Styx singer says what music fans were thinking about Rock and Roll Hall of Fame

by

The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame is okay, but it’s facing a growing problem: many of the artists they’re honoring aren’t actually rock musicians. While artists like OutKast and Salt-N-Pepa are talented, they don’t fit the rock and roll genre. It seems strange, then, that a classic rock band like Iron Maiden hasn’t been inducted yet.

Thankfully, the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame didn’t induct Phish in 2025. While they won the fan vote, the Hall of Fame should represent more than just online popularity – it shouldn’t be decided by which band’s fans are most active online.

Styx fans might need to make more noise online. Despite being incredibly popular in the 70s and 80s, the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame hasn’t yet recognized the band. Considering Foreigner was inducted in 2024, many believe Styx is equally deserving of a place in the Hall of Fame.

Former Styx singer Dennis DeYoung drops the brutal truth on the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame

It’s possible a Styx reunion could happen, but according to former lead singer Dennis DeYoung, it likely won’t be for a long time – perhaps not until the band members are much older, or even gone. He could very well be right.

Recently, musician DeYoung shared on Facebook that the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame should prioritize inducting artists while they are still able to attend and perform. He pointed out that some inductees, like Paul Rodgers of Bad Company, have been unable to participate in the ceremonies due to health issues, as will be the case in 2025.

Okay, so the former singer of Styx really laid into the Rock Hall after the 2025 induction ceremony. Basically, he thinks it’s messed up that so many amazing musicians have to be either seriously sick or dead before they even get considered. He brought up Joe Cocker, Warren Zevon, and others, pointing out they should’ve been inducted ages ago when they were actually successful. He’s asking what’s changed, and honestly, he seems to think the Hall just can’t shake its biases and finally give these guys the recognition they deserve. It’s pretty frustrating to see, especially as a fan of those artists.

The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame requires artists to have been releasing music for at least 25 years before they can be considered for induction. While this seems reasonable for artists who start young, it can be a long wait for those who begin their careers later in life, potentially delaying their recognition.

Even if it typically took 25 years for artists to be inducted after their first release, that would be acceptable. However, that’s not what happened with Joe Cocker, who was inducted in 2025 despite releasing his first music in 1969. Fellow inductee Warren Zevon also had his first release in 1969.

Artists deserving of a place in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame shouldn’t be kept waiting for years. As DeYoung argues, the Hall of Fame needs to be quicker to recognize and include talented rock musicians.

Read More

2025-11-15 18:00