It’s easy and honestly fun to complain about the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Every year, they announce a class of inductees and music fans rise up in anger asking “how is so and so not in yet” or “how did this person get in before that person.” Or, my favorite, “what? That person isn’t even rock and roll.” We all do it. Hell, we’ve done entire episodes on how the Rock Hall screwed up.

But the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame has announced the inductees for the class of 2026 and they pretty much got it right this year.

Phil Collins finally getting kudos for his solo career, Billy Idol with that punk-pop sneer, Iron Maiden crashing the metal gates, Joy Division/New Order, Oasis bringing the Britpop attitude, the smooth sounds of Sade, R&B king Luther Vandross, and Wu-Tang Clan changing the game.

They rounded it out with Early Influence nods, Musical Excellence awards, and even Ed Sullivan for bringing rock into living rooms.

Look, it’s not the purest guitar-rock kickass class ever inducted, but it actually reflects how music evolved and shaped culture.

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