gold star for USAHOF

We have been working hard on our lists, updating our lists, and multiple projects, but we have a minor update on our initial core list, the Notinhalloffame Rock 600, where we rank the eligible acts who are not yet inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

Weeks before the Hall is likely to announce the finalists, we have finally reached the point where we can input the new artists who are eligible starting in 2026. 

The first act that we have included is The Strokes, who debuted at #28.

Look for more throughout the week, and thank you for your support of Notinhalloffame.

28. The Strokes

From the powerful music scene of New York City, the Strokes ushered in a revival of the garage sound, yet did so with a musical precision far beyond that of their forefathers.

NYC gave the world the Velvet Underground, the Ramones, and Television, and the Strokes sounded like they were an early 2000’s band that could have only existed in that city.  It didn’t hurt that, despite their thrift-store vibe, it was a group that formed in a prep school, with members coming from elite parentage; Lead Singer Julian Casablancas was the son of Elite Model Agency Group head John Casablancas, and guitarist Albert Hammond Jr was the son of the singer/songwriter of the same name. 

With rapid-fire angular guitar attacks, the Strokes' sound was distorted, yet freakishly tight.  Their debut album, “Is This It” was a much-needed return to the ethos of pure rock, and a departure from nu-metal that was the rage of the past half-decade.  The album was the darling of 2001 and set the tone for American rock music for the first decade of the millennium.  Later efforts by the Strokes saw them develop other elements to their brand, but they never veered too far away from what cemented their legacy.

This is the type of band that the Hall of Fame usually loves.

The Strokes

Like so many other bands, the Strokes knocked it out of the park with a powerful debut album, though they were unable to maintain that momentum. It is a common story, but it is not like they faded into obscurity like others, as they are generated a devoted group of fans, sold over five million albums and also for many revitalized Rock and Roll in the early 00’s. We can see the Strokes enter our list at a decent rank, but the Hall may be a little out of their reach at this time.