Inductee Predictions: 2022 Rock & Roll Hall of Fame

  This year we have 17 nominees.  7 newly eligible.  The Hall usually inducts 6, but in 2019 inducted 7 (with only 15 nominees that year).  For this year I'm predicting 6 inductees.  Also, as I do every year, one wild card pick.  I'm also predicting that at least one of these names, MC5, New York Dolls, Fela or even Dolly will end up in a special category. 

Inductees

Carly Simon - This one's for the Baby Boomers. Now she just needs that voting bloc to turn up for her.  1st nomination.

***Dolly Parton - Welcome to the great unknown. If any of my picks deserve a bunch of asterisks, it's this one.  Had she not made that announcement, she would be a shoo-in. If enough early voters put her name down she will get in. The Hall could always put her in as a Musical Excellence. Who knows? 

Duran Duran - In recent years, many have been wondering when their time will come.  Like the Go-Go's last year, this nomination will bring waves of 80's MTV nostalgia for many voters. 1st nomination.

Eminem - This year's sure-shot.  1st nomination.

Lionel Richie - His solo career turned out to be bigger than his days with the Commodores (who definitely should be inducted). I think voters will reward both his solo & Commodores work.  1st nomination. 

Pat Benatar - Somewhat shockingly (to me, at least)  passed over on her first nomination in 2020. And then not nominated last year. But this time I think voters will come around.  2nd nomination.

Wild Card  

Eurythmics - More names than usual could be wild cards this year.  And the Dolly situation remains fluid. Rage, Beck, Priest, Dionne, Tribe.  But I went with Eurythmics because some voters might have forgotten that they were nominated once before in 2018.  A UK band that had big U.S. hits. And like Duran Duran conjure up MTV-era memories. 2nd nomination.

The Rest

A Tribe Called Quest - One of the most critically acclaimed Rap groups of the 90's.  Knowing voters track record with rap acts, I'm not sure that will be enough on their 1st nomination.  

Beck - Here come the 90's, and Beck, despite still releasing albums past that decade, is most identified with that decade. Beck was never a fringe act.  He sold records and even won a Grammy Award for Album of the Year in 2014. But it doesn’t feel like this will be his year. 1st nomination. 

Devo - Cult favorites with one big hit, who may still be seen as too much of a cult favorite to ever get inducted.  3rd nomination. 

Dionne Warwick - With Dolly bowing out, maybe Dionne picks up some of her voters and knocks out one of my 6 picks.  If not just put her in as an Early Influence/Musical Excellence.  2nd nomination.  

Fela Kuti - Even after getting a surprise nomination last year, many voters still might not know much about him, which won’t help his chances. One could make the case for an Early Influence pick. 2nd nomination.

Judas Priest - Nominated in '18/'20/'22.  Notice a pattern?  Metal still not getting enough love from voters remains an ongoing problem. 3rd nomination. 

Kate Bush - No doubt a NomCom fave. A big success in the U.K., plus a critical fave. But that's never a guarantee for a Rock Hall induction. 3rd nomination. 

MC5 - Something has to give this year.  Here we have another act where the NomCom wants them in but a majority of voters don't.  Six nominations should be enough to convince the Hall to put them in as an Early Influence. 

New York Dolls  - 3rd nomination.  Like I wrote with the MC5 they might get put in as an EI.  Not 100% positive it will happen this year, but should very soon. 

Rage Against the Machine - 4th nomination. Like Dave Grohl, Tom Morello is a well-respected member of the Rock community.  But RATM were never a commercial band like the Foo Fighters. Still, LA band in a year where the ceremony is in LA?  

Also: ICYMI: Here's a link to my 2022 Rock Hall Personal Picks