With the latest class of Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame inductees recently announced, the annual debate has been renewed over whether the Hall will eventually run out of worthy candidates. If so, will they finally get around to honoring some of the most glaring exiles, like Big Star, Tom Waits, and The Stooges? At the moment, each year's nominees are forwarded by a steering committee of just under a hundred music-industry veterans and rock journalists, then voted on by just under a thousand of the same. Insiders like critic Dave Marsh have indicated that not all those voters are as aware as they should be of the major artists in genres like punk and hip-hop, and though two inexplicably delayed candidates—Patti Smith and Grandmaster Flash—were granted induction this year, there are serious concerns among rock historians about whether the most influential and enduring acts of the last 25 years will get a fair hearing when their time comes. With that in mind, and with the Hall's mission of honoring those who had "a significant impact on the evolution, development, and perpetuation of rock and roll," The A.V. Club here considers the pros and cons of a handful of Hall-worthy acts, some of whom are eligible already.
[Note: If you want to register your own opinion about these or any other acts, we recommend the invaluable on-line resource futurerockhall.com, which keeps track of who's eligible when, and how everyday rock fans feel about their chances.]
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Madonna
Why she might make the Hall: Few lightweight pop stars have ever stayed in the public eye as long or as gracefully as Madonna. Brazen self-promotion and tabloid-worthy trysts aside, Madonna has cut a string of classic singles in a variety of styles, and she arguably inverted the commoditization of female sexuality, making it an opportunity for self-empowerment.
Why she might not: That commoditization still turns a lot of people off, striking some as sex without sensuality, as well as the dubious inspiration for a slew of talentless, tarted-up teen-poppers. Also, this is the rock 'n' roll hall of fame. Danceable pop fluff remains suspect.
Odds: 2-1. Danceable pop fluff with Madonna's level of critical credibility still gets a pass.
John Mellencamp
Why he might make the Hall: In the synth-laden '80s, Mellencamp was a standard-bearer for classic American rock, carrying on the tradition of Creedence Clearwater Revival and (especially) Bruce Springsteen. If that isn't enough, he's been an outspoken, involved advocate of charitable causes like Farm Aid.
Why he might not: Mellencamp began his career under the cheesy nom-de-rock "Johnny Cougar." Also, the hits dried up a while ago.
Odds: 2-1. The safe money is on a Cougar-friendly Hall.
Beastie Boys
Why they might make the Hall: They were one of the first significant crossover hip-hop acts, bringing rap to suburbia and a punk sensibility to rap. Then they pursued their own flighty muse, creating a hip-hop sound infused with spirituality, pop-culture smarts, an inclusive spirit, and even a touch of the avant-garde—all while continuing to top the charts.
Why they might not: The Beastie Boys' whiteness still marks them as outré in some critical circles. Hall voters may fear a backlash if they vote in one of rap's most well-known appropriators before making room for the genre's more "authentic" acts.
Odds: 3-1. The respect that old-school rappers pay to the Beastie Boys should allay voters' qualms.
Pearl Jam
Why it might make the Hall: You can't talk about grunge without talking about Pearl Jam, and grunge is an easy genre for the stodgier voters to latch onto. Sure, it probably couldn't have happened without punk, but grunge definitely couldn't have happened without, say, The Allman Brothers. And guess who's already in the Hall?
Why it might not: Of course, you also can't talk about grunge without talking about Nirvana, a Hall sure-thing whose truncated career let it avoid Pearl Jam's slowly diminishing artistic and commercial returns.
Odds: 3-1. Pearl Jam never sold out. It sold a lot of records. It's out there rocking right now. It's in.
Public Enemy
Why it might make the Hall: When Public Enemy broke through in the '80s, it was such a demanding, innovative, politically charged, and loud act that even critics and listeners who dismissed the genre had to take notice. The classic albums still burn with the same intensity as the day they were pressed.
Why it might not: More than music kept Public Enemy in the spotlight. There was also all that controversy, including the alleged comments about Jews made by "Minister Of Information" Professor Griff, which still rankle some. Since the group's heyday, P.E.'s social consciousness has mostly settled in underground hip-hop. Flavor Flav's second career as a reality-show star hasn't exactly burnished the legend, either.
Odds: 5-1. It'll get in, but expect controversy.
Coldplay
Why it might make the Hall: Bandleader Chris Martin has friends in nearly every recording-industry clique, from socially conscious rockers to, improbably, the hip-hop community, which recognizes good hooks when it hears them. Coldplay-haters may grumble that the band will only make the Hall because it's safe and soft, but Martin clearly has an ear for what lasts. Only three albums into its career, Coldplay has already made two widely beloved LPs.
Why it might not: Unfortunately, those beloved albums are the first two. Coldplay's third album, X&Y, was kind of a bummer, and unless the next effort is a significant improvement, the band may not have the longevity that a Hall Of Fame candidate needs. Also, Coldplay's fortunes may be tied to Radiohead's. If the more critically acclaimed Britpop band of the '00s hasn't made it in by the time Coldplay is eligible (2023, by the way), don't expect much support.
Odds: 5-1. Surely Martin will write a few more modern-rock standards over the next decade or so.
The Replacements
Why they might make the Hall: Of all the '80s post-hardcore bands that made rock 'n' roll safe for DIY-ers—and thereby birthed the modern-rock revolution of the '90s—The Replacements were the most accessible to old-guard rockers. Bandleader Paul Westerberg wrote tight, hooky, rootsy songs with heartbreaking, literate lyrics, and his mates played them raw and righteous, recording albums that regularly get cited as among the best of their decade.
Why they might not: Westerberg's post-Replacements career has been spotty, and the band's influence hasn't been as enduring as true believers might've expected. Remember: Westerberg sang the praises of Alex Chilton, and even Chilton isn't in the Hall.
Odds: 6-1. If The Replacements' back catalog ever gets the long-overdue spiffing-up that's been promised for a decade, the band should become relevant again.
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