History of Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in Timeline

The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, located in Cleveland, Ohio, is a museum dedicated to documenting the history of rock music and honoring influential figures in the genre. It recognizes artists, producers, engineers, and other key personnel who have significantly contributed to the development and evolution of rock and roll. The Rock Hall serves as a repository of rock history and a celebration of its enduring cultural impact.

1955: Start of the Rock Era

1955 is considered the traditional start of the "rock era", used as a benchmark when considering artists for the "Early Influences" category. Wanda Jackson's career almost entirely took place after 1955.

1993: Deep Purple Eligible for Induction

Deep Purple had been eligible for Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction since 1993; the band was inducted in 2016.

1999: Kiss Eligible for Induction

Kiss had been eligible for Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction since 1999; the band was inducted in 2014.

2000: Nat King Cole and Billie Holiday Inducted

In 2000, Nat King Cole and Billie Holiday were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as Early Influences. After their induction in 2000, no one was inducted in this category until 2009.

2000: Sidemen Award Introduced

In 2000, the "Sidemen" award was introduced. This category honors veteran session and concert players selected by a committee composed primarily of producers.

2004: Iron Maiden Eligible for Induction

Iron Maiden has been eligible for induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame since 2004.

2004: Sidemen Award Dormant

The "Sidemen" award category was dormant from 2004 through 2007.

2006: Sex Pistols Refuse Induction

In 2006, members of the British punk rock band the Sex Pistols, who were inducted that year, refused to attend the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame ceremony, calling the museum "a piss stain" and "urine in wine".

March 14, 2007: Controversy Over Induction Votes

On March 14, 2007, Roger Friedman of Fox News published an article claiming the Dave Clark Five should have been inducted instead of Grandmaster Flash and the Furious Five, sparking controversy over the voting process. The Dave Clark Five received more votes, but Jann Wenner prioritized inducting a rap act. The Dave Clark Five were subsequently nominated again and then inducted the following year.

2007: Brett Milano Comments on Genres Passed Over

In 2007, author Brett Milano commented that "entire genres get passed over, particularly progressive rock, '60s Top 40, New Orleans funk and a whole lot of black music" by the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

2007: Sidemen Award Dormant

The "Sidemen" award category was dormant from 2004 through 2007.

2008: Non-Performer Award Renamed

In 2008, following the death of the Hall of Fame's co-founder Ahmet Ertegun, the "Non-Performers" award was renamed in his honor.

2008: Sidemen Award Re-activated

In 2008, the "Sidemen" award category was re-activated after being dormant from 2004 through 2007.

2009: Wanda Jackson Inducted

In 2009, rockabilly singer Wanda Jackson was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as an Early Influence. Jackson's career almost entirely took place after the traditional 1955 start of the "rock era". After Nat King Cole and Billie Holiday in 2000, no one was inducted in this category until 2009.

2010: Sidemen Award Renamed

In 2010, the "Sidemen" honor was renamed the "Award for Musical Excellence". This award gives the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Foundation flexibility to recognize individuals who might not ordinarily get recognized.

2012: Elton John Criticizes Hall for Not Inducting Donna Summer

Following Donna Summer's death in 2012, Elton John criticized the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame for failing to induct her during her lifetime, calling it "a total disgrace, especially when I see the second-rate talent that has been inducted."

2013: Charlotte Church Accuses Museum of Gender Bias

In 2013, during BBC Radio 6 Music's Annual John Peel Lecture, Charlotte Church accused the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame of gender bias. She pointed out that out of 295 acts and artists, 259 were entirely male, with Tina Weymouth's part in Talking Heads being one of the 36 female acts.

2014: Kiss Inducted into Hall of Fame

After being eligible since 1999, Kiss was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2014.

2014: Percentage of Female Inductees Reported

In 2014, the percentage of female inductees into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame was reported to be 8.5%.

2016: Deep Purple Inducted into Hall of Fame

After being eligible since 1993, Deep Purple was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2016.

2016: Steve Miller Criticizes Hall of Fame

In 2016, Steve Miller, a 2016 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee, directed a litany of complaints at the hall, both during his induction speech and especially in interviews after it. His criticisms included a lack of female inductees and support for music education, and poor treatment of inductees at the award ceremony.

2017: Sister Rosetta Tharpe Inducted

Sister Rosetta Tharpe, often regarded as the godmother of rock and roll, was finally chosen for induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2017.

2018: Bruce Dickinson Criticizes Hall of Fame

In 2018, Bruce Dickinson of Iron Maiden called the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame "an utter and complete load of bollocks" and expressed distaste for the hall's entity, arguing that putting music in a museum is like killing it.

2018: Mark Knopfler Does Not Attend Dire Straits Induction

In 2018, when British rock band Dire Straits were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, bandleader Mark Knopfler did not attend the ceremony and offered no official explanation.

2019: Ian Hill Comments on Heavy Metal's Perceived Disregard

In a 2019 interview, Judas Priest bassist Ian Hill stated, "I don't think they like heavy metal music in general," regarding his band's non-induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

2022: Steven Hyden Criticizes Hall for Ignoring Alternative Rock

In 2022, Steven Hyden, a music critic for Uproxx and a Hall voter, wrote that he believed the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame had been ignoring alternative rock and indie rock artists.

2023: Courtney Love Criticizes Hall of Fame

In 2023, Courtney Love criticized the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, highlighting the delay in inducting artists such as Kate Bush, Nina Simone, Carole King, Linda Ronstadt, and Tina Turner as a solo artist, and the failure to induct Chaka Khan despite seven nominations.

2024: Liam Gallagher Disparages Hall of Fame

In response to Oasis' nomination for the Class of 2024, Liam Gallagher disparaged the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame on X, declaring that "there's something very fishy about those awards" and "it's all a load of bollox [sic]".