Hurricane Andrew’s 7 Votes for the 2026 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame

The nominees for the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Ballots are out and fan voting has begun.

While there are more than 1200 artists and industry professionals voting for this year’s nominees – and I’m not one of them – I can vote as a fan, just like our fellow listeners to The Fizz Radio by visiting vote.rockhall.com

Each fan can vote every day for up to seven artists.

As the resident owner of way too many CDs, I would say that I qualify as a fan, and so here are my 2026 picks for the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame

1. Phil Collins

You already know how I feel about Phil if you read my article about how Phil Collins is overdue for an individual artist nominee for the RRHOF. Yes, he’s in with Genesis, but with iconic songs like In The Air Tonight, Sussudio, I Wish It Would Rain Down, One More Night, Billy Don’t Lose My Number, and the Oscar winning You’ll Be In My Heart, and that’s just scratching the surface, his RRHOF legacy should’ve been self evident. Beyond that, his iconic Gated Reverb drum sound was everywhere in the 80s. From Frieda’s “I Know There’s Something Going On” to the opening drum riff of “Do They Know It’s Christmas” to the originator of the gated reverb – Peter Gabriel’s “Intruder” – even when he wasn’t on a microphone in the 80s, he was everywhere. Even Prince was influenced by that drum sound. It’s long past time for him to be in.

2. Oasis

Inescapable from 1994-1998, the brothers Gallagher were the dominant band of the mid-90s. They knew what they wanted to be with the brash sound of Rock and Roll Star, then accomplished that feat with the back-to-back classics Champagne Supernova and Wonderwall. Those two songs alone are cited and referenced in music and pop culture for years, but then you add Don’t Look Back in Anger – an anthem of its own, and Don’t Go Away – their last big single, and you are left with no doubt – this band is huge, significant, and worthy of the Rock Hall

3. The Black Crowes

I have to admit that my favorite morning song of all time is Thorn in My Pride. That fingerstyle acoustic guitar intro is so gentle – not at all urgent – yet as the song adds layers and singer Chris Robinson pleads “Wake me when the day breaks, Show me how the sun shines” I can’t help but be propelled into a new day. At the start of the 90s, The Black Crowes made two essential albums in Shake Your Money Maker and The Southern Harmony and Musical Companion. In a sea of grunge, their throwback southern rock sounds offered a counterpoint to the dark melancholy of the Pacific Northwest. Hard to Handle, Jealous Again, and She Talks to Angels, Introduced us to the good vibes, the walking bass lines, and Chris’ iconic voice. Then Remedy, Sting Me, and Thorn in My Pride reinforce their undeniable energy. Even later in their careers, they add one of the best driving songs of all time in Wiser Times and the country-influenced breakup song Good Friday still hit. No question this band should be in the RRHOF – they represent the ongoing legacy of Southern Rock well.

4. Melissa Etheridge

The smoky voice, the blues influences she wears on her sleeves, the triumphant messaging of a woman unafraid to be true to herself, and widely praised for the boldness with which she declared “Yes I Am” to the world. An absolute icon. Come to My Window can make an arena sing along at the top of their voices. That is, if they haven’t already lost their voices trying to keep up with her on I’m The Only One. Etheridge may be known as a gay icon, but those who lived during her most successful run know that the woman is a Rock icon, full stop.

5. INXS

The voice of Michael Hutchence makes you stop in your tracks. Whether he’s seducing you on a song like Devil Inside or revealing his obsession on Never Tear Us Apart – he will have your complete attention. Suicide Blonde, Disappear, and Beautiful Girl all have their place in the pop culture, but has there ever been a movie soundtrack that couldn’t have been made better if they just chose Need You Tonight? The songwriting, the lyrics, the unwavering charisma – INXS had it all. 

6. Billy Idol

The sneering pop-icon that soft-launched Punk as a viable pop strategy. The studded vest, the bleached spiky hair, the bad boy persona… none of that matters unless he can sing and write a song. And Billy Idol proved time and time again he could do both. Rebel Yell, White Wedding, Hot in the City, Cradle of Love, each of them loud, dark, and defiant. But when you hear Eyes Without a Face for the first time, it’s hard to believe that it’s the same person. 

7. P!NK

The last pick is always going to be the hardest one. In the 2000s, P!NK has represented a bridge between hip hop, pop, and rock, with all the sensibilities of each genre well represented. You know she knows this whenever she sings “So What, I’m Still a Rock Star…” as the synths, drums and guitars pick her up off the floor. There are too many songs that have each made a major impact on pop culture throughout the 2000s. Jumping into the public eye with “There You Go” followed by her feature in “Lady Marmalade” Pink went from being someone to watch to becoming someone you can’t escape. Get the Party Started, Don’t Let Me Get Me, Just Like a Pill, Family Portrait – All of these early singles introduced us to the vulnerable, thoughtful Alecia that remains true within the defiant and triumphant persona of Pink. Truth is a duality in Pink’s world – pain and victory, pride and humility. God is a DJ and the club is Pink’s cathedral. She’s political, opinionated, and unwilling to take shit from anyone. Honestly, has there ever been anyone more suited for the Rock Hall?

The honorable mentions are many, here. It’s undeniable the influence that Wu Tang Clan has on hip-hop culture and pop culture in general, and it would not surprise me to see them inducted. 

Joy Division and New Order shaped post-punk synthpop in the 80s, and became the soundtrack to John Hughes classics and forlorn teens everywhere.

Both Jeff Buckley and Luther Vandross had voices that to this day capture heartbreak and hope in both TV and film soundtracks everywhere, needle drops used like cheat codes.

And there should be a pop star hall of fame for icons like Mariah Carey, Sade, New Edition, and Shakira. I understand that the RRHOF has become the default here, but they deserve recognition for what they do so well, not to be shoehorned into a genre they themselves wouldn’t claim.

Finally, Iron Maiden. These rock gods should’ve been in by now. That said, they appear to have no interest in joining while they’re still taking breath. Iron Maiden vocalist Bruce Dickinson has famously expressed disinterest in being inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, calling it a “mausoleum” for “sanctimonious bloody Americans” and stating he would refuse the honor because the band is “not dead yet” – so who am I to argue with that?

Those are my picks for the 2026 RRHOF inductees. Tell me who you’d vote for? And don’t forget to vote at the vote.rockhall.com page – it’s free!