The votes are in for the 35th annual Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, with this year's class inducting the Doobie Brothers, T. Rex, Whitney Houston, Depeche Mode, Nine Inch Nails, and the Notorious B.I.G. Jon Landau — Bruce Springsteen's manager and producer, along with music mogul and Eagles manager Irving Azoff, will be both receive the Ahmet Ertegun Award.
To be eligible for this year's ballot, each nominee's first single or album had to have been released in 1994 or earlier. The Rock Hall induction ceremony will take place on May 2nd at Cleveland's Public Hall with the event airing live on HBO.
The other artists shortlisted for induction that didn't make the final cut this year are: Pat Benatar, Judas Priest, Kraftwerk, MC5, Motörhead, Rufus featuring Chaka Khan, Todd Rundgren, Soundgarden, Thin Lizzy, and Dave Matthews Band.
2020 marks the first time an artist — the Dave Matthews Band — won the fan vote but failed to go on to secure induction.
The Doobie Brothers' Tom Johnston admitted he was unsure how the voting would go for the band — but is clearly thrilled with the Doobies finally getting the nod: “It's pretty wild, man. It's a big deal. We're all pretty stoked. As far as getting in to where we are now, we didn't talk about it a lot. It comes up, but I think it comes up be cause the fans are always saying, 'When are you gonna be in the Hall of Fame?' And we hear that a lot. Of course, there's no answer for that, 'cause we don't know. We're very gratified that the fans have given us their support. I gotta tell you, that's a huge part of everything; fan support has been awesome — they've been great. That, really, is one of the reasons that we're here now.”
Pat Simmons remains the sole member of the Doobies to perform in every incarnation of the band. We asked him how he feels to finally be inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame: “A little overwhelmed, I guess. It's kind of a fickle process, I guess, in terms of how it ends up — you never know. Y'know, this is our 50th year, so we're like, 'How much do they like us (laughs) after 50 years, y'know?' And then it's somewhat embarrassing, 'cause other people that I feel are such, like, fantastic artists and so deserving were not selected and it kind of makes you feel — 'We're not worthy! (laughs)”
Michael McDonald views the Rock Hall induction as the kick-off to a pretty thrilling year for the Doobies: “It's terribly exciting and it couldn't be better timing with the 50th anniversary, it seems like it's kind of sending us out on the road with, y'know, like a feather in our cap, I guess, y'know? It's just kind of exciting to spend this year celebrating our friendship. It's something we're all looking forward to, for sure, y'know, that evening in Cleveland and the ensuing tour for the rest of the summer. I think for all of us, we share in that sense of pride in having been in the Doobies and been a part of that band and gotten to play that music for so many years.”
The late-Marc Bolan, whose image, music, and vision encapsulated T. Rex, admitted that settling into superstardom was easier than he could've ever imagined: “I find it exciting and I like to do what I do. I can't walk down the street anymore. I had to move, because I couldn't stay at home with hundreds of kids outside. It's a hangup for the neighbors — I enjoyed it, but it was, like, the neighbors got worried. I consider myself a craftsman at what I do, be it writing songs — I do it and give it to people and I like feedback. And if I don't get it, I'm very sad. And If I'm a dustman tomorrow, tough.”
Depeche Mode keyboardist Andrew Fletcher told us that there was time when he couldn't imagine a career that lasted a few years, let alone one that spanned decades with millions of fans spread across the globe: “I don't think we ever considered, really, that we were gonna last 20 years, two years, three years. I don't know. When we first started we were just having fun and it was a gradual thing. I mean, we were on Top Of The Pops — a famous pop program in Britain — and I was still at work at the time, y'know, which was a bit bizarre. That's what being on an independent label was about. So I sort of did Top Of The Pops to about half the population of the country and I went in to my work the next day.”
Trent Reznor admitted he changed his attitude regarding awards when he was honored with both an Oscar and a Golden Globe: “I've got 'em up on the mantle and, I've got to say, never been much one for trophies or recognition, but when it's coming from someplace that feels legitimate, it makes a difference. And what happened I felt was unexpected and it was flattering and I've allowed myself to feel pretty good about it.”
At his own Rock Hall acceptance speech in 1999, Bruce Springsteen saluted Jon Landau: “Jon's given me something beyond friendship and beyond guidance. His intelligence and sense of the truth, his recognition of my intelligence — we were worlds that collided. His creative ability as a producer and editor, his ability to see to the heart of matters, both professional and professional, and the love that he's given me has altered my life forever.”
During the Eagles' 1998 induction, Don Henley — with a little help from the late-Glenn Frey — paid tribute to their at times, notoriously intense manager, Irving Azoff: “(Don Henley): I want to thank Irving Azoff, without whom, we wouldn't be here today (applause). (Glenn Frey): Well, we might still be here, but we wouldn't have made as much money (laughter). (Henley): Right (laughter). As I've said before, 'He may be Satan — but he's our Satan' (laughter).”
By the early-1990's Whitney Houston felt that the only reason to be an entertainer was that it gave her the opportunity to share her gift: “I have a humbleness with what I. . . remembering it's the love for my music, and the love for making it, that I'm in it. Because, if it wasn't for that, I would've gotten out, because it's a nasty, nasty business. It is. It's lowdown. That part of it will make me want to get out, because there's a lot of. . . Lots of angles now. Y'know, I mean — where are we going (laughs)? What are we doing?”