Rhino’s Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Inductees – 2020 Edition
The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame has revealed the list of artists who are being inducted into the hallowed Hall this year, and Rhino is ecstatic to note that there are four – count ‘em – four names on that list whose work can be found within our catalog.
Our congratulations go out to the following folks:
• Depeche Mode: Formed in Basildon, Essex in 1980, the group was originally formed by Dave Gahan, Martin Gore, Andy Fletcher, and Vince Clarke, but after Clarke left (to eventually form Erasure with Andy Bell), he was replaced by Alan Wilder, cementing the lineup for the better part of the next decade and a half. Although Wilder has since left the group, Gahan, Gore, and Fletcher continue to soldier onward.
• The Doobie Brothers: Formed in San Jose, California in 1970, the band has gone through a number of different lineups over the years, although it’s fair to say that most casual listeners tend to define the eras as “with Michael McDonald” and “without Michael McDonald.” That said, McDonald was not a founding Doobie, as opposed to Tom Johnston (lead vocals / rhythm guitar), Patrick Simmons (lead vocals / lead guitar), Dave Shogren (bass), and John Hartman (drums), who were. Although the Brothers have had some down time over the years, they’re currently active and touring the world and elsewhere.
• The Notorious B.I.G.: Christopher George Latore Wallace, a.k.a. Biggie Smalls, was born on May 21, 1971, and he was murdered in a drive-by shooting at age 24 on March 9, 1997, but while there’s all too little time between those two dates, he packed a heck of a lot of creativity into the time he had. There’s no question that he was one of the most influential rappers of the 1990s nor is there any doubt that he earned his place in the Hall of Fame and then some.
• T. Rex: When Marc Bolan formed this band in 1967, they were originally known as Tyrannosaurus Rex, but after a few years and a shift in sound from psychedelic folk to electric rock, Bolan shortened their name and raised their profile dramatically with the music he started releasing. While their commercial success may have been more substantial in the UK, their influence on rock ‘n’ roll in the ‘70s with songs like “Get It On,” “Metal Guru,” “Ride a White Swan,” and “Telegram Sam” stretched across the pond and around the world.
To commemorate this very important occasion, we’ve put together a playlist featuring the greatest hits by all four of these artists, which means that if you hit “shuffle,” you’re going to get a pretty mind-blowing mix of music, but just keep in mind that they all have one thing in common: they’re headed to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame!
