Soundgarden’s Kim Thayil said that it was Chris Cornell who changed his bandmates’ minds about the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
The band was just announced as one of the Hall’s 2025 inductees alongside Bad Company, Joe Cocker, The White Stripes, Cyndi Lauper, Chubby Checker and Outkast. Soundgarden were first nominated for the Hall in 2020, and are finally getting in after being nominated two more times.
In an interview with Billboard about the induction, Thayil explained that Cornell changed his perspective about the organization after the singer inducted fellow Seattle natives Heart into the Hall in 2013. Plus, two of Soundgarden’s contemporaries, Nirvana and Pearl Jam, were inducted in 2014 and 2017, respectively.
“I kinda came from a subculture of rock that didn’t quite get what all the fuss is about,” Thayil admitted. “Back in the ’80s, ’90s, when the Hall started, I probably was not alone in being part of a punk rock or indie metal scene that had an aversion to the idea. It was kind of hard to wrap my head around both a qualitative appraisal and a quantitative assessment.”
However, Cornell’s experience inducting Heart into the Hall showed him how important of an accomplishment it was to fans. It changed drummer Matt Cameron’s perspective of the accolade as well, who was inducted with Pearl Jam in 2017.
“In so many ways the fans got some kind of validation by having a band that was important to their heart and that they championed get (the honor). I know I felt that way about bands I believed in, whether the MC5 or the Ramones or KISS,” Thayil continued.
The guitarist added that Cornell would be really excited and appreciative about the induction, especially because he would’ve known how much happy it made Soundgarden’s fans.
Cameron and bassist Ben Shepherd are also happy about the achievement, according to Thayil. They’re also pleased that original bassist Hiro Yamamoto, who was in the band from 1984 until 1989, is being honored along with them.
“You have to reflect upon our formation and all the hard work, just the weird things we went through,” the rocker noted. “It’s a long way, and I enjoy sharing and seeing enthusiasm from my bandmates and our people in the Soundgarden community — management, crew, everybody. It’s great.”
The 2025 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Induction ceremony will take place at the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles, California on Nov. 8. The event will stream on Disney+, and ABC and Hulu will also have a special airing after the live event.
42 Hard Rock + Metal Acts Who Deserve to Be in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame
Somehow, these artists haven’t been inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame yet.
Gallery Credit: Chad Childers, Loudwire
Motorhead
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Motorhead
Metallica’s induction makes this omission even more glaring, since they’ve never hid Motorhead’s huge influence on their music. The prototypical thrash band, Motorhead were as consistent as they were influential. The late Lemmy Kilmister’s brilliant mixing of punk and metal, with a double-bass kick drum to keep things charging forward, still sounds brand new.
Linkin Park
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Linkin Park
Eligible for the first time in 2025, Linkin Park undeniably reshaped hard rock on a global level. The instant success of their debut album Hybrid Theory maximized commerciality in nu-metal and set the group up for mainstream success with audiences beyond rock and metal.
The band’s continuous desire to evolve, experiment and reinvent themselves, despite the risks associates with these ambitions, have kept them at the top for a quarter century.
With records sales estimates in excess of 100 million, Linkin Park’s deep connection with their fans has pushed these figures up high despite the fallout of album sales in the mid-to-late 2000s.
Living Colour
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Living Colour
As the ‘80s started to wind down, genre lines began to blur and Living Colour were at the forefront of rock acts starting to infuse elements of other genres into a musical stew. Bringing a furious brand of funk into their heavy style of playing, Living Colour became a critical favorite thanks to their 1988 debut album ‘Vivid’ and it’s politically-tinged, chaotically heavy breakout single “Cult of Personality,” which won the Best Hard Rock Performance Grammy. Whether it be reggae or jazz fusion, there was nothing off the table for Living Colour who often used different forms of music to share their politically and socially-motivated messaging. A 1993 split curtailed their promising career, though they later reunited. But the impact they had upon a whole generation of heavy music is undeniable — CC
Scorpions
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Scorpions
With over 100 million albums sold worldwide and thousands of headlining performances over the last 40 years, it’s a wonder how the Scorpions haven’t been in here for years. One of the greatest live acts in rock history, the band has never failed to deliver at top form. A household name for decades off the back of legendary records like ‘Lovedrive,’ ‘Animal Magnetism,’ ‘Blackout,’ ‘Love at First Sting’ and ‘Savage Amusement,’ what is there left to prove?
Iron Maiden
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Iron Maiden
Never having a crossover hit seems to have doomed Iron Maiden from Rock and Roll Hall of Fame consideration, but it doesn’t diminish their towering contributions. Eligible since 2004, these pioneers of the New Wave of British Heavy Metal have sold more than 85 million records.
Pantera
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Pantera
Just when metal had started to stagnate a little bit, along came Pantera to shake things up. Simply put, there was no one laying down licks like Dimebag Darrell at the time, and with Philip Anselmo, Vinnie Paul and Rex Brown also at the top of their game, Pantera unleashed an impressive string of albums in the ’90s. From 1990’s ‘Cowboys From Hell’ through 2000’s ‘Reinventing the Steel,’ Pantera were nearly untouchable.
Megadeth
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Megadeth
Dave Mustaine may have missed out on Metallica’s Rock Hall induction, but his band is worthy of its own spot. Megadeth have released such seminal metal releases as ‘Killing Is My Business … And Business Is Good,’ ‘Peace Sells .. But Who’s Buying?,’ ‘Rust in Peace’ and ‘Countdown to Extinction,’ among other classics. Members have changed over time, but Mustaine is Megadeth’s mainstay and the excellence of his musical legacy should be unquestioned at this point.
Alice in Chains
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Alice in Chains
As grunge began to take hold in the ‘90s, leaving the guitar theatrics of metal in the dust, Alice in Chains bridged the gap between both sides. With a riff-centric focus relying on downtuned, sludgy effects and a flair for simpler songwriting that grunge so readily brought back, the Seattle group authored nothing but classic albums in their first incarnation. While their reunion has been an overwhelming success with standout new records as well, the Layne Staley-led lineup is the one the Rock Hall can’t afford to sleep on.
Ronnie James Dio
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Ronnie James Dio
We don’t need a Rock and Roll Hall of Fame to tell us that the late Ronnie James Dio was a legend, but some recognition would be nice. He sang for Black Sabbath, who are already in. He also sang for Rainbow, who should be under consideration. And he led his own band that was pretty impressive too. With his amazing vocal range, “devil horns” hand gesture, relentless onstage energy and more than 47 million albums sold, isn’t it time the Rock Hall honored the eternal Dio?
Motley Crue
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Motley Crue
They may have expressed no interest in such things, but we’d still like to see Motley Crue receive this particular honor. Eligible since 2007, they helped define their age while stacking up a teetering pile of hits. Meanwhile, a blockbuster farewell tour showed that Motley Crue still resonate today.
Garbage
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Garbage
With ‘90s acts now becoming eligible, how about a nod for one of alt-rock’s biggest acts of the era? Garbage’s Shirley Manson became one of the most influential vocalists, inspiring a generation of young women who were ready to rock. Backed by Duke Erikson, Steve Marker and producer/drummer Butch Vig, the four-piece continually dropped some of the fiercest rock of the day. “Only Happy When It Rains,” “Stupid Girl,” the chart-topping “#1 Crush,” “Push It,” “I Think I’m Paranoid,” “Special” and “Why Do You Love Me” kept Garbage a heavy alt-rock radio presence from the mid’-90s into the early 2000s. — CC
Beck
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Beck
Beck emerged from the hipster hype of his breakout single “Loser” to become one of the more chameleonic musicians of his era. Since his early ‘90s arrival, he’s experimented with elements of rock, funk, folk, electronic music and country to always keep his fanbase on their toes with what comes next. Will it be danceable rock or a melancholic heartbreak record? Will it lean more pop or is he feeling something a little more guitar-centric? He’s amassed three Top 10 albums, a wealth of alt-rock hits and at press time is a 22-time Grammy nominee, taking home eight golden gramophones, including the 2015 Album of the Year for ‘Morning Phase.’ — CC
Thin Lizzy
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Thin Lizzy
Lush guitar melodies, groove-hungry bass licks and a street-born attitude are the pillars of Ireland’s finest rock export: Thin Lizzy. With a streak of classic albums rarely seen (including ‘Jailbreak,’ ‘Fighting,’ ‘Black Rose: A Legend’ and more), the quartet are still best known for all-time radio hits like “Jailbreak” and “The Boys are Back in Town.” Singer / bassist Phil Lynott possessed an indelible vocal charm, inviting and friendly, yet raw and convincing.
The B-52s
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The B-52’s
There is so much more to this band than “Rock Lobster” and “Love Shack,” not that 40 years of radio play would convince you otherwise. It’s the unfortunate fate of too many rock acts, whose rich catalogs are never rightfully recognized by the masses. Sure, those are THE hits when talking about the dance-friendly new wave/post-punk outfit that formed in Georgia in 1976 (“Roam” being another big time fan favorite), but it’s their quirky approach to it all that makes them such a standout beyond what’s popular on the airwaves. A lot of punk was snotty and riddled with negative attitude and The B-52’s leaned closer to the sun-soaked vibes of surf rock, even though their Athens hometown is about a couple hundred miles away from the nearest beach. Their influence is a bit understated, wielding more power in the underground than any mainstream standouts that came after them. —JD
Tool
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Tool
When it comes to musicianship, few in the Rock Hall can outshine the technical, progressive prowess of Tool. Much like Canadian prog rock heroes Rush, Tool are highly efficient writers who manage to take mind-bending complexities and package them in the form of a hit song. Hit-making, at least in the pop world, is truly a science, but Tool prove that it can be an artform with the right talent in place. Sure, they’re not the most proficient recording artist, but whenever they release an album, it arrives as a statement piece, one that fans will continue to dissect for years and even decades. In 2019, after a 13-year drought between albums, Tool’s ‘Fear Inoculum’ album achieved sales numbers rock and metal artists simply never see anymore, topping the charts in multiple countries including the United States. —JD
Anthrax
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Anthrax
With Public Enemy already in the Rock Hall, one would think Anthrax would be a lock! Their genre-shifting collaboration with the rap group on “Bring Tha Noize” reigned in the sounds of two chaotic groups, aligning their rock ‘n’ roll hearts. Of course, the New York thrash vets round out the legendary ‘Big 4’ and brought a new sound to the genre, implementing punk, hardcore and a melodic singer in Joey Belladonna.
Sonic Youth
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Sonic Youth
Led by the husband-wife duo of Thurston Moore and Kim Gordon, Sonic Youth are often mentioned as one of the most influential bands of the ‘90s. After toiling in the underground during the ‘80s, the group emerged as one of alt-rock’s pioneering bands in the next decade. The ‘Goo,’ ‘Dirty’ and ‘Experimental Jet Set, Trash No Star’ albums yielded moderate commercial success while delivering such noise rock staples as the driving “Kool Thing,” the grungy “100 %” and the danceable but rocking “Bull in the Heather.” — CC
Misfits
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Misfits
Alongside Ramones, Misfits are a band that has probably sold way, way more T-shirts than albums over the decades since their pioneering, rumbling sounds of punk rock rattled the world in the mid to late ‘70s. Being invisible to the mainstream hasn’t mattered one bit for the horror punk legends, whose gruesome themes, wailing “Whooooa-ohhh” choruses and raunchy guitar playing is still immediately identifiable as a crucial influence of even the newest of punk acts. It’s a thing we call being timeless. After Glenn Danzig and Jerry Only finally hashed out all their issues, the two hit the stage together (alongside other classic member guitarist Doyle Wolfgang Von Frankenstein) at festivals and other standalone appearances. Selling out Madison Square Garden firmly cements the status the underground had knew to be true all along. —JD
Slayer
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Slayer
Consistently heavy and consistently awesome! How can you keep Slayer out of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame? As one of “The Big 4,” they were at the forefront of thrash metal, delivered such timeless albums as ‘Reign in Blood,’ ‘South of Heaven’ and ‘Seasons in the Abyss’ and have maintained their excellence into the 21st century. Plus, they’ve long been one of metal’s best live acts with many fans marveling at their precision.
Smashing Pumpkins
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Smashing Pumpkins
Billy Corgan has been slightly dismissive of the Rock Hall in the past, but he has expressed a desire for Smashing Pumpkins to get the nod and we’re taking his side. The groundbreaking alternative rock band roped in a wide array of sounds from traditional rock to jazz to goth to new wave and more. One of the most unique bands of the ‘90s and netted three Platinum records and one Diamond (those are for in excess of 10 million copies sold)!
Stone Temple Pilots
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Stone Temple Pilots
Often lumped into the grunge scene, perhaps unfairly, Stone Temple Pilots were among the leading bands of the 1990s amid one of the most significant turning points in rock’s history. Whether they were grunge or more genuinely alternative rock, that pesky genre label doesn’t matter nearly as much as the quality of their music, its everlasting influence and the undeniable presence of the now late Scott Weiland, a textbook definition of a true frontman. With a string of four platinum and multi-platinum records to kick off their career (their ‘Core’ debut being the best seller at eight times platinum), and another gold album to boot, it is impossible to talk about popular music in the ‘90s without STP’s name being on the tip of anyone’s tongue. —JD
Blue Oyster Cult
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Blue Oyster Cult
Blue Oyster Cult are much heavier than their records ever let on. Combining a sometimes triple guitar attack, lyrics draped in the occult and mysticism and a rotating cast of lead singers from within their own ranks, BOC delivered some of the hardest rocking albums of the ‘70s. Their penchant for glimmering singles often takes most of the credit, but a little bit of digging unearths a catalog worthy of enshrinement.
Faith No More
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Faith No More
With Faith No More’s first album in 18 years, ‘Sol Invictus,’ arriving in 2015, it would have been apropos for the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame to induct these longtime metal innovators. Ever since their 1985 debut, the San Francisco-based outfit has pushed the envelope in terms of alternative metal, fusing it with elements of funk, hip-hop, prog rock and beyond. And with the addition of frontman Mike Patton to the lineup ahead for 1989’s hit ‘The Real Thing,’ Faith No More have helped influence droves of bands who have since followed.
Sammy Hagar
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Sammy Hagar
There’s much more to Sammy Hagar than Montrose, Van Halen and Chickenfoot. He had two platinum and one gold-selling album before joining Van Halen, and then three more Top 25 solo projects afterward. Hits like “Your Love Is Driving Me Crazy,” “Give to Live,” “I’ll Fall in Love Again,” “I Can’t Drive 55” and “Eagles Fly” are classic rock-radio staples too.
Melvins
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Melvins
Considered the forefathers of grunge, the Melvins certainly deserve their place among the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductees they helped inspire – namely Nirvana. Coming out of Aberdeen, Wash. (the same hometown of Nirvana’s Kurt Cobain and Krist Novoselic), frontman and founder Buzz Osborne took notes from Black Sabbath and Black Flag with their unwieldy sludge metal, which dates back to 1987’s debut. They even made it to a major label in the mid-’90s after Cobain cited the Melvins as influences.
Ministry
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Ministry
Ministry pioneered what went on to become the standard for industrial rock / metal, with repetitive, eccentric guitar rhythms, looped drums and an onslaught of effects. Mainman Al Jourgensen, an equally brilliant producer as he is songwriter, crafted caustic atmospheres that aligned with his violent drug abuse, resulting in a mechanized sonic hell across all-timers like ‘The Mind Is a Terrible Thing to Taste’ and ‘Psalm 69.’
Joe Satriani
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Joe Satriani
One of rock’s guitar virtuosos, Joe Satriani’s playing is downright moving. He can take listeners on a thrillride with revelatory tapping melodies, vocal-like lead playing, gorgeous soundscapes and that screaming lead tone. The Satch also pioneered the use of the pitch axis theory technique, setting his composition on an entirely different plane than his peers.
Korn
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Korn
Korn will be eligible for their first nomination in 2019 as no band can be considered for the ballot until 25 years have passed since the release of their first significant recording. Korn will first be eligible for the class of 2020 and their impact on heavy music in the mainstream is completely undeniable.
Styx
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Styx
Bringing a blend of rock and theater, Styx commanded the audience’s attention throughout the ‘70s and ‘80s. Having the benefit of two stellar vocalists in Dennis DeYoung and Tommy Shaw and a wealth of influences, the band continually kept things interesting. They were ahead of the game in providing two of the earliest power ballads in “Lady” and “Come Sail Away,” while also generating such anthemic hits as “Renegade” and “Blue Collar Man.” The ‘80s yielded such standouts as “Too Much Time on My Hands,” “The Best of Times” and “Mr. Roboto” before DeYoung’s exit, and a ‘90s reunion with DeYoung’s return saw another significant hit with “Show Me the Way.” Their 16 Top 40 rock singles is the most amongst any rock act not currently in the Rock Hall — CC
Dead Kennedys
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Dead Kennedys
The SoCal punk scene was the mecca for a new wave of angst-ridden, rebellious youths. One of the finest acts to rise from the area were the Dead Kennedys, who gained attention amongst outside circles for their name alone. Frontman Jello Biafra was the definition of wild, spewing politically-charged lyrics with a sense of goofiness that seemed to mock the establishment more with every word.
Janes Addiction
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Jane’s Addiction
Jane’s Addiction may not have the immense catalog many of their peers already enshrined in the Rock Hall, but the lasting impact of ‘Nothing’s Shocking’ and ‘Ritual de lo Habitual’ is undeniable. With a tour to commemorate the 25th anniversary of ‘Ritual’ that proves their staying power, Jane’s Addiction are also noteworthy for launching Lollapalooza, changing the concert festival for decades to come.
Jethro Tull
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Jethro Tull
You think maybe it’s the flute? We’re not exactly talking about a conventional rock ‘n’ roll instrument. That really fit Jethro Tull, though, as they took a canny combination of blues, folk and rock, combined it with the storytelling power of prog, and came up with something distinctly their own.
Bad Brains
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Bad Brains
Getting the Rock Hall to recognize bands with over 100 million albums sold worldwide is a chore all its own, nevermind getting the board to recognize crucial D.C. hardcore punk acts like Bad Brains. With the garage aesthetics of the Stooges, manic-paced rhythms and a springboard of a frontman in H.R., the influential act’s live show and underground hale effect is undeniable.
King Crimson
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King Crimson
All King Crimson did was light the match for progressive rock in 1969. Then hurtle it to a whole new level of improvisational brilliance in 1973. And then toward New Wave and math rock in 1981, and then toward heavier sounds in 1995. The only feat they can’t pull off, it seems, is getting some attention from the Rock Hall.
Ted Nugent
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Ted Nugent
A penchant for the outrageous makes Ted Nugent both the prototypical Rock and Roll Hall of Fame nominee and an outspoken musician perhaps doomed to never become one of its hallowed members. Focus on Nugent’s gonzo brand of guitar-melting rock rather than his politics, however, and this one is a no-brainer.
The Pixies
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The Pixies
The Pixies also had an indelible influence on the alt-rock boom of the ‘90s. While the Black Francis-led band produced only a handful of albums during its original tenure lasting between 1988 and 1991 (the Pixies released their first album in more than 20 years in 2014), those few albums helped fuel the work of countless bands to follow, including Nirvana and Radiohead. The combination of start-stop and loud-soft dynamics, inscrutable and often surreal lyrics and Francis and original bassist Kim Deal’s harmonies proved to be deeply influential then and now.
Uriah Heep
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Uriah Heep
Stateside, Uriah Heep many not carry the esteem of some others on this list, but their omission from the Rock Hall is not surprising given that their ‘70s rivals Deep Purple finally got the nod in the class of 2016. Going toe-to-toe with bands like Led Zeppelin, Purple and Sabbath during their heydey, Uriah Heep have sold over 40 million albums across the world and remain an arena act throughout a fair part of the globe.
Bryan Adams
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Bryan Adams
With the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame seemingly picking out the best of the artists that emerged in the ‘80s, it’s time to give Bryan Adams his due. The Canadian singer-guitarist amassed four Top 10 albums, 22 Top 40 hits, four No. 1 singles and rocked alongside some of the biggest names of his era in collaborations with Sting, Rod Stewart, Tina Turner, Barbra Streisand and Bonnie Raitt among others. Adams was a consistent radio and video star over the course of the ‘80s and early ‘90s, delivering hit after hit that have stood the test of time. When compared to his peers of the era, he’s definitely due. — CC
Oasis
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Oasis
There’s always been discussion of the search for the next Beatles in the U.K., and the closest that any era has come since the ’60s was the ‘90s success of Oasis. Led by guitarist-songwriter Noel Gallagher and his vocalist brother Liam Gallagher, the band generated a popularity in the U.K. that hadn’t been seen in years and parlayed that into a successful run stateside in the ‘90s and early 2000s as well. Over the course of seven studio albums, each of which went to No. 1 in the U.K., Oasis churned out such iconic singles as “Live Forever,” “Wonderwall,” “Don’t Look Back in Anger,” “Champagne Supernova,” “All Around the World” and “Stop Crying Your Heart Out” while selling out stadiums and playing some of the U.K.’s largest concerts to date. — CC
Slipknot
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Slipknot
Slipknot became newly eligible for induction into the Hall in 2024, and will definitely be the first of their kind if they ever do get in. To say they’ve had an impact on rock culture would be an understatement — they’ve amassed a cult-like following since the late ’90s and are one of the most beloved heavy bands still today. — LS
Chris Cornell
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Chris Cornell
It would be a bit surprising to see Chris Cornell get inducted into the Rock Hall before Soundgarden, but there’s just as solid an argument to be made for him as a solo artist. Not only did he front Soundgarden and Audioslave, but he also had a successful solo career, exploring different genres throughout his four albums. Let’s not forget Temple of the Dog, either. — LS
System of a Down
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System of a Down
Rage Against the Machine were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2023 because of the way they blended musicianship with strong social messages — so System of a Down are the next band who deserve to be recognized for the same. Their unique musicality makes them one of a kind, and there’s a reason why they can sell out the few performances they put on each year. — LS
