Rock Hall Cancels Live Induction Ceremony for 2020 Class

Author Erica Banas // Rock Music Reporter

July 8th, 2020 11:35 AM

The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame has announced it will forgo its live induction ceremony honoring its 2020 class due to the coronavirus pandemic.

In a statement, the Rock Hall said, “Due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame will replace the live 35th annual Induction Ceremony with an exclusive special honoring the class of 2020 Inductees. The program will air on HBO and HBO Max Saturday, November 7, 2020 at 8 p.m. EST.”

The statement continued, “Ticketmaster purchasers will automatically be issued a refund to their account.”

The Rock Hall also added that the 2021 induction ceremony will be taking place in the fall, instead of the spring, and will be taking place in Cleveland.

The 35th annual Induction Ceremony was originally scheduled for May 2 and was pushed back to November 7. The 2020 class includes Nine Inch Nails, Depeche Mode, the Doobie Brothers, Whitney Houston, T-Rex and the Notorious B.I.G.

GALLERY: Rock & Roll Hall of Fame’s Biggest Snubs

• Bad Company

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  Fronted by Paul Rodgers, easily one of the most-recognizable voices in rock history, you'd think Bad Company would've been inducted by now, but 20 years since they were first eligible for induction, they're still not in the Rock Hall.

• The Runaways

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  When it comes to influential women in hard rock, The Runaways should always be part of the conversation. A launching pad for Joan Jett and Lita Ford, the band's four studio albums feature some quintessential '70s hard rock jams including "School Days," "I Love Playing with Fire" and, of course, "Cherry Bomb." Their 1977 live album 'Live in Japan' is incredibly underrated, too. For added measure, a Runaways induction would make Jett a double-inductee.

• Jane’s Addiction

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  Jane's Addiction helped lay the groundwork for much of the 1990's alternative rock boom thanks to albums like 1988's 'Nothing's Shocking' and 1990's 'Ritual De Lo Habitual.'
• Eurythmics

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  Nominated in 2017 and 2018, the Eurythmics' unique blend of rock, pop and new wave with singles like "Sweet Dreams (Are Made of This)," "Here Comes the Rain Again," "Would I Lie to You?" and "Missionary Man" set them apart from most acts in 1980s. Between the powerful pipes of Annie Lennox and the producing prowess of Dave Stewart, this duo would on the surface seem like a shoo-in for induction, but they have yet to receive that honor.

• Tina Turner

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  While she was inducted as part of Ike & Tina Turner in 1991, the duo's success doesn't even come close to the album sales and tour revenue of Turner as a solo artist.

• Melissa Etheridge

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  Not enough is really said about how Melissa Etheridge came out as a lesbian in January 1993 only to nine months later release 'Yes I Am,' the album that would be her major breakthrough into the mainstream featuring hits like "I'm the Only One" and "Come to My Window." Looking back, that's a mind-blowing feat during a time when coming out wasn't always welcome as it is today. Add to the fact that she's consistently put out quality albums for nearly 30 years, has an incredible, easily recognizable voice and writes music that blurs the lines of rock, pop and folk, it's almost shocking she's never even been nominated.
• Carole King

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  King was inducted into the Rock Hall in 1990 as a non-performer along with songwriting partner Gerry Goffin, King deserves to be inducted as a performer on the strength of her classic 1971 album 'Tapestry' alone.

• Soundgarden

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  Soundgarden has been eligible for induction into the Rock Hall longer than most of their Seattle grunge contemporaries, and yet, they only received their first nomination for the 2020 class. Considering their influence on the generation of bands that followed them, it's a massive oversight.

• Iron Maiden

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  Iron Maiden's entire aesthetic, from their stage shows to their classic logo to their mascot, Eddie, is at least enough to get a nomination, but even that hasn't happened (yet) for the heavy metal icons.
• Pat Benatar

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  Benatar is a real tough cookie with a long history of being ignored by the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. While she finally received her first nomination for the 2020 induction class, she's been eligible since 2004!

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Author Erica Banas // Rock Music Reporter

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Rock and Roll Hall of Fame,Rock Hall