get together towards the end of this year to start “throwing some ideas around” for their next record.

The band will head back out on the road next week for shows in the US. They’ll then head back across to Europe for a run of live dates including sets at Wacken Open Air and Bloodstock.

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Megadeth 2017 tour dates

Jul 13: Oshkosh Rock USA, WI
Jul 14: Bridgeview Chiago Open Air, IL
Jul 15: Cadott Rock Fest, WI
Jul 28: Kuopio Rockcock Festival, Finland
Jul 29: Kuopiorock, Finland
Jul 30: Stockholm Grona Lund, Sweden
Aug 01: Oslo Sentrum Scene, Norway
Aug 02: Copenhagen Store Vega, Denmark
Aug 04: Wacken Open Air, Germany
Aug 06: Lokeren Lokerse Festival, Belgium
Aug 08: Milan Carroponte, Italy
Aug 11: Alicante Leyendas Del Rock, Spain
Aug 13: Walton On Trent Bloodstock Festival, UK
Aug 15: Tilburg 013, Netherlands
Aug 17: Zurich Komplex 457, Switzerland
Aug 18: Wilburgstetten Summer Breeze Festival, Germany
Aug 19: Hamburg Elb-Riot, Germany

How Megadeth's Peace Sells... turned four thrash metal kids into superstars

Since it was established in 1983 by Rolling Stone magazine founder Jann Wenner, the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame has largely kept progressive rock at arm’s length. The organisers’ sniffiness has meant that just a handful of prog bands and artists have been inducted over the years: Frank Zappa (1995), Pink Floyd (1996), Genesis (2010), Rush (2013) and Peter Gabriel (2014).

There are some glaring omissions – King Crimson, ELP, Jethro Tull – but one name stands out: Yes. As one of the genre’s founding fathers and band who did more than any to popularise prog, their absence was grating.

All that changed this year when the band were finally accepted into the Hall Of Fame via a public vote. Controversially, the institution’s complex rule system meant that of the 17 people who have officially passed through the band’s ranks, just eight were eligible: Jon Anderson, Steve Howe (who was interviewed for this piece, but subsequently asked for his quotes not be used), Trevor Rabin, Bill Bruford, Alan White, Tony Kaye, Rick Wakeman, and, posthumously, Chris Squire. That meant no place for founding guitarist Peter Banks, vocalist/producer Trevor Horn or current members Geoff Downes, Billy Sherwood or Jon Davison.

The issue was clouded further by the fact that there are two incarnations of Yes in existence – the Yes led by Howe and Alan White, and the version featuring Anderson, Rabin and Wakeman called, until recently, ARW.

The Hall Of Fame was a chance for both halves to come together and potentially settle their differences. As with most things involving Yes, the reality proved to be more complicated…

Jon Anderson: It started about 15 years ago, when I was on tour with Yes. Management at the time kept saying, “We’re going to get you in the Hall Of Fame.” I said, “[Shrugging] OK…” And this went on for about four years, and I said, “Forget about it – don’t even talk about the Hall Of Fame until it happens.” Of course, it took its time.

Rick Wakeman: There have been so many musicians that deserved induction and were dead before it happened. Jon Lord is an example – Deep Purple got in so late. And when Yes suddenly get inducted, and Chris had died the year before – the only solid guy throughout the entire history of Yes – that made me angry. I said, “I’m not going. I feel that’s an insult.” Then I got the message back that they were going to induct him posthumously. Then I went, “OK. If you do that then I’ll turn up.”

Geoff Downes: Was I unhappy about not being inducted? No. Had it been maybe two or three years ago when Chris was alive, I’m sure myself and Patrick [Moraz] and a number of others – maybe Trevor Horn – would have been inducted. But I’m not upset.

Billy Sherwood: It’s no secret that Yes is political as hell – it’s always been that way. It seems to be that’s one of the things that drives the engine. It should be a reality TV show.

The current and past members of Yes convened in New York the day before the induction ceremony. Given the band’s turbulent history and the sometimes strained personal relationships, there was the potential for tension between the two camps.

Jon Anderson: We met the night before. We were staying in the same hotel as the other Yes. There were smiles and “Hi!”s and things like that.

Rick Wakeman: Were we cordial? Depends what you mean by cordial. Did we laugh and joke and muck around? No. Were we polite to each other? Yes.

Alan White: I basically haven’t fallen out with anybody, I don’t think. We were talking together in different ways. I think we just got on with, it was something we got to do together, and I felt good about the evening.

Rick Wakeman: It was nice to see Alan, who had been really ill. It was nice to chat with him. Then you get into the real nitty gritty of getting together to rehearse…

Trevor Rabin: The sad thing is that there were really no real rehearsals. There was a lot of posturing and crap going on, and I could have done without all that stuff.

Jon Anderson: Steve wasn’t the most – what’s the word? – affable person. He can be a little bit stubborn. So I went over and shook his hand: “How you doing Steve?” And he was, like, [reserved] “Hello.” OK, I’ll just get on with it and have fun…

The induction ceremony itself took place on April 7 at the 19,000-capacity Barclays Centre in Brooklyn, New York. Other inductees included Pearl Jam, Journey, ELO, Joan Baez and rapper Tupac Shakur, but the eyes of all prog fans were on Yes.

Geddy Lee (induction speech): It’s not overstating things to say [Yes] changed the way I played and listened to music forever. So here we are, decades later, and the music of Yes is still echoing down through the years, showing me that music truly is a continuum.

Geoff Downes: I liked Rush’s induction speech. When Geddy Lee was inducted [in 2013] he said he thought it should have been Yes.

Jon Anderson: I was so nervous. I’m generally not nervous onstage at all, but when I got onstage to speak my nerves kicked in. I was in a state, actually. All I wanted to do was get up and sing.

Steve Howe (acceptance speech): Fame is fickle for many people, and some may long to bask in its glory. Others merely attempt to gain notoriety for their musical endeavors. Well, since music speaks long after its creation, this service has a payment for those with the respect for those who are no longer with us today. Allowing those to remain, to shine a light on all those who contributed to those such great ideas and melodies and lyrics and arrangements and direction with this Yes music.

Billy Sherwood: I thought Steve’s speech was really eloquent. I thought he spoke the most about what the essence of Yes really was.

Alan White: Steve is a little bit more serious about Yes music. With his guitar, he’s almost religious about it. Rick’s speech? It depends whether you want to listen to music or dirty jokes…

While the rest of the band members gave speeches that were heartfelt and respectful, Wakeman launched into a stand-up comedy routine that included gags about wanking, erectile dysfunction and prostate examinations.

Rick Wakeman: Joan Baez’s speech was great, and it was lovely to see Jeff Lynne and Roy Wood together. And then it all started to get a bit boring. I looked around and nobody was listening. Everybody was talking and drinking champagne. I thought, “This is ridiculous.”

Jon Anderson: I said to Rick, “Are you going to tell any jokes?” And he said, “I don’t know, it’s such a big audience, it might not go down well.”

Rick Wakeman: It was actually our manager and agent who went, “Go on” at the table. And we got on the stage and Trev went, “Go for it.” So I thought, “Sod it” and went for it.

Jon Anderson: Rick started off and the audience were going bananas. Why not have humour? It’s called fun.

Jon Davison: Rick’s speech had everyone cracking up. We were all at our banquet tables and not really expecting that, it threw everyone for a loop. He had some startling references. It was obvious he was making a statement.

Alan White: Obviously it’s going to appeal to certain people, whereas certain stalwart fans didn’t like the fact that he did that amongst all the serious Yes music.

Billy Sherwood: Oh boy. I would have really liked to hear more about Yes, to be honest.

Not everyone in Yes loved Wakeman’s speech. In a subsequently deleted blog post, Geoff Downes accused Rick Wakeman of “making a prick of himself”, while Billy Sherwood criticised the keyboard player for not leaving time for Chris Squire’s widow Scotty, who had joined the band onstage, to speak.

Rick Wakeman: That was totally not true. They programme who can speak and who can’t. And the programme for who could speak was Jon and Trevor, Steve, Alan and myself. Bill [Bruford] was not programmed to speak. But we wanted Scotty onstage with us, and if you listen at the end I did craftily try to get her up to the mic. I said, “Welcome Chris’ wife Scotty…”, but the Hall Of Fame weren’t having any of it. So unfortunately that’s a classic example of somebody not knowing facts.

Billy Sherwood: I made a personal comment which sometimes I like to do. But it wasn’t nasty or anything about anybody’s skill-set or personality. I just said what I felt: that I’d have liked to have heard more about Chris and Yes.

Geoff Downes: I thought maybe Chris should have had more of a mention in there. But these things are spur of the moment. People maybe just forgot about saying anything important about him. That’s the only thing I was disappointed about. Chris being such an essential part of Yes – he was not really honoured in as equal a way as some of the other people.

Jon Davison: We’re trying to take the high road. They’ve taken a lot of public stabs at us. We’ve tried to maintain some dignity, and of course that weekend everybody was together and emotions were running high. I think Geoff and Billy flipped a bit there, but they were apologetic to the fans about that. We quickly removed those statements and we’re trying to move forward.

Yes put aside their issues for a two-song performance that saw Anderson, Wakeman, Howe and White sharing a stage for the first time since 2004. For Roundabout, they were joined on bass by Geddy Lee, while Owner Of A Lonely Heart saw Steve Howe swapping his guitar for four strings and ended with Rick Wakeman strapping on a key-tar.

Trevor Rabin: It was a little weird, but some of those guys are not the guys we worked with. So it was a bit contrived, musically.

Geoff Downes: I thought the band played well, it was good to see Alan back up there cos he had his back surgery some time ago and he seems to be getting back on course. Seeing Steve play bass on Owner… was pretty interesting – he plays very good bass actually. It was a nice event.

Trevor Rabin: It was trying to glue two different elements together. And the glue wasn’t sticking very well. I think it would have been great if we’d all got there with the right vibe and really rehearsed properly.

Jon Anderson: We wanted Lee Pomeroy to play bass on Owner. It’s funny, he wasn’t allowed to because he was already playing for ELO that night. So Steve said, “I’ll play bass.” “Oh, OK, that’s cool…”

Geoff Downes: I think it would have been nice if Billy [Sherwood] had played; he was up for doing it. He’s a very talented guy and it was Chris’ wish that he continued with the band. But I understand the reasons that prohibited him.

Billy Sherwood: There was a question about me playing bass but it didn’t work out and I’m cool with that. I was happy just to be a part of the event.

Inevitably, that wasn’t the end of the matter. Two days after the Hall Of Fame induction, the ARW camp announced they were changing their name to Yes Featuring Jon Anderson, Trevor Rabin and Rick Wakeman, meaning there are now two bands trading under the Yes name.

Jon Anderson: There was a lot of talk about going out as Yes when we started, but I said, “I don’t want to confuse anybody. We’ll go out as ARW to find out who we are musically and how it’s going to work.”

Trevor Rabin: After the very first tour, management started saying, “We are inundated with people saying why are you playing all the Yes stuff but you don’t call yourself Yes? Jon was the guy who started the band.”

Jon Anderson: I do get a lot of mail on my Facebook page: “I went to see Yes and you’re not there any more.” That’s been going on for years now. Yesterday I was shopping and somebody came up and said, “So you’re touring with Todd Rundgren?” And I said, “No, that’s not me, that’s the others.”

Rick Wakeman: People get confused as to which is which. At concerts, fans hold up signs saying, “You are Yes.” We had the same thing with ABWH.

Jon Anderson: You should not confuse the fans. You should say who you are. We’d said, “You should go out as Yes featuring Steve, Alan and whoever is in the band and we’ll go out as Yes featuring us three,” and they declined. That was before the actual Hall Of Fame.

Geoff Downes: They’re perfectly entitled to call themselves whatever they want to call themselves. We’re focusing on what we’re doing and that’s all we can do. We wish them well. We’ve got no axe to grind. We hope they succeed. They may have something against us. If they do that’s their problem, not ours.

Jon Anderson: Would the two parties come together? Your guess is as good as mine. If it’s going to happen, it’ll happen, and it should happen in the best of ways. If the band went out and said who they are and not fool the public, life would be much easier for them.

Trevor Rabin: I can only speak for myself, but I have personally no interest in it. You’d have to ask Jon or Rick, but I certainly wouldn’t.

Rick Wakeman: There’s too much water under the bridge. There’s a lot of issues that will never be made public because there’s no point. Do I ever see a rapprochement? Absolutely not. I can bet my life on it.

What happens next is anyone’s guess. While both parties are legally entitled to use the Yes name, the band’s fractious history would suggest there may be stormy waters ahead.

Rick Wakeman: There’s a couple of Bucks Fizzes out there. I think there’s about 826 Drifters. There’s nothing wrong with two Yeses.

Alan White: The internal politics with the band are such that we’re both allowed to use the name really so… that’s the reason we’re going ahead and doing this. I’m just carrying on what I started doing 45 years ago.

Rick Wakeman: I’ve always said all along, I don’t care what they do. They’re fully entitled to do whatever they like. It makes no difference to me. I have no idea what they’re doing, where they’re playing. It’s of no interest to me. Why would I look at them and go, “Oh, it’s a rival band out there”? They’re not a rival band. They’re another lot out there playing Yes music, same as we are. We’re just doing it our way and we’re very happy with what we’re doing, so why the hell should I worry about it? Good luck to them.

Billy Sherwood: Would I go see them if they came to town? I would if I was free! Sure. I’m a Yes fan. In 2017, the more Yes, the merrier. As long as it’s done with integrity and the delivery system is sound, no harm done.

Jon Anderson: Somewhere, Chris Squire is having a good laugh at all this! He’s loving every moment!

Beyond and before: What the future holds for Yes

Sepultura's Andreas Kisser pays tribute to his prog heroes Yes

Yes, Journey, the Electric Light Orchestra, Pearl Jam and Joan Baez were among those inducted to the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame this year.

Yes, who were joined on stage by Geddy Lee on bass in place of the late Chris Squire, were welcomed to the HOF by the Rush duo of Lee and guitarist Alex Lifeson. And although Rick Wakeman had threatened he “might be busy that night” due to resentment over how long it had taken Yes to gain admission to the HOF, he attended the star-studded ceremony in New York.

Before they played a version of Roundabout, with Jon Anderson returning to the group for the first time since 2004, Lee said he was helping to “right a wrong” by inducting Yes into the Hall Of Fame, while Lifeson spoke of playing Yes songs such as Starship Trooper and Yours Is No Disgrace in his bedroom as a boy, declaring: “Yes helped give me the gift of music.” Yes also performed the Trevor Rabin-era hit single Owner Of A Lonely Heart.

Wakeman’s hilariously bawdy acceptance speech, which included quips about prostate exams and spotting his father at a strip club, created uproar at the ceremony, although one person who was less than amused was Billy Sherwood, the current touring bassist of Yes, who took to social media to declare: “I would rather have heard about my dear friend Chris than a bunch of toilet humour,” adding that he had been waiting to hear from Squire’s widow Scotland and daughter Xilian, both of whom were present on the stage, “but alas Wakeman told too many jokes”.

During the build-up to the ceremony, Sherwood also said: “For the record, I’m not playing [at the induction], as requested by the A, the W and the R. You would need to ask them why.”

The aforementioned A (Anderson), W (Wakeman) and R (Rabin) have of course been on the road together (and have just announced that they will now go by the name Yes Featuring Jon Anderson, Trevor Rabin, Rick Wakeman). So it was no surprise that Steve Howe, a member of the current official Yes line-up, said there was little chance of both bands’ members joining together for a Union-style celebration of Yes’s 50th anniversary in 2018.

“Before we can take on board ideas, there must be a good line of communication,” said the guitarist, “and as far as I understand, Anderson, Rabin, Wakeman aren’t really interested in doing this – and we’re most probably not really interested in doing this either.” Howe concluded: “I’d say don’t hold your breath.”

As the induction drew near, conjecture grew over the possibility of Journey being joined by their former singer Steve Perry. In the end, Perry attended the ceremony and gave a touching speech, praising the “magic fingers” of guitarist Neal Schon and thanking current singer Arnel Pineda for keeping the band’s music alive, although he didn’t perform. Perry also buried the hatchet with manager Herbie Herbert by expressing gratitude for bringing him into Journey in 1977 and also thanked his “long-time attorney, Lee Philips”. Journey keyboard player Gregg Rolie, inducted with Santana in 1998, had his second induction into the HOF (Schon missed out on this honour), and along with the current line-up and former drummer Aynsley Dunbar played on Separate Ways, Lights and, inevitably, Don’t Stop Believin’.

Pearl Jam were inducted by TV host David Letterman after Neil Young, who was supposed to do their induction, fell ill. As well as performing with former drummer Dave Krusen for the first time in a quarter-century, Eddie Vedder spoke passionately from the stage: “Climate change is real – this is not fake news.” They performed Alive, Given To Fly, Better Man and ended with Young’s Rockin’ In The Free World joined by Lee, Lifeson, Schon, Rabin, Jonathan Cain and Dhani Harrison, son of George Harrison, who earlier had inducted ELO.

ELO leader Jeff Lynne, who paid homage to Chuck Berry with a cover of Roll Over Beethoven, told the HOF audience: “It’s such a pleasure to get one of these. It’s like my dad said – everything comes to him who waits.”

Lenny Kravitz performed with a full gospel choir for his tribute to Prince with a version of When Doves Cry, following it with a dramatic cover of Prince’s Sign O’The Times song The Cross.

Veteran folk-rock singer-songwriter and activist Joan Baez, now 76, admitted that most young people “would have no clue who I am”, laughing as she added: “My [own] granddaughter had no idea until I took her backstage to a Taylor Swift concert”. During a version of Swing Low, Sweet Chariot she even appeared to offer an olive branch to her country’s controversial president as she sang: ‘I saw a band of angels, and they were coming to carry you, me, us, even Donald, home.’

Others honoured on the night included producer Nile Rodgers, who received the Award for Musical Excellence, and the late rapper Tupac Shakur.

Rush's Alex Lifeson and Geddy Lee to induct Yes into Rock & Roll Hall of Fame

Nirvana, Deep Purple, Bowie get Grammy Hall Of Fame nod

Former ELO drummer Bev Bevan has confirmed that he won’t attend the band’s Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame induction ceremony next month.

The event will take place at Brooklyn’s Barclays Center in New York on April 7, where Bevan, Jeff Lynne, Richard Tandy and Roy Wood will be honoured for their work with ELO.

But the drummer has prior live commitments meaning he can’t make the trip – and reports he would have loved to have seen his old bandmates again.

Bevan says in a statement: “Unfortunately I will not be able to attend ELO’s induction into the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame due to the fact that I am on tour in the UK with another great friend of Jeff, Richard and Roy’s – the legend that is Jasper Carrott.

“These dates have been sold out for some time and when the news broke about our induction it was too late to change them. It would have been fantastic to meet up with Roy, Jeff and Richard again.

“I would also like to mention a few other names that I think should be recognised as part of what made ELO so magical – in particular Mik Kaminski, Hugh McDowell, Melvyn Gale and the late Kelly Groucutt.”

Bevan says he’s honoured at the accolade and adds: “Especially when I see the names of the inductees over the years. Many are my heroes, some I have had the honour to meet and others the privilege to share a stage with.

“I have been incredibly fortunate to have had a life in the music business from my first band Rocking Ronnie & The Renegades to Black Sabbath and all the bits in between, including The Move, Denny Laine & The Diplomats, Carl Wayne & The Vikings, Quill, ELO, the Brum Rocks concerts, Stand Up & Rock and more.

“It has been a blast and I still get a buzz every time I walk out on stage.”

The drummer adds: “However, I would like to add that without the support of the record buying and concert going public, my great career could never have happened. So a huge thank you goes out to everyone who has ever purchased a record that I played on or been to any of the concerts.”

ELO will be inducted into the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame along with Pearl Jam, Yes, Journey, Joan Baez, Tupac Shakur and Nile Rodgers.

Meanwhile, Jeff Lynne’s ELO have a handful of UK dates planned for this summer. Find a list of the shows below.

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Jeff Lynne’s ELO 2017 UK tour dates

Jun 21: Sheffield Arena
Jun 24: London Wembley Stadium
Jun 28: Glasgow SSE Hydro
Jul 01: Hull KCOM Stadium

Electric Light Orchestra: Where Are The Former Members Now?

Pearl Jam have invited former drummers Matt Chamberlin, Dave Abbruzzese and Jack Irons to their Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame induction ceremony.

The trio were not among the lineup named by the Rock Hall, with only founding member Dave Krusen and current drummer Matt Cameron to go in with vocalist Eddie Vedder, bassist Jeff Ament, and guitarists Stone Gossard and Mike McCready.

But in a letter posted on Facebook, Pearl Jam report that with all three playing their part in the band’s history, it was only right to invite them to be part of the celebrations.

The letter reads: “With the date of the Hall Of Fame event coming up, it is just now sinking in what it means to us.

“While awards and accolades are understandably subjective and a countless number of our peers have yet to be honoured, we do feel fortunate to be recognised and provided the opportunity to reunite with everyone who has been part of the group.

“Specifically the drummers who all left their distinctive mark on our band in the pre-Matt Cameron years.

“Dave Krusen, Matt Chamberlain, Dave Abbruzzese and Jack Irons are each individually great players who gave their all to the early recordings and live gigs.

“Looking forward to seeing them and all the other musicians on the bill. Have to say, wish Bad Brains’ H.R. and Jane’s Addiction’s Perry Farrell were gonna be there too. If nothing else, it makes us feel lucky and appreciative of the nod.”

Last year, Abbruzzese – who joined in time to tour in support of debut album Ten and went on to appear on Vs and Vitalogy – voiced his anger at being snubbed.

He said: “The members of Pearl Jam have got to know what’s the right thing to do. They can’t justify ignoring my contributions. Like me or not.

“It there is still a part of that band that remembers how hard we worked, how much blood and how much sweat… they will do the right thing.”

Pearl Jam will be inducted into the Rock Hall at Brooklyn’s Barclays Center, New York, on April 7 along with ELO, Yes, Journey, Joan Baez, Tupac Shakur and Nile Rodgers.

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Rush’s Geddy Lee and Alex Lifeson have been asked to induct Yes into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. The ceremony will take place on April 7 at Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York.

Yes, described by the Rock Hall as “the most enduring, ambitious and virtuosic progressive band in rock history,” will be joined by fellow inductees ELO, Joan Baez, Journey, Nile Rogers, Pearl Jam and Tupac Shakur. It’s also been announced that Neil Young will induct Pearl Jam, while Jackson Browne will induct Joan Baez.

“Rush was definitely influenced by Yes,” says the Rock Hall’s Todd Mesek, “and the two groups are both seminal prog-rock bands, so it’s a natural fit to have Rush welcome in Yes as fellow inductees.”

In 2013, late Yes bassist Chris Squire suggested that Rush would be a good choice if the opportunity arose, telling Los Angeles radio station K-Earth 101, “I haven’t given it much thought, maybe those Rush guys who got in last year! I’m pretty good friends with Dave Grohl and Taylor Hawkins (of the Foo Fighters), and they did a great speech for Rush… so probably not them, since they just did one. But if you know Geddy (Lee), let him know that that would be fine by me.”

Forget Yes – the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame still hates Prog

Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame bosses have confirmed that Journey won this year’s public vote for induction in 2017.

Neal Schon’s band, who’d led the poll from the start, finished ahead of the Electric Light Orchestra, Yes, Pearl Jam and The Cars.

It doesn’t guarantee entry into the Rock Hall – the vote only counts as one in over 600 ballots. But every band who’s won the poll since it began four years ago have gone on to be inducted.

The Hall Of Fame say: “You voted. We tallied. We’re proud to present your official fan’s ballot group. Each artist who made it into the top five spots will receive an extra vote in the overall Class of 2017 Induction vote thanks to you.”

The induction announcement is to be made tomorrow (December 20). If Journey are included it will lead to increased speculation on the chances of a reunion with classic-era singer Steve Perry.

Current frontman Arnel Pineda said last month that he hoped victory would lead to a meeting, adding: “I’m hoping to at least shake his hand. I haven’t had the chance for the past nine years.”

Pineda won’t be inducted if the band win. “It’s only for the originals,” he’s said. “I’m okay with that.”

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Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame public poll 2016

1. Journey
2. Electric Light Orchestra
3. Yes
4. Pearl Jam
5. The Cars

Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame nominees 2017

Bad Brains
Chaka Khan
Chic
Depeche Mode
ELO
The J Geils Band
Jane’s Addiction
Janet Jackson
Joan Baez
Joe Tex
Journey
Kraftwerk
MC5
Pearl Jam
Steppenwolf
The Cars
The Zombies
Tupac Shakur
Yes

Ronnie James Dio, Lemmy and Randy Rhoads will be among the first stars to be inducted into the newly-formed Hall Of Heavy Metal History.

The organisation’s inaugural event takes place at the Anaheim Expo Center in Anaheim, California, on January 18 and will be hosted by Eddie Trunk.

Proceeds from ticket sales will be donated to the Ronnie James Dio Stand Up And Shout Cancer Fund.

The other six artists to be inducted are Rudy Sarzo, Frankie Benali, Ross ‘The Boss’ Friedman, Vinny Appice, Don Airey and President of Sabian Cymbals Andy Zildjian.

Dio’s widow Wendy will accept his prize, while the Rhoads family will be there to accept Randy’s award. A special guest is being lined up to accept Lemmy’s award.

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Hall Of Heavy Metal History President Pat Gesualdo tells TeamRock: “We are speaking to a few people right now about Lemmy’s induction and we will shortly announce who will be there to accept his award.

“This event is something the fans have been wanting for a long, long, time. As a non-profit organisation, we are also dedicated to working with Wendy Dio and the Ronnie James Dio Stand Up And Shout Cancer Fund.”

A range of ticket options is available now from the official website.

Former Black Sabbath and Rainbow frontman Dio died from stomach cancer in 2010. Motorhead icon Lemmy passed away late last year, also from cancer. And Ozzy Osbourne guitarist Rhoads died in 1982 in a place accident while on tour.

Ronnie James Dio: In Celebration Of An Icon

The Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame have extended public voting for next year’s induction, after it was claimed that the poll had been hacked.

After having drawn more than 850,000 votes over the past six weeks, a sudden spike saw more than 500,000 more votes added to the total – with Journey leading the race, ahead of ELO, The Cars, Yes and Pearl Jam.

Tracking site Future Rock Legends, which analyses the Rock Hall’s output but is not affiliated to the organisation, claimed that the increase was “not normal.”

The suggestion led to speculation that the poll had been hacked, as it was in 2015 when up to 100million votes may have been artificially added.

Journey tweeted: “Don’t know what happened but this appears to have been hacked. We were 5k in lead, now 2k.”

But the Hall Of Fame exec Todd Mesek told Cleveland.com: “There was no over-voting. The votes that were released were being held to make sure we could validate their authenticity.

“We made the decision to release these votes to the public website at one time.”

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Future Rock Legends asked: “What kind of polling operation holds onto 40% of votes for a month, then releases them all at once with little explanation?”

The poll, which was to close on December 5, will now end on December 15. Fans are allowed to vote once a day, every day, until then.

The public vote does not guarantee induction, but is counted towards the poll of Rock Hall affiliates, who must deliver their decisions by December 16.

Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame nominees 2017

Bad Brains
Chaka Khan
Chic
Depeche Mode
ELO
The J Geils Band
Jane’s Addiction
Janet Jackson
Joan Baez
Joe Tex
Journey
Kraftwerk
MC5
Pearl Jam
Steppenwolf
The Cars
The Zombies
Tupac Shakur
Yes

Readers poll result: Iron Maiden for the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame

Journey’s Jonathan Cain says Steve Perry should perform with them if they get the final nod for the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame induction.

The band have been shortlisted alongside Yes, Bad Brains, Pearl Jam and Depeche Mode among others. Inductees will be announced in December with the induction ceremony set for next April at Brooklyn’s Barclays Center.

Keyboardist Cain says they’d welcome the former vocalist, who left in 1998, back for a performance at the ceremony.

He tells The Pulse Of Radio (via Blabbermouth): “The door’s always been open for him to join us any time he wanted. I mean, that has to happen. That band has to play. They have to play their music – two songs and I think we get to do two or three. That’s how it works.”

But Cain also admits he thinks it’s “wrong” that current singer Arnel Pineda wasn’t invited by the Rock Hall – and he says they’ll lobby for his inclusion if they’re inducted. Deep Purple were involved in a similar tug-of-war over Rock Hall’s lineup selection earlier this year.

He tells Billboard: “I don’t think it’s fair. There is no Journey without Arnel right now. He certainly has earned his stripes.

“He’s been with us longer than any lead singer has consecutively stayed in the band. He’s given us 10 years straight, not running off or doing this, doing that, just being The Guy. So that’s worth something.”

Rumours of a classic lineup reunion were sparked last year after drummer Deen Castronovo was fired amid a domestic violence incident, and the band brought back Steve Smith. But guitarist Neal Schon said: “Steve Perry does not want to return. It’s a hard gig.”

Perry had also said his tenure with Journey was over, adding that “it had run its course” – though Pineda says he’d stand aside to let the singer reclaim his “righteous place.”

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Journey tour dates 2016⁄2017

Nov 19: Scottsdale Talking Stick Resort, AZ
Feb 01: Osaka Prefecture, Japan
Feb 06: Chiyoda Nippon Budokan, Japan

The Top 10 Best Journey Songs

When the longlist of nominees for the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame 2017 was announced earlier this month, it prompted a predictable outcry. For every Yes, Journey, ELO and Pearl Jam who made list, there were a dozen glaring omissions – no Motörhead, Mötley Crüe, Iron Maiden or Jethro Tull. And that’s just the tip of the iceberg.

We decided to settle the debate as to which band should have been included on the list of Hall Of Fame nominees by asking the experts – you.

The votes flooded in in their thousands, and the bands you voted for ranged from rock’s original grandmasters such as Free, Jethro Tull and Slade to young(ish) bucks like Soundgarden and Kyuss. But there was only one clear winner…

Iron Maiden.

It’s easy to see why. At a time when most bands are thinking of cashing in their pensions and winding down, the British metal giants are bigger than ever in every way, from the crowds they pull to the epic scale of last year’s The Book Of Souls album. And with all due respect to Joe Tex, The Zombies and Tupac Shakur, how many other bands have their own plane, beer and monster?

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There was a strong showing for some of the other bands too, not least prog icons Jethro Tull and King Crimson, plus British mainstays Judas Priest, Free and Status Quo.

The top 10 bands you wanted to see in the Hall Of Fame are:

Iron Maiden
Jethro Tull
King Crimson
Judas Priest
Status Quo
Blue Oyster Cult
Free
Styx
Slade
Def Leppard

Let’s hope the organisers are listening in 2018.

Iron Maiden Quiz: Somewhere In Time

Jane’s Addiction frontman Perry Farrell says the band’s nomination for the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame came about thanks to Foo Fighters’ leader Dave Grohl.

Earlier this week, Jane’s Addiction were confirmed as one of the nominees for next year’s event, along with artists including Yes, Pearl Jam and Bad Brains.

And Farrell reports that Grohl tipped him off about the news before it became public knowledge – and that the Foos’ man had a helping hand in their inclusion.

Farrell tells Eddie Trunk: “I’m very excited about it. When I heard about it, I was on the phone texting, but my feet were clapping.

“Just recently, Dave Grohl had a fundraiser for his children’s school and he invited me to participate. When I was there, he took me in the corner, and said, ‘Hey, man, I just want to let you know something. I’ve been working with the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame – and I got you on the ballot. I hope it all goes well.’

“And that’s when I heard about it and really got excited. So it was a great weekend.”

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Meanwhile, guitarist Dave Navarro says he’s excited by the thought of entering the Rock Hall – but doesn’t want to look too far into the future in case it doesn’t happen.

He tells Billboard: “We’re super excited, but it’s hard to talk about because it’s a nomination. The jury’s still out. It’s very much an honour and we’d love to be in the Hall – but we don’t want to jinx it.

“We’re a three-time Grammy-nominated band that has never won – and here we are now with another nomination. It’s hard to pull the trigger of excitement just yet, but we’re secretly psyched to be nominated.”

Navarro says the company they’re in on the list is “pretty spectacular” and adds: “They’re all bands that I either grew up with or grew up listening to. So it’s a pretty big deal for me to see the MC5, the Cars, Journey, Pearl Jam and Jane’s Addiction all being mentioned.

“It’s pretty surreal. And ELO, I think that’s a slam-dunk. I don’t think they should even bother nominating ELO, they should just be in and let everyone figure out who else gets in.”

The fan vote is now open at the Rock Hall website.

Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame 2017 nominees

Bad Brains
The Cars
Chaka Khan
Chic
Depeche Mode
Electric Light Orchestra
J. Geils Band
Jane’s Addiction
Janet Jackson
Joan Baez
Joe Tex
Journey
Kraftwerk
MC5
Pearl Jam
Steppenwolf
Tupac Shakur
Yes
The Zombies

Forget Yes – the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame still hates Prog

18 Bands Who Should Be In The Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame But Aren't

Former Pearl Jam drummer Dave Abbruzzese has called on the band to “do the right thing” after he was left out of their Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame nomination.

He was fired in 1994 after three years with Eddie Vedder and co. He’d joined in time to tour in support of debut album Ten and gone on to appear on follow-ups Vs and Vitalogy, notching up songwriting credits before being replaced by Jack Irons.

Original member Dave Krusen and current man Matt Cameron are the only drummers to be named in the band’s nomination for the class of 2017. Abbruzzese, Irons and earlier sticksman Matt Chamberlain aren’t included.

Abbruzzese says via Facebook: “The members of Pearl Jam have got to know what’s the right thing to do. They can’t justify ignoring my contributions. Like me or not.

“It there is still a part of that band that remembers how hard we worked, how much blood and how much sweat… they will do the right thing.”

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The band have recognised their nomination via a brief statement on their website which reads: “Pearl Jam was nominated to join the Rock And Roll Hall of Fame along with fellow 2017 nominees Tupac Shakur, Depeche Mode, Electric Light Orchestra, Jane’s Addiction, and more.

“Cast your vote at rockhall.com/vote. You can vote once per day between now and December 5, 2016. Voting results will be announced in December and the induction ceremony will take place in April in New York City.”

2017 is their first year of eligibility as Ten marks its 25th anniversary.

Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame nominees 2017

Bad Brains
Chaka Khan
Chic
Depeche Mode
ELO
The J Geils Band
Jane’s Addiction
Janet Jackson
Joan Baez
Joe Tex
Journey
Kraftwerk
MC5
Pearl Jam
Steppenwolf
The Cars
The Zombies
Tupac Shakur
Yes

18 Bands Who Should Be In The Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame But Aren't

Can the tide finally be turning? Is the genre that once dared not speak its name in polite society now officially being recognised by the gatekeepers of the pantheon of greats?

Back in 2013, after years of lobbying from their ferociously loyal fanbase, Rush were finally inducted into America’s Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame, suggesting a thawing of the venerable institution’s apparently icy attitude towards prog, and perennially ‘unhip’ artists in general. Not before time, it seemed – prior to that, the only prog artists allowed into to this most exclusive of cabals were Pink Floyd and Genesis, and you can’t help thinking that the latter only got in on account of their yuppie-era 80s success.

But now, after two previous appearances on the ‘long list’ of nominees and prominent positioning in many a list of ‘notable omissions’, Yes are poised perilously close to the Hall Of Fame entrance door. Their name is on a newly announced list of nominees for 2017, which fans are invited to vote for along with the customary 800-strong group of industry grandees whose preferences have historically held sway.

If they do make it in there this time, then prog fans can surely take heart, and perhaps gently remind the Hall’s organisers that there’s plenty more where Yes came from. Can we recognise Jethro Tull or The Moody Blues’ pioneering role in the evolution of progressive rock? Or for that matter, King Crimson, who arguably made the first full-blown prog album, In The Court Of The Crimson King? Can ELP’s huge success in marrying classical flourishes, rock showmanship and technical wizardry now be acknowledged?

How about the likes of Supertramp, Kansas or Asia, each of whom took a proggy musical template and eventually turned it into timeless radio-friendly rock? Maybe the prospect of lifelong fan John Lydon inducting Van der Graaf Generator into the Hall, in a symbolic reuniting of long-estranged musical tribes, is a little far-fetched, but it’ll seem distinctly less so once Yes have received this long-awaited honour.

It’s by no means certain, of course, that the velvet rope will finally be unclipped for Yes or any other nominees waiting outside this exclusive club. They may have to queue for another year or two out in the rain as younger, prettier, more fashionably dressed applicants swan past them, air-kissing the guy with the clipboard and high-fiving the doorman.

Indeed, if the man behind the whole enterprise is to be believed, Yes’s nationality alone might still count against them. Jann Wenner, the veteran Rolling Stone publisher, is chairman of the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame Foundation, and he, along with other senior RS-affiliated grandees of rock criticism and music biz aristocrats, has historically had a significant say in which acts are considered.

Wenner previously explained the continuing absence of bands such as Yes as an unfortunate side effect of democracy, noting, “it probably has something to do with the fact that the vast majority of voters are American” – conveniently ignoring the fact that Yes broke massively in America first, and both ELP and Jethro Tull were stadium acts there before they were in their home country.

The US bias has long been a cause of gripes, and there are few genres more European in origin and audience than prog. Indeed, other progressively-tinged British artists such as Kate Bush and Roxy Music (as well as towering European figures in other genres such as The Smiths, The Specials, Iron Maiden or Kraftwerk) are also notable absentees from the Hall.

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It’s not just about nationality – look at notable Hall Of Fame Absentee Meat Loaf, who left a sizable carbon footprint on musical history with Bat Out Of Hell. It might have more to do with the fact that the cabal of people who run the whole shebang only started taking fan votes into account a few years ago (something which could stand Yes in good stead this year).

You could ask whether it really matters. After all, musicians regularly try to convince us that awards aren’t important to them – usually right up until the moment they’re given one. Well, it matters to us as fans, because it seems to reflect the fact that prog as a genre still seems to be unjustly overlooked in the eyes of the mainstream.

A few more nods of respect towards this neglected wing of the art form from the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame might go some way towards rectifying that.

Prog Quiz: General Knowledge IV