The 24 Worst Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Snubs

The post The 24 Worst Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Snubs appeared first on Consequence.

This article originally ran in 2013 and is frequently updated. Today, we’ve updated it in light of the recent 2024 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee class.


The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame has finally announced who made it in the class of 2024: Ozzy Osbourne, Dave Matthews Band, Cher, A Tribe Called Quest, Mary J. Blige, Peter Frampton, Foreigner, and Kool & The Gang have all been selected for the ceremony October 19th in Cleveland.

Sadly, artists like Daft Punk, Oasis, Wu-Tang Clan, Nas, Chaka Khan, Sonic Youth, Soundgarden, The Smiths, Joy Division, and Iron Maiden will have to wait another year for possible induction.Those left out, however, aren’t exactly in poor company. Many great artists have been shut out from the warm confines of the Cleveland institution.

Here’s a list of 24 artists who have yet to be enshrined, ranked in order of how long they’ve been waiting at the Rock Hall’s gates.


24. The White Stripes

The White Stripes lyrics book Third Man Records
The White Stripes lyrics book Third Man Records

The White Stripes, photo by Gie Knaeps/Getty Images

Number of Years Snubbed: 2

Number of Albums: 6

Chart Performance: Surprisingly, The White Stripes were less successful on the charts than one might expect. Though you’ll hear the iconic riff of “Seven Nation Army” chanted in every major sport stadium in the world, the Detroit blues rockers only had three songs make it on the Billboard Hot 100: “Seven Nation Army” (peaking at 76), “Blue Orchid” (peaking at 43), and “Icky Thump” (their highest performing track, peaking at 26).

Accolades: What Jack and Meg White lack in platinum selling singles, though, they more than make up for in their  trophy case. They won the Grammy Award for Best Alternative Music Album three albums in a row (from Elephant to Get Behind Me Satan), made cultural splashes with innovative music videos, and consistently earn top rankings of best rock duos of all time. The influence of The White Stripes is still felt today too, both sonically and visually. They helped usher in a new era of bluesy garage rock, and their strict adherence to a white and red color scheme redefined how bands mark their visual identity. Especially because of how fully they embody the “rock and roll” ethos, The White Stripes were an easy shoe-in for the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame’s 2023 class – or so we thought.

23. Fiona Apple

fiona apple where the shadows lie
fiona apple where the shadows lie

Fiona Apple, photo by Zelda Hallman

Number of Years Snubbed: 4

Number of Albums: 5

Chart Performance: All five of Fiona Apple’s studio albums have reached the top 20 of the Billboard 200, with her 1997 breakout single “Criminal” peaking at 21 on the Hot 100, and Apple herself reaching the number three position on the Artist 100 after 2020’s Fetch the Bolt Cutters.

Accolades: Apple has won numerous awards over the years, including three Grammys (Best Female Rock Vocal Performance, 1998; Best Alternative Music Album and Best Rock Performance, 2021). There’s no denying that she’s been an instrumental figure in the music scene since her breakout debut, and one of the most artistically daring and inventive performers of her generation.

22. Daft Punk

Daft Punk, photo by Robyn Beck / AFP via Getty Images

Number of Years Snubbed: 5

Number of Albums: 4

Chart Performance: While the duo’s only Billboard Hot 100 No. 1 is “Starboy,” a collaboration with the Weeknd, “Get Lucky” featuring Pharrell Williams made it to No. 2, and Random Access Memories topped the Billboard 200 albums chart (plus, it won a boatload of Grammys, but more on that in a sec).

Accolades: The two helmeted robots of Daft Punk may have logged off, but their impact remains. Beyond all of those Grammys — Random Access Memories alone won five in 2014, including AOTY — the duo was responsible for a pretty major introduction of electronic music to a mainstream audience, proving that futuristic, EDM-inspired sounds could have a home with the masses. Their accessibility didn’t negate their inventiveness, though, and artists like The Weekend, LCD Soundsystem, and countless others have all pointed to Daft Punk as critical influences. Recently, Daft Punk was even named one of the most critical acts of the 21st century (by more than one outlet) — they became eligible in the last couple of years, and their cross-genre impact should be enough of a signal for consideration.

21. Oasis

Oasis
Oasis

Oasis, photo by Michel Linssen/Redferns

Number of Years Snubbed: 5

Number of Albums: 7

Chart Performance: Though they’ve had just one Top 10 hit in the US with “Wonderwall” (No. 8), Oasis is one of the best-selling bands ever, and have eight No. 1 singles and eight No. 1 albums in the UK.

Accolades: Oasis had more than a moment — they had an era. They were a mega-group among groups, nestled in the final days of albums ahead of the streaming era. They were cool, they were controversial, they were constantly feuding within their own group. The act dominated the touring landscape, and, even now, it’s nearly impossible to find a startup young band unwilling to wax poetic on Liam and Noel Gallagher. Famously, in 1996, they pulled off the largest outdoor concerts in UK history at the time when they performed for two nights at Knebworth in front of 125,000 people each night. “Wonderwall” also sparked a meme for the ages.

20. Wu-Tang Clan

Wu-Tang Clan, photo by Bob Berg

Number of Years Snubbed: 7

Number of Albums: 8

Chart Performance: Wu-Tang Forever debuted atop the Billboard 200 chart, but their only two songs to chart on the Billboard Hot 100 are both from 1993’s Enter The Wu-Tang (36 Chambers): “C.R.E.A.M” and “Method Man.”

Accolades: The Wu-Tang Clan, of course, changed hip-hop forever. It’s now been almost thirty (!) years since their earth-shaking debut, Enter the Wu-Tang (36 Chambers), and the group is as important as ever. In addition to their collective sound, the real edge that the group introduced was their savvy business approach, which gave the members the freedom to sprawl into solo careers while always having the collective available for a return. JAY-Z, Kanye, and Nas cite Wu-Tang as idols. And don’t get us started on Once Upon a Time in Shaolin, the most expensive piece of music ever.

19. Nas

Nas
Nas

Nas, photo by Obidigbo Nzeribe

Number of Years Snubbed: 7

Number of Albums: 15

Chart Performance: His only two Top 10 hits on the Billboard 100 are as a featured artist, but It Was Written, I Am…, Hip Hop Is Dead, Life Is Good and his untitled ninth album all hit No. 1 on the Billboard 200.

Accolades: Known for his sharp wit and immersive storytelling, Nas opened up the rap landscape to a whole new world of possibilities. His debut album, Illmatic, holds up even today as a sprawling portrait of life, putting the listener in his shoes. Artists like J. Cole, Kendrick Lamar, and RM of BTS, modern iterations of notably poetic and thoughtful rappers, point to Nas as a prime influence. After receiving thirteen Grammy nominations over his career, King’s Disease finally won Nas his first Grammy for Best Rap Album in 2021.

18. OutKast

outkast rock and roll hall of fame
outkast rock and roll hall of fame

OutKast, photo by Heather Kaplan

Number of Years Snubbed: 6

Number of Albums: 6

Chart Performance: OutKast’s 1994 debut album Southernplayalisticadillacmuzik debuted at No. 20 in the US. Both 1996’s ATLiens and 1998’s Aquemini peaked at No. 2 and went Platinum twice. 2000’s Stankonia hit No. 2 and sold 530,000 copies in  the first week and has since gone quadruple Platinum. Their 2003 double album Speakerboxxx/The Love Below became their first album to reach No. 1 and went on to be certified Diamond and a staggering 11 times Platinum. Don’t even start on the singles.

Accolades: Well, they’re arguably the most beloved hip-hop group of all time, having won six Grammy Awards — ahem, Best Rap Performance by a Duo or Group (“Ms. Jackson”), Best Rap Album (Stankonia), Best Rap Performance by a Duo or Group (“The Whole World”), Best Urban/Alternative Performance (“Hey Ya!”), Album of the Year (Speakerboxxx/The Love Below), Best Rap Album) — and numerous appearances on Best-Of lists by the most esteemed rock critics out there. In sum? They should have been ushered into the Hall of Fame the second they were eligible.

17. Alice in Chains

Alice In Chains
Alice In Chains

Alice In Chains (photo by Steve Jennings/WireImage)

Number of Years Snubbed: 9

Number of Albums: 6

Chart Performance: Alice in Chains’ debut album Facelift was a slow-burning success, but their heyday really began in 1992 with their seminal sophomore LP, Dirt. The album peaked at #6 on the Billboard 200 and spawned numerous singles on Billboard’s Mainstream Rock charts — notably “Rooster,” which peaked at #7 and still garners radio play on rock stations around the country. They continued with the 1994 EP Jar of Flies, which became the Seattle band’s first #1 album. Their 1995 self-titled follow up was the last album to feature vocalist Layne Staley, but the album hit #1 on the Billboard 200 and cemented the band as a household name.

Accolades: Alice in Chains have been nominated for 11 Grammy Awards in their career (predominately in the Best Hard Rock Performance category), but their legacy extends far beyond awards. They’re frequently cited as one of the most influential bands of the ’90s, and helped usher in a new wave of grunge and alternative rock. Numerous bands have named Alice in Chains as a significant influence, including Metallica, Pantera, Avenged Sevenfold, Queens of the Stone Age, and many more — even Elton John claimed to be a fan. Their legacy is still discussed today; The Opus podcast devoted a whole series of the show to exploring Dirt’s impact in 2022, and dozens of guests, including Gavin Rossdale, Dallas Green, and Charlie Benante all testified to the band’s legacy.

16. Jane’s Addiction

Jane's Addiction
Jane's Addiction

Jane’s Addiction, photo by John Shearer/WireImage

Number of Years Snubbed: 12

Number of Albums: 4

Chart Performance: A foundational alt-rock band, Jane’s Addiction actually only ever had one song chart during their legendary career (“Just Because” off of their 2003 album Strays). Their real commercial prowess came over time via their full length albums, with their debut Nothing’s Shocking eventually hitting platinum, Ritual de lo Habitual getting certified double platinum, and Strays making gold.

Accolades: Rage Against the Machine guitarist Tom Morello compared the influence of Jane’s Addiction to that of Nirvana – and he’s not being hyperbolic. In the alt-metal, funk-punk, and hard rock scenes, Jane’s Addiction are considered pioneers and some of the best to ever do it. Decades after their formation, they remain a powerhouse touring act, as their 2022 co-headlining tour with Smashing Pumpkins proved. They’re influential, have proven their relevance, and are true-blue rock – we’re not sure what else the Rock Hall is looking for.

15. Pixies

Pixies' classic lineup
Pixies' classic lineup

Pixies, photo via Getty

Number of Years Snubbed: 12

Number of Albums: 8

Chart Performance: Surfer Rosa spent 60 weeks on the UK Indie Chart, peaking at No. 2. In 2005, a solid 17 years after its release, it was finally certified gold by the RIAA. Its followup, Doolittle, peaked at No. 98 on the US Billboard 200 and at No. 8 on the UK Albums Chart. In 1995, it was certified gold by the RIAA. Bossanova, however, was released on a major label (Elektra) and nabbed No. 70 on the Billboard 200 and No. 3 on the UK Albums Chart.

Accolades: Both Surfer Rosa and Doolittle are consistently cited as one of the greatest albums of the ’80s and the most important albums in alternative rock, having influenced everyone from Nirvana to Radiohead, The Strokes to Pavement. It should be noted their 2009 box set, Minotaur, received a Grammy nomination and that Doolittle ranked No. 14 among Consequence of Sound’s Top 100 Albums.

14. Soundgarden

Chris Cornell Demos Delayed Album Soundgarden, photo by Michael Lavine
Chris Cornell Demos Delayed Album Soundgarden, photo by Michael Lavine

Soundgarden, photo by Michael Lavine

Number of Years Snubbed: 13

Number of Albums: 6

Chart Performance: It all goes back to Superunknown. Soundgarden‘s fourth studio album debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard charts in 1994, sold a staggering 310,000 copies in its opening week, delivered five charting singles, and has since been certified 5x Platinum. But let’s not forget their breakthrough album, 1991’s Badmotorfinger, which was not only certified 2x Platinum but also brought them international acclaim.

Accolades: Like fellow rockers Rage Against the Machine (see above), Soundgarden also took home two Grammys for Best Metal (“Spoonman”) and Hard Rock (“Black Hole Sun”) Performance, only they had nine nominations to their name. Beyond the awards, though, the Seattle rockers changed the game for modern rock as one of the progenitors of the grunge movement and defined the ’90s with their signature blend of metal and psychedelia. They should have been shoo-ins back in 2011, but to lose their bid in 2020? It’s a crime, and an insult to the late Chris Cornell.

13. Ronnie James Dio

Dio Holy Diver anniversary
Dio Holy Diver anniversary

Ronnie James Dio, photo by Chris Walter/WireImage

Number of Years Snubbed: 16

Number of Albums: 20

Chart Performance: Throughout Ronnie James Dio’s vast career as frontman of his own band (Dio) and numerous other notable acts (Elf, Rainbow, Black Sabbath, and Heaven & Hell), the legendary metal singer performed on a number of platinum-certified albums, namely Black Sabbath’s Heaven and Hell and the Dio LPs Holy Diver (1983) and The Last in Line (1984). The title track for the latter stands as Dio’s most successful single, peaking at No. 10 on Billboard’s Mainstream Rock Airplay chart.

Accolades: Dio is widely considered one of the greatest heavy metal vocalists of all-time, and generally ranks near the top of such lists. He was inducted into the Metal Hall of Fame in 2017 and was commemorated on the Rock Walk of Fame in Hollywood in 2007. He was also honored by his hometown of Cortland, New York, when the city inducted him into its Hall of Fame in 2004. Elsewhere, Revolver named Dio the “Best Metal Singer” at its Golden Gods Awards in 2010. Considering his expansive career as a vocalist — which dates back to his time in doo-wop groups in the late ’50s — and his lasting influence on heavy metal (he lays claim to originating the devil horns hand gesture), Dio’s induction to the Rock Hall is long overdue. Frankly, he should have been inducted with Black Sabbath in 2006, considering the importance of the albums he appeared on and his vital role in helping to keep the band going post-Ozzy. — Jon Hadusek

12. The Smiths

The Smiths
The Smiths

The Smiths, photo by Ross Marino/Getty Images

Number of Years Snubbed: 16

Number of Albums: 4

Chart Performance: Since the inception of SoundScan back in 1992, The Smiths have sold over 2.7 million copies in the US. Two of the band’s albums, 1986’s The Queen Is Dead and 1987’s Strangeways, Here We Come, each went gold in the US, with Queen peaking at No. 70 on the Billboard 200 chart and garnering an impressive 17-week run.

Accolades: Without netting much in the way of Grammys or similar industry nods (sans a few NME awards), the band is often cited as a pioneer of the subsequent Britpop explosion, influencing bands like Oasis, the Stone Roses, and more. The BBC once called The Smiths “the band that inspired deeper devotion than any British group since The Beatles.” The Smiths ranked No. 69 among Consequence of Sound’s Top 100 Albums.

11. Sonic Youth

Sonic Youth, photo by Giotas
Sonic Youth, photo by Giotas

Sonic Youth, photo by Giotas

Number of Years Snubbed: 17

Number of Albums: 16

Chart Performance: Sonic Youth’s final album, 2009’s The Eternal, peaked at No. 18 on the Billboard 200 and was the band’s highest charting album of their career. However, it did clock in at No. 01 on the US Billboard Tastemakers Albums.

Accolades: In 2009, they won an Innovation in Sound award at the Q Awards. Outside of that, however, zilch — which is quite depressing given their jaw-dropping legacy of 16 studio albums, seven extended plays, three compilation albums, seven video releases, 21 singles, 46 music videos, and eight releases in the Sonic Youth Recordings series. To date, their legacy has redefined the way critics and musicians look at music altogether, having influenced the alternative and art house scenes for decades. Daydream Nation ranked No. 51 among Consequence of Sound’s Top 100 Albums.

10. Iron Maiden

Iron Maiden Number of the Beast Reissue
Iron Maiden Number of the Beast Reissue

Iron Maiden (photo by Koh Hasebe/Shinko Music/Getty Images)

Number of Years Snubbed: 20

Number of Albums: 16

Chart Performance: With little radio or television support, Iron Maiden have sold over 90 million records worldwide. And yet regardless of the lineup shifts, several of their albums have received platinum and gold albums both stateside and overseas, specifically 1982’s The Number of the Beast, 1983’s Piece of Mind, 1984’s Powerslave, 1985’s live release Live After Death, 1986’s Somewhere in Time, and 1988’s Seventh Son of a Seventh Son.

Accolades: As of October 2013, the band have played over 2,000 live shows throughout their career. In 2002, they received the Ivor Novello Award for international achievement, and in 2005, were also inducted into the Hollywood RockWalk on Sunset Boulevard in Los Angeles, CA.

09. Joy Division/New Order

joy division rock and roll hall of fame
joy division rock and roll hall of fame

Joy Division, photo by Kevin Cummins

Number of Years Snubbed: 21 (Joy Division) / 18 (New Order)

Number of Albums: 2 (Joy Division) / 10 (New Order)

Chart Performance: Joy Division’s 1979 debut, Unknown Pleasures, had no singles and didn’t chart. Their 1980 followup, Closer, reached No. 6 on the UK Albums Chart and peaked at No. 3 in New Zealand by September 1981. In the time that’s passed since Ian Curtis’ tragic early death, the Manchester outfit has grown from a cult act to one of the most important bands in modern music.

New Order, on the other hand, have been an unstoppable presence in the UK charts with three Gold albums, two Platinum compilations, three Silver albums, and, you know, the best selling 12-inch single of all time with “Blue Monday”. Stateside, they secured two Gold albums and their Substance compilation was even certified Platinum.

Accolades: Chart success aside, New Order has only been nominated once by the Grammys, and it wasn’t until 2005, and it was a small nomination at that (i.e. Best Dance Recording for “Guilt Is a Useless Emotion” off Waiting for the Siren’s Call). Still, the outfit’s one of the most critically-acclaimed and influential acts of the last 30 years, changing the face of techno, rock, and pop forever.

Meanwhile, Joy Division’s inclusion here is strictly by their legacy. Both of their albums are critical diamonds, capturing their unprecedented brand of post-punk that remains unrivaled. In their short four-year time span, they became auteurs of what would go down as goth rock — in fact, Closer was the first album to be reviewed under that genre title — and went on to influence other icons such as Bono and Robert Smith.

As the U2 frontman wrote in the band’s autobiography, “It would be harder to find a darker place in music than Joy Division. Their name, their lyrics and their singer were as big a black cloud as you could find in the sky. With Joy Division, you felt from this singer, beauty was truth and truth was beauty, and theirs was a search for both.” What’s more, Unknown Pleasures ranked No. 15 among Consequence of Sound’s Top 100 Albums.

08. Devo

devo 50 years of de-evolution box set
devo 50 years of de-evolution box set

DEVO, photo by J. Merritt/FilmMagic

Number of Years Snubbed: 21

Number of Albums: 9

Chart Performance: Devo’s critically acclaimed debut album Q: Are We Not Men? A: We Are Devo! reached No. 12 in the UK and No. 78 in the US. However, its 1980 follow-up, Freedom of Choice, went Platinum in the US and Gold in Canada, making it their highest-selling album. 1981’s New Traditionalists and 2010’s Something for Everybody peaked at No. 23 and No. 30 on U.S. charts, respectively.

Accolades: Their cult acclaim has only awarded them the first-ever Moog Innovator Award, which they received in 2010 at Moogfest in Asheville, NC. What’s integral about Devo is their pioneering sound and style, which impacted New Wave, industrial, and alternative in addition to how music videos could be conceived. Duty Now for the Future ranked No. 66 among Consequence of Sound’s Top 100 Albums. They were once again passed over by the Hall of Fame after being nominated this year.

07. Mot?rhead

motorhead another perfect day reissue
motorhead another perfect day reissue

Mot?rhead, photo by Allan Ballard

Number of Years Snubbed: 21

Number of Albums: 23

Chart Performance: Who cares? If anything, Billboard etc. tracked how Mot?rhead’s influence has grown. In 1980, “Ace of Spades” didn’t even chart in America and peaked at No. 15 in the UK, while the 2016 reissue bested that on both sides of the Atlantic, hitting 13 in the UK and 12 on the US Rock Chart.

Accolades: Four-time Grammy nominee for Best Metal Performance, one-time winner for “Whiplash” in 2005, and the inspiration for countless young people to start a band and grow out some questionable facial hair. It takes a lot of pizazz to pull of the look Mot?rhead’s Lemmy, which is one reason he also took the top Consequence pick for the most dazzling mustache in music.

06. Bj?rk

Bjo?rk, photo by Vidar Logi

Number of Years Snubbed: 22

Number of Albums: 11

Chart Performance: According to her label, One Little Indian, by 2003, Bj?rk had already sold more than 15 million albums worldwide. Her 2007 album, Volta, spent nine weeks at No. 1 on Billboard’s Top Electronic Albums chart and in the first three months of release sold over half a million copies worldwide.

Accolades: Bj?rk has received five BRIT Awards and four MTV Video Music Awards. Although she’s received 15 nominations from the Grammy Awards, she’s never received one. (Fun fact: She was nominated every year from 1996 to 2002.) Her 2000 song, “I’ve Seen It All”, received an Academy Award nomination for Best Original Song in a Motion Picture. Nevertheless, Bj?rk has received 153 awards from 271 nominations. Not bad.

05. Television

Tom Verlaine of Television
Tom Verlaine of Television

Tom Verlaine of Television, photo by Roberta Bayley/Redferns

Number of Years Snubbed: 24

Number of Albums: 3

Chart Performance: Not surprisingly, neither Marquee Moon nor Adventure graced the U.S. charts. However, Marquee did slot at No. 28 on the UK Charts and Adventure even peaked on the same chart at No. 7.

Accolades: Television have no snazzy awards to their name, though their influence is paramount. Critics contend that Marquee Moon remains a cornerstone of alternative rock as it has experienced a wealth of acclaim. In 2003, Rolling Stone ranked it as No. 128 in their 500 greatest albums of all time, and in that same year, NME ranked it as the fourth greatest album of all time.

04. Brian Eno

brian eno foreverandevernomore new album there were bells new song
brian eno foreverandevernomore new album there were bells new song

Brian Eno, photo by Cecily Eno

Number of Years Snubbed: 26

Number of Albums: 29

Chart Performance: Brian Eno’s highest charting album was his 1974 solo debut, Here Come the Warm Jets, which peaked at No. 151 on the US Billboard charts. However, 2016’s The Ship hit No. 1 on the US Electronic charts and became his highest charting album since his 1981 collaboration with David Byrne, My Life in the Bush of Ghosts.

Accolades: He’s produced everyone from Talking Heads to U2, Bowie to Coldplay and has been showered with BRIT and Grammy Awards. He’s also pretty much responsible for what we know call ‘ambient music.’ The term “influential” doesn’t even begin to describe the guy, and while he’s been inducted with Roxy Music, the Eno brand more than deserves its own place.

03. Nick Drake

Nick Drake
Nick Drake

Nick Drake, photo via Bryter Music – The Estate Of Nick Drake

Number of Years Snubbed: 30

Number of Albums: 3

Chart Performance: Nick Drakes albums sold terribly upon release, but have since become essential albums posthumously. His final studio album, 1972’s Pink Moon, sits at No. 321 on Rolling Stone’s Top 500 Albums of All Time list.

Accolades: Since his early death, he’s been cited as an influence by R.E.M., The Cure, Lucinda Williams, Ben Folds, Badly Drawn Boy, Lou Barlow, Mikael ?kerfeldt, and many more. Pink Moon ranked No. 45 among Consequence of Sound’s Top 100 Albums.

02. Warren Zevon

Warren Zevon, photo by Virginia Turbett

Number of Years Snubbed: 30

Number of Albums: 12

Chart Performance: Thanks to “Werewolves of London”, Warren Zevons third studio album, 1978’s Excitable Boy, remains the late singer’s most successful effort to date, peaking at No. 8 and finally going Platinum in 1997. Outside of that, he saw relatively modest success — his final album, 2003’s The Wind, topped at No. 12 and was certified Gold — which perhaps explains why he’s been cruelly excluded all these years.

Accolades: After spending years behind the scenes, where he wrote for The Turtles and toured as a session musician for The Everly Brothers, Zevon really came into his own. He collaborated with greats like Jackson Browne and Fleetwood Mac, eventually becoming rock critics’ favorite best-kept secret. Although he’s remained a cult icon, even long after his sudden 2003 passing, his trademark wit and intuitive lyrics continue to inspire countless musicians year after year.

01. John Coltrane

John Coltrane Favorite Things 60th anniversary reissue
John Coltrane Favorite Things 60th anniversary reissue

John Coltrane, photo by Hugo van Gelderen/Dutch National Archives

Number of Years Snubbed: 44

Number of Albums: 45

Chart Performance: 1958’s Gold Train, 1961’s My Favorite Things, and 1965’s A Love Supreme were all certified Gold in the United States with the latter considered to be one of the greatest albums in jazz if not of all time. Though, it’s unfair to focus on commercial performance when the genre has consistently been marginalized by American audiences.

Accolades: Where do you begin? Arguably the preeminent saxophonist, John Coltrane’s legacy has influenced countless musicians and has changed the course of music history, from jazz to even rock ‘n’ roll. In 1997, he was posthumously awarded the Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award and 10 years later he received a special Pulitzer Prize for his “masterful improvisation, supreme musicianship and iconic centrality to the history of jazz.”

The 24 Worst Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Snubs
Consequence Staff

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