Trent Reznor (Basically, the only official member of Nine Inch Nails) never laid claim to creating the Industrial genre. We will say however, that this is the man that popularized it and gave it just enough if a pop sensibility to make it popular in the early to mid 90’s. As this was the decade where everything “Alternative” was given a chance, the brooding star took advantage of the opportunity and generated some of the best live performances of the past two decades.

The Manic Street Preachers may have been virtually unknown in North America, but they set the English music scene ablaze in the 90’s. Going against the Shoegazing and Acid House movements, the Manics seemed determined to put the rebelliousness back in Rock and Roll. They pushed an anarchistic Rock agenda and though they were a band that achieved notoriety though not necessarily chart success. That probably does not translate into a Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction.

He did not have a lot of success as “Romeo Blue” when he looked back at developing a Retro Funk career, but under his given name of Lenny Kravitz, success was found when he channelled a Classic Blues based Rock sound mixed with a bit of Psychedelic. Retro is a great word to describe Kravitz as everything from his style, his stage presence and of course his music, had a “retro cool” feel. Even though he had a remarkably consistent career, it is that Retro label that could work against him as the Hall may feel that he was not innovative enough and musically looked too much to the past as opposed to the future.

Leading the Punk Revival charge, Green Day has a claim as one of the more influential bands of the 1990’s. This was ironic as they never exactly broke new ground, but their echoes of the music that came fifteen years before, ushered in the Neo Punk movement. While doing this, they remained a relevant band and continued to outsell many of the bands they inspired. They would continue to play with their sound and add more political awareness to their lyrics, which may have aided to keep their shelf life significantly longer than most of the other Punk bands that existed.

Critically, they have are loved or hated, as their legion of fans is contradicted by the previous Punk generation who may feel they are on the poser side of the ledger. Whether that is true or not, they did usher in a revival of Punk and as such this is a strong contender for the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.




The Bullet Points:

Eligible Since:
2014

Country of Origin:
U.S.A. (Berkeley, California)

Eligible Since:
2014

Why They Will Get In:
They meet the influence criteria, and they have often been part of Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction ceremonies.

Why They Won’t Get In:
They aren’t considered influential by everyone, and they do have sizable detractors.

Nominated In:
Never

Essential Albums:
Dookie (1994)
Insomniac (1995)
Nimrod (1997)
American Idiot (2005)

Our Five Favorite Songs as Chosen by Each Member of the NIHOF Committee:
Longview (From Dookie, 1994)
Basket Case (From Dookie, 1994)
American Idiot (From American Idiot, 2004)
Holiday (From American Idiot, 2004)
Jesus of Suburbia (From American Idiot, 2004)