In order of importance.
Roxy Music
For many years they been ignored by the HOF but this year the biggest surprise. Led by Bryan Ferry and helped by Phil Manzera and Andy McKay, they went from Prog rock glammers to a more mellower MOR rock sound. They were rock with Phil Thompson on drums and John Gufstason on bass and Brian Eno added oddball sounds on the first two albums. They never made a bad album, in fact Avalon is fun music to get romantic with, but I enjoy the craziness that is their 1979 album Manifesto. Siren is a bit overrated, Country Life is better. Ferry's solo albums of that time had Roxy members guest starring but by the 1990s, Ferry's albums weren't standing out either. After Avalon, Roxy Music never made a new album, but did put out a couple a reunion albums that kinda captured the spirit of the early years.
The Zombies:
One of the best singles band from the UK, their Odessey And Oracle album probably were the inspiration for another Rock Inductee band Radiohead. The best introduction remains any of their best ofs out there. Rod Argent and Colin Blumstone are the only two remaining members of that band still out there. Varese Records did issued a couple comps with lesser known and b sides that are worth seeking out and loaded up the bonus tracks on OAO, which can be a good thing since the original album didn't go past 30 minutes.
The rest;
The Cure
Cutting edge mope rock. Their best years were with Sire but I really didn't pay a lot of attention to them. I did get a chuckle out of their Kiss Me Kiss Me Kiss Me album but the only album that ever made to my player was Staring At The Sea best of, later replaced with The Cure Greatest Hits. Maybe sometime I'll search the Sire albums to see what I have missed but for a band that gets lumped in with Bauhaus, I don't have that much enthusiasm to go look. Unless the records are in the dollar bins.
Stevie Nicks
I'm sure Lindsay Buckingham is LOL on this one and truthfully, Stevie's albums have been problematic. She was a sex symbol around the time of Rumors and Bella Donna and as time marches on, you wonder what the fuss the solo albums were about. Not exactly hall of fame material. Trouble In Shanghai has been my favorite of her solo output even with Sheryl Crow (2027 rock inductee) on it. Her shining moment remains, Silver Springs, the B side to Go Your Own Way and should have been included on Rumors, to which Rhino did tack on a limited edition reissue.
Radiohead
For most overblown and overhyped band Radiohead is first ballot all the way baby! OK Computer being the most overhyped album ever,tho' it does seem to be one of the more listenable albums, overall best ever? No. Kid A influenced a lot of the new acts (Lukas Graham, Franz Ferdinand) but to me it's a crap album. Best album I'd think would be In Rainbows, but I don't have a lot of use for Radiohead. They did shed that Cure Mope rock skin after Pablo Honey and became something more to the critics but they never did rock much.
Def Lepherd
This year's fan favorite. Their best was On Through The Night, which remains their hardest rocking album, and they traded Tom Allom for Robert John Lange and scored big time. There's a AC/DC influence on the next two albums and then Pyromania broke them big. They really had nothing to say with their goofy lyrics (rock rock till you drop, rock rock never stop) and Photograph had that trademark RJ Lange method of catchy lyrics and riffs and a hooky chorus to remember that song by. On Hysteria, they sold their soul to the classic rock radio mode (mold). Pour Some Sugar On Me is their answer to Yummy Yummy Yummy.
Janet Jackson
Like Radiohead JJ's induction was coming and like brother Micheal, Janet dominated the R and B charts of the 1980s, Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis the secret weapon. Control and Rhythm Nation are her two best but after that, I couldn't tell you anything off later albums.
And there you have it. Your 2019 rock hall members.
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