A Woodstock legend, two rap acts, an ’80s pop star and a variety of rock artists are headed to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
The Rock Hall announced this year’s inductees, including Joe Cocker, Cyndi Lauper, Chubby Checker, Bad Company, Outkast, Soundgarden and the White Stripes. It was the first time Cocker, Checker and Bad Company had been nominated.
The 2025 class will also feature female rap group Salt-N-Pepa and singer-songwriter Warren Zevon, who will both receive the Musical Influence Award. Late record producer Thom Bell, pianist Nicky Hopkins and bassist Carol Kaye will receive the Musical Excellence Award. Music exec Lenny Waronker, a former head of Warner Bros. Records who signed Prince and R.E.M., will be honored with the Ahmet Ertegun Award for nonperforming music industry professionals.
Artists who were nominated this year but didn’t get in include Mariah Carey, Phish, Billy Idol, Joy Division/New Order, Maná, the Black Crowes and Oasis. Phish, which led this year’s Rock and Roll Hall of Fame fan voting, is a popular jam band featuring Syracuse native Jon Fishman.
Cocker, who was best known for his cover of The Beatles’ “With a Little Help from My Friends” at the 1969 Woodstock festival, was backed by big names like Billy Joel and ZZ Top’s Billy Gibbons. Pete Thomas, a member of Elvis Costello & The Attractions, said Cocker is “about as rock and roll as it gets.”
Cocker, who also performed at Woodstock ’94 in Saugerties, had additional hits in the ’70s and ’80s like “Up Where We Belong” (with Jennifer Warnes), “You Are So Beautiful,” and “Feelin’ Alright.” He died in 2014.
Lauper, who is currently on a farewell tour, is the voice of 1980s hits like “Girls Just Wanna Have Fun,” “Time After Time,” “True Colors,” “The Goonies ‘R’ Good Enough,” and “She Bop.” Upcoming concerts include Darien Lake Amphitheater on July 15 and the Bethel Woods Center for the Arts on July 25.
Soundgarden, which featured late singer Chris Cornell, is a grunge band known for hits like “Black Hole Sun” and “Fell on Black Days.” Cornell was also acclaimed for his work with Temple of the Dog, Audioslave and as a solo artist.
Checker is most famous for “The Twist,” which hit No. 1 in 1960 and 1962, plus topped Billboard’s all-time list of the most popular songs on the Hot 100. His songs also include “Pony Time,” “Let’s Twist Again” and his version of “Limbo Rock.”
Bad Company was an English rock band featuring Paul Rodgers, Mick Ralphs, Simon Kirke, and Boz Burrell. The group dominated ’70s radio with songs likes “Feel Like Makin’ Love,” “Can’t Get Enough” and “Bad Company.”
Fans are hoping the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame will mean a reunion for Outkast, the Grammy-winning hip-hop duo featuring André 3000 and Big Boi, and the White Stripes, whose “Seven Nation Army” launched Jack White and Meg White from indie acclaim to mainstream success.
Artist are eligible for induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame 25 years after releasing their first commercial recording. Nominees are voted on by more than 1,200 artists, historians and music industry professionals. Criteria include “an artist’s impact on other musicians, the scope and longevity of their career and body of work, as well as their innovation and excellence in style and technique.”
This year’s induction ceremony will take place Nov. 8 in Los Angeles and stream live on Disney+. The event will be available on Hulu the next day and air in an edited format on ABC at a later date.
