Manchester-based bands Oasis and New Order are among the 14 musical acts under consideration for induction into the esteemed Rock and Roll Hall of Fame this year. Notable artists on the 2025 longlist also include Mariah Carey, Cyndi Lauper, and The White Stripes.
Half of the nominees are first-timers, such as English punk figure Billy Idol, rock pioneer Chubby Checker, and the soulful Joe Cocker. Artists become eligible for nomination 25 years after their first commercial recording release. The voting process has begun, with the final inductees set to be announced in April.
Around half of the nominees will eventually be honored with induction later in the year. Oasis, a band with a previous nomination in 2024, is gearing up for a highly anticipated reunion tour starting in Cardiff this July.
Despite previous criticisms from Oasis singer Liam Gallagher regarding the Hall of Fame, the band’s inclusion this year marks an exciting development. In a humorous yet pointed response, Gallagher noted Oasis possibly didn’t deserve the nomination “as much as Mariah [Carey],” acknowledging her impressive career achievements.
In a surprising turn of events last year, both Oasis and Carey were overlooked for induction, with voters selecting Cher, Mary J Blige, Ozzy Osbourne, and A Tribe Called Quest instead. Carey humorously remarked on her exclusion, mentioning her lawyer’s Hall of Fame induction before hers.
The Hall of Fame has faced scrutiny for certain oversights, including Mariah Carey’s delayed nomination despite her chart-topping success. Notable absences like Iron Maiden, Daft Punk, Wu-Tang Clan, and The Smiths have raised questions among fans and industry observers.
Winners are selected by a diverse panel of 1,200 musicians, historians, and music professionals, with fans also having a voice through online voting. This year’s nominations highlight ongoing issues of gender and genre diversity, with a need for greater representation of women and rap artists in the Hall of Fame.
British artists feature prominently in this year’s selection, with acts like Bad Company and Joe Cocker joining the lineup. Joy Division and New Order are jointly nominated, recognizing their influential contributions to the post-punk and electronic music scenes.
Despite past criticisms, the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame remains a significant institution in celebrating the musical legacies of diverse artists across genres and eras.
In the world of rock music, relationships between band members can be as tumultuous as the music they create together. One such band that has experienced its share of ups and downs is New Order, who have been embroiled in a public rift with their original bassist, Peter Hook, since 2011. Despite this discord, the band has continued to tour, albeit without Hook in the lineup.
Recently, as New Order received yet another nomination for induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, there was speculation about whether this could be the catalyst for a reconciliation between the estranged band members. Speaking about the nomination, Peter Hook himself mused that the ceremony could potentially serve as an “olive branch” for the band to mend fences and move forward together.
The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction ceremony has a storied history of bringing together feuding bandmates, offering a platform for reunions that fans never thought possible. Iconic bands like Led Zeppelin, Talking Heads, the Police, Simon & Garfunkel, and Cream have all set aside their differences to accept this prestigious honor on stage together.
However, not all bands have been able to set aside their grievances for the sake of the ceremony. In the past, there have been instances where tensions ran too deep for a reunion to take place. For example, Roger Waters famously declined to join Pink Floyd for their induction in 1996, citing irreconcilable differences. Similarly, Axl Rose chose to skip Guns N’ Roses’ big moment in 2012, voicing his feelings of being unwanted and disrespected by the ceremony.
The dynamics within bands are complex and multifaceted, often shaped by years of collaboration, success, and conflicts. For New Order, the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame nomination serves as a poignant reminder of the bonds that once united them and the fractures that now divide them. As fans eagerly await the outcome of this latest chapter in the band’s history, the possibility of a reunion at the ceremony looms large, offering a glimmer of hope for those who yearn to see the original lineup back together once more.
In the ever-evolving landscape of rock music, where egos clash and creative visions diverge, the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction ceremony stands as a symbolic moment of celebration and reflection. It is a time for bands to come together, to honor their legacy, and to perhaps, in some cases, reconcile their differences for the sake of the music that brought them together in the first place.
As the countdown to the ceremony begins, all eyes are on New Order and Peter Hook, waiting to see if this prestigious event will indeed be the catalyst for a long-awaited reunion or if the divisions between them will prove too deep to bridge. Only time will tell whether the power of music and the spirit of rock and roll can triumph over personal animosities, paving the way for a triumphant return to harmony for these iconic musicians.
