9 Best Artists NOT in the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame

Anthony Faccenda

Last week, the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame announced its Class of 2015, which consists of Cheap Trick, Chicago, Deep Purple, Steve Miller, and N.W.A. Despite the addition of the five aforementioned acts, there are still many deserving musicians that have yet to be named to the HoF. Here are 9 musicians that are still waiting to enter the Hall.

Iron Maiden
Date of Eligibility: 2005

Pioneers of the New Wave of British Heavy Metal of the late 1970s and early 1980s, Iron Maiden are one of the most popular bands in history having sold over 90 million albums worldwide. Several of the band's albums, including Killers, Number of the Beast, and Piece of Mind are all considered staples of the metal genre. Since the band's inception in 1975, the band has performed over 2000 live shows.

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Harry Nilsson
Date of Eligibility: 1991

Whether he was putting his unique spin on other's work like his classic rendition of "Everybody's Talking" or writing his own memorable tunes like "Coconut," Harry Nilsson was a major singer/songwriting force throughout the 1970s. Nilsson, who also wrote the hit single "One" for the band Three Dog Night, won two Grammy Awards during his career and was voted No. 62 on Rolling Stone's list of the 100 Greatest Songwriters of All Time.

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Dolly Parton
Date of Eligibility: 1992

With over 100 million albums sold and eight Grammys to her name, one would assume that country legend Dolly Parton was already in the HoF. A member of the Country Music HoF, Parton has written over 3,000 songs throughout her career including chart-topping singles like "Jolene," "9 to 5," and "I Will Always Love You."  

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Warren Zevon
Date of Eligibility: 1994

One of the most-revered songwriters in history, admirers of Warren Zeon include a who's who of rock and roll greats like Bob Dylan, Neil Young, and Bruce Springsteen. Known for dark, yet witty compositions, Zevon is best remembered for songs like "Werewolves of London," "Lawyers, Guns, and Money," and "Roland the Headless Thompson Gunner." Zevon's final ​album, The Wind, which was released less than two weeks before his death, earned five Grammy nominations--winning one.

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Kraftwerk
Date of Eligibility: 1995

You might not recognize their far-reaching influence, but Kraftwerk's fingerprints are all over modern music. Whether its Coldplay borrowing the melody of "Computer Love" or Dr. Dre sampling the band's synth pop tones on "Under Pressure," Kraftwerk's influence can be seen across all musical genres. And what's more, artists like David Bowie, Depeche Mode, and Franz Ferdinand all cite the German band as a major inspiration. In 2014, Kraftwerk received a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award.

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Depeche Mode
Date of Eligibility: 2006

What's with the HoF's hate of electronic music? Like their predecessors Kraftwerk, Depeche Mode has been shut out from the Hall since they became eligible nearly 10 years ago. Since their inception in 1980, the band has had fifty charting singles and thirteen top 10 albums in the UK. Influential music magazine Q called Depeche Mode "the most popular electronic band the world has ever known." Known for their devout following, the band once performed for over 60,000 fans at the Rose Bowl stadium in Pasadena, Calif.

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The Smiths
Date of Eligibility: 2009

Led by iconic front man Morrissey, the Smiths graced the musical world with its presence for a mere six years, but the Manchester band's impact is still felt today. Three of the band's studio albums, as well as one compilation appeared on Rolling Stone's list of the 500 Greatest Albums of All Time. Known for indie favorites like "How Soon Is Now?" and "This Charming Man," the Smiths were named the "most influential band ever" in a NME reader poll in 2002.

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Whitney Houston
Date of Eligibility: 2010

One of the most recognizable voices in music history, Whitney Houston is one of the best-selling pop artists of all-time and is the only artist to have seven consecutive Billboard Hot 100 Hits. In 2009, Guinness World Records named her the most awarded female artist ever. Houston, who passed away in 2012, also holds the distinction as being the first woman ever to have an album debut at number one on the Billboard 200 albums chart.

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The Cure
Date of Eligibility: 2003

Impossible to label, the Cure has incorporated elements of goth, new wave, and pop to great success in songs like "Boys Don't Cry," "Friday I'm In Love," "Pictures of You," and "Just Like Heaven." Still going strong after 37 years, the band announced in November that they were embarking on a 26-date North American tour.