The 2026 Rock Hall Results: Snubs, Surprises, and a Wu-Tang Takeover
The Fan Vote: A Load of Bollocks?
We’re back with another deep dive into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, and honestly, we’re mostly here to brag about how right we were. Seymour’s back by popular demand—or maybe just because his parents spammed my inbox with bot emails. Either way, the 2026 class is officially in, and the results are a wild mix of “obviously” and “wait, what?”
First off, let’s talk about the fan vote. Over nine million votes were cast , but as we’ve said before, it’s mathematically almost irrelevant—accounting for basically one ballot out of 1,200. New Edition took the #1 spot with over a million votes but still didn’t get inducted. They join the “Top Rank Snub” club alongside Dave Matthews Band and Phish.
The biggest shocker? Mariah Carey. She finished 10th in the fan vote with half the numbers of New Edition. For an artist whose whole argument is built on popularity and chart-topping hits, that’s a massive blow.
Who’s In? The Class of 2026
The performing category is actually incredibly strong this year. Here is the rundown of who made the cut from the ballot:
- Phil Collins: A no-brainer. He joins the elite club of those inducted for both band and solo work.
- Billy Idol: He’s in. Seymour thinks the leather jacket and bleached spikes are a bit “poserish” at 70, but the talent is there.
- Iron Maiden: Finally. They tipped their hand by adding former singer Blaze Bayley to the induction list halfway through voting.
- Joy Division / New Order: Massive for the industry side. They were near the bottom of the fan vote but their influence on bands like Nine Inch Nails is undeniable.
- Oasis: They’ve spent years shitting on the Hall, yet here they are. Liam Gallagher’s social media reaction was predictably hilarious and self-aware.
- Sade: Our only “miss” in the prediction department. She hit #7 on the fan vote, which likely pushed her over the edge.
- Wu-Tang Clan: Because Wu-Tang is forever.
Special Honors: Queen Latifah and MC Lyte were inducted, though Latifah getting in as an “Early Influencer” definitely made us feel old as hell. Rick Rubin also grabbed a Musical Excellence Award.
The Cleveland Skip
One bit of news that stings: the ceremony is skipping Cleveland this year for LA. It’s likely due to the $135 million expansion happening at the museum—nobody wants to give an induction speech over the sound of a jackhammer. It’ll be back in Ohio for 2027, just in time for Beyonce to become eligible.
New Music: Five Songs That Don’t Suck
After the Rock Hall chat, we dug into some fresh tracks that actually deserve your ears.
- Plini – “After Everything”: A rare instrumental find. It’s got a prog-rock-meets-fusion vibe with some incredible, clean snare work. If you miss the era of guitar virtuosos like Steve Vai, this is for you.
- Tigercub – “Cut the Eyes Out of the Photographs”: Strong Absolution-era Muse energy, but with a more mainstream edge. There’s a spoken word bridge that really sets the track apart.
- Edgehill – “What’s the Appropriate Length of This Argument?”: Aside from the long title, this is pure OK Computer DNA. It’s spacey and atmospheric, featuring a muted ride cymbal that gives the piano and guitars tons of room to breathe.
- Belle and Chain – “Don’t You Worry Babe”: I caught them opening for Barnes Courtney recently. It’s a sultry, clear vocal from Spencer. The full band version has church bells and strings—total modern Western/Tarantino vibes.
- Barnes Courtney – “The Kids”: This is the first single from his upcoming live album. Barnes is criminally underrated. Whether it’s a full band or just him and an acoustic guitar, he can hold a room in the palm of his hand.
Keep searching for and listening to songs that don’t suck. See you next week!
