This article originally ran in 2013 and is frequently updated. Today, we’ve done just that it in light of the recent 2025 Rock & Roll Hall of Fame nominations.
The Rock & Roll Hall of Fame just unveiled the nominations for their 2025 class. Congratulations to The White Stripes, Soundgarden, Mariah Carey, Oasis, OutKast, Phish, Joy Division/New Order, Cyndi Lauper, Billy Idol, Maná, Joe Cocker, Chubby Checker, Bad Company, and The Black Crowes for getting one step closer to being forever honored in Cleveland, Ohio.
Sadly, artists like Sonic Youth, Pixies, Daft Punk, Wu-Tang Clan, Nas, Chaka Khan, The Smiths, Bad Brains, Fiona Apple, Iron Maiden and many other hopefuls will have to wait another year for possible induction. Just as sad, the list of nominees leaves out acts like Gorillaz, Interpol, Linkin Park, P!NK, Andrew WK, and The New Pornographers, who all became eligible for the first time in 2025.
Those left out, however, aren’t exactly in poor company. (While, it’s worth noting, the nominees are explicitly in bad company... Anyone? I’ll see myself out.) Many great artists have been shut out from the warm confines of the beloved (?) institution.
To prove it, here are 30 artists who have yet to be enshrined. We’re including bands and figures who were just nominated, as the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame has yet to actually induct them. For several of the 2025 nominees, it’s not their first time making the shortlist, so they know not to get ahead of themselves. For now, they get to continue hanging out at the cool kids table of great Rock Hall snubs.
Check out the full list below, ranked in order of how egregious it is that said artist is still waiting at the Rock Hall’s gates.
— Jonah Krueger