List of Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductees

TheRock and Roll Hall of Fame, established in 1983 and located inCleveland,Ohio, United States, is dedicated to recording the history of some of the best-known and most influential musicians, bands, producers, and others that have in some major way influenced the music industry, particularly in the area ofrock and roll.Originally, there were four categories of induction:performers,non-performers,early influences, andlifetime achievement. In 2000, "sidemen" was introduced as a category.
The only category that has seen new inductees every single year is the performers category. Artists become eligible for induction in that category 25 years after the release of their first record.In order to be inducted, an artist must be nominated by a committee that selects a number of candidates, the highest being 16 for the 2020 class.Ballotsare then sent to more than 1,000 "rock experts" who evaluate the candidates and vote on who should be inducted. The performers that receive the highest number of votes are inducted. This number varies; for example, seven were inducted in 2019. Starting in 2012, fans could vote on a fan ballot with an equal weight to the other ballots.As of 2017, new inductees are honored at an annual ceremony held alternately in New York and at the Hall of Fame in Cleveland; prior to that, the ceremonies rotated between Cleveland, New York, and Los Angeles.
The performers category is meant for recording artists and bands that have "influence and significance to the development and perpetuation of rock and roll".
^Note 1. These backing bands were inducted by a separate committee, and not by the ballot voting used for all other performer inductees.
^Note 2. This artist was later inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame after inducting someone else.
^Note 3. This artist was already a member of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame when they inducted someone else.
^Note 4. Dire Straits were the first artist in the hall's history to not have an official induction speaker. Band member John Illsley did the induction speech himself.
^Note 5.John Gustafsonwas originally included among the list of inducted members for Roxy Music; however, his name was dropped in the final list.
^Note 6. In 2012, six additional bands and groups were inducted as performers by a special committee, due to the controversial nature of their band being excluded when their lead singer was inducted. "There was a lot of discussion about this," said Terry Stewart, a member of the nominating committee. "There had always been conversations about why the groups weren't included when the lead singers were inducted. Very honestly, nobody could really answer that question – it was so long ago... We decided we'd sit down as an organization and look at that. This is the result."
^Note 7. AlthoughPat Benataris a solo artist, her husband, guitarist and primary musical partnerNeil Giraldowas also included as part of her induction.
^Note 8. There was no induction speaker for the Spinners. Instead,New Editionperformed a medley of three of their songs.
Artists inducted into the early influences category were originally for those "whose music predated rock and roll but had an impact on the evolution of rock and roll and inspired rock's leading artists".Unlike the performers category, these inductees are selected by a committee.In 2023, the award was renamed from "Early influence" to "Musical influence".
^A. Previously nominated as a performer: Wanda Jackson in 2005 and 2009; Freddie King in 2012; The "5" Royales in 2002 and 2004; Sister Rosetta Tharpe in 2016; Kraftwerk in 2003, 2013, 2015, 2017, 2019, and 2020; and Link Wray in 2014 and 2018.
The non-performer category honors "songwriters, producers, disc jockeys, record executives, journalists and other industry professionals who have had a major influence on the development of rock and roll".Several of the inductees in this category were in fact prominent performers as well. The inductees in this category are selected by the same committee that chooses the early influences.In 2008, this category was renamed the "Ahmet Ertegun Award".
Established in 2000 as "Sidemen", the category "honors those musicians, producers and others who have spent their careers out of the spotlight working with major artists on various parts of their recording and live careers". A separate committee, composed mainly of producers, chooses the inductees.In 2010, the category was renamed to the "Award for Musical Excellence". According to Joel Peresman, the president of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Foundation, "This award gives us flexibility to dive into some things and recognize some people who might not ordinarily get recognized."
^A. Previously nominated in the performers category: King Curtis in 1986, 1987, 1988, 1989, 1990, and 1996; LL Cool J in 2010, 2011, 2014, 2018, 2019, and 2021; Judas Priest in 2018, 2020, and 2022; Chaka Khan in 2016, 2017, and 2021; MC5 in 2003, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, and 2022; and Dionne Warwick in 2021 and 2022.
At the 2018 ceremony, a new induction category forsingleswas announced by Steven Van Zandt.According to Van Zandt, the category is "a recognition of the excellence of the singles that shaped rock 'n' roll, kind of a rock 'n' roll jukebox, records by artists not in the Rock Hall – which is not to say these artists will never be in the Rock Hall. They just are not in the Rock Hall at the moment."However, The Isley Brothers, whose song "Twist and Shout" was inducted in 2019, were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as performers in 1992. In 2023,Link Wray, whose song "Rumble" was inducted in 2018, was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as a Musical Influence inductee.
As of 2024, twenty-seven performers have been inducted twice or more; fifteen have been recognized as a solo artist and with a band, and eight have been inducted with two separate bands.Eric Claptonis the only one to be inducted three times: as a solo artist, withCream, and withThe Yardbirds.Clyde McPhatterwas the first to ever be inducted twice and is one of three artists to be inducted first as a solo artist and then as a member of a band, the other artists beingNeil YoungandRod Stewart.Stephen Stillsis the only artist to be inducted twice in the same year.
Crosby, Stills & NashandThe Beatlesare the only two bands whose members were also each inducted separately, with other acts or as solo artists. In addition to their 1997 induction with CSN,David Crosbywas inducted withThe Byrdsin 1991, Stephen Stills withBuffalo Springfieldin 1997, andGraham NashwithThe Holliesin 2010. Beatles membersJohn Lennon,Paul McCartney, andGeorge Harrisonwere inducted as solo artists in the main performer category, whileRingo Starrwas inducted in the Award for Musical Excellence category.
There are several performers who were inducted with one (or more) of the bands they played for, but were not inducted as members of one (or more) other bands. For example,Neil Youngwas inducted withBuffalo Springfieldand as a solo artist, but was left out whenCrosby, Stills & Nashwere inducted.
In 2019,Stevie Nicksbecame the first woman to be inducted twice, after having been inducted withFleetwood Macin 1998.She was later joined by Carole King andTina Turner. In 2021, Carole King was the first person to be inducted as both a performer and a non-performer.
John LennonandDave Grohlare the only two multiple inductees who were inducted in their first year of eligibility on both inductions.
The following is a complete list of artists that have been nominated at least once for the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, but have yet to be selected as an inductee.
^D. Band memberNile Rodgerswas inducted in the Award for Musical Excellence category in 2017.^E. Band membersClyde McPhatterandJackie Wilsonwere both inducted as solo artists in 1987, and McPhatter was inducted a second time as a member of the Drifters in 1988.^F. In addition to this nomination for his solo career, Ben E. King was inducted as a member ofThe Driftersin 1988.^G. Band memberChaka Khanwas inducted in the Award for Musical Excellence category for her solo career in 2023.^H. In addition to this nomination for his solo career, Sting was inducted as a member ofThe Policein 2003.^I. Band memberMatt Cameronwas inducted as a member ofPearl Jamin 2017.^J. Band memberEric Burdonwas inducted as a member ofThe Animalsin 1994.^K. In addition to this nomination for his solo career, Steve Winwood was inducted as a member ofTrafficin 2004.
The nominees for the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame class of 2025 were announced on February 12, 2025.
The following band members were included in their respective group's nomination:
As of 2024, there are 15 members of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame who also have beeninductedinto theDownBeatJazz Hall of Fame.
As of 2024, there are 17 members of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame alsoinductedinto theCountry Music Hall of Fame and Museum.