[Photos] 20 Awesome Rock Groups that Deserve Induction to the Rock Hall NOW

Geddy Lee and Rush leads a group of deserving candidates for induction to the Rock Hall. (Photo Credit: Ethan Miller / Getty Images)

Last month, in announcing his intent to join his former Guns ‘N Roses bandmates in Cleveland this Saturday for the group’s induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, Slash stated he did so with reservation. While he appreciated the honor, he stated that “it’s sort of a bittersweet thing too because there’s so many artists that aren’t inducted, that came way before Guns did, that actually deserve more to be in there and they’re not in there.”

Now that the induction for 2012 has ended, the process will begin anew – and there are plenty of worthy candidates out there who have been waiting for YEARS. Check out the following gallery of 20 outstanding rock groups that haven’t been inducted, for one reason or another. Agree? Disagree? Think someone is missing from this list? Let us know in the comments below!

20 – Rush (Eligible since 1998) Rush, waiting for the call from the hall for the last 14 years, have no doubt produced a massive discography that embodies musical excellence. The Canadian progressive rockers have sold over 25 million albums in the U.S. alone, and appeal to the everyman in all of us with songs like “Working Man”. Such notables as Metallica and Billy Corgan have cited Rush as an influence on their own music. (Photo Credit: Ethan Miller / Getty Images)

19 – Jim Marshall (Contributor, eligible since 1980) Jim Marshall, “The Father of Loud”, passed away this year – and it is a travesty he still has not been inducted. Without the amplifiers and stacked speakers invented by Marshall, The Who may never have won the title of “World’s Loudest Band”. Marshall’s guitar and bass amplification systems are integral to the sound of so many of rock’s greats, including Jimi Hendrix, The Who, Motorhead, Judas Priest, and many, many others. (Jim Marshall, Courtesy by Marshall Amplification)

18 – Ozzy Osbourne (Eligible as a solo artist since 2005) Ozzy and his ‘mates in Black Sabbath had to wait 11 long years for their induction in 2006 – one that seemed like it would never come. With Sabbath, Osbourne was the voice of a group that invented a new genre of rock. After leaving Sabbath in ’79, Osbourne forged a solo career made possible through collaborations of guitar greats like Randy Rhoads and later Zakk Wylde. One of the most recognizable guitar riffs today is the opening riff from “Crazy Train”, from Osbourne’s debut solo album “Blizzard of Ozz”, heard in sports arenas all over the country. (Photo Credit: Larry Busacca / Getty Images)

17 – The Cars (Eligible since 2003) The Cars burst on the scene in ’78 with their self-titled debut, featuring such songs as “Let the Good Times Roll” and “Just What I Needed”. The band has dominated the airwaves – anyone who doesn’t know who the Cars are surely has heard a song (or three) of theirs before – and with over 17 million album sold, surely they belong in the hall! (Photo Credit: Kevin Winter / Getty Images)

16 – KISS (Eligible since 1999) KISS helped to take rock to a new level with their outrageous show, highly recognizable costumes and over-the-top antics. Guitarist Ace Frehley’s play has inspired scores of musicians from Rivers Cuomo of Weezer to “Dimebag” Darrell Abbott of Pantera. You wanted the best, you got the best – KISS. So why aren’t they in the Hall? (Photo Credit: George de Sota / Getty Images)

15 – Cheap Trick (Eligible since 2002) Cheap Trick, whose first album was released in ’77, were known in some circles as the “American Beatles”, merging heavy power chords with pop sensibilities. The group would later inspire such notables as Slash, Nirvana, and the Smashing Pumpkins. (Photo Credit: Jo Hale / Getty Images)

14 – Motorhead (Eligible since 2002) Quite simply, there is no Metallica without Lemmy Kilmister and Motorhead. The British metallers pioneered a fusion between the speed of punk and the heaviness of such bands as Judas Priest and Black Sabbath to create a new genre of music – thrash metal. The blistering intensity of “Ace of Spades” is a testament to their musical style, which helped to spawn such artists as Metallica, Slayer, and countless others. (Photo Credit: Daniel Boczarski / Getty Images)

13 – Heart (Eligible since 2001) Heart’s first recording, 1976′s “Dreamboat Annie”, featured the smash hit songs “Crazy on You” and “Magic Man”. The heart and soul of the band is sisters Nancy and Ann Wilson, the only members of Heart to be in the group throughout its entire history. Where would the state of music be without “Barracuda”? That song alone is one of the greatest in rock – Heart deserves induction. (Photo Credit: Kevin Winter / Getty Images)

12 – Bad Company (Eligible since 1999) Bad Company. Rock legends. And they’re not in the hall? Hard to believe, what with such great examples of musical excellence as “Bad Company” and “Feel Like Makin’ Love”. Not only that, Paul Rodgers may also deserve induction for his work with Free – Rodgers’ vocals make us all feel “All Right Now”, don’t they? (Photo Credit: Christie Goodwin / Getty Images)

11 – Judas Priest (Eligible since 1999) Judas Priest’s rise to prominence in the late 70s in the United States was at the forefront of the New Wave of British Heavy Metal. Their 1980 release “British Steel” is one of the greatest rock albums of all time, featuring the smash hits “Living After Midnight” and “Breaking the Law”. Judas Priest’s use of the dual guitar sound from K.K. Downing and Glenn Tipton inspired scores of future bands, as well as fans. Air guitar began its rise to prominence during the 1970s, when fans would make cardboard cutouts of guitars and bring them to shows to mimic the fretwork of Downing and Tipton. (Photo Credit: Kevin Winter / Getty Images)

10 – Electric Light Orchestra (Eligible since 1996) John Lennon once said that if The Beatles had kept making music throughout the 70s, that music would’ve sounded a lot like ELO. Jeff Lynne and ELO created such classic songs as “Evil Woman”, “Turn to Stone”, and “Mr. Blue Sky” (the happiest song you have ever heard..look it up!) Jeff Lynne’s status as emblematic of the Beatles’ sound was further confirmed when he was tabbed by George Harrison to produce “Cloud Nine” and by Paul McCartney to produce a new song that McCartney created from an old Lennon demo, “Free as a Bird”. He’s Beatles approved – let the man – and ELO – in already! (Photo Credit: Kevin Winter / Getty Images)

9 – Chicago (Eligible since 1994) Chicago’s massive body of work is remarkable, as is the quality of songs produced. Songs like “Saturday in the Park” or “25 or 6 to 4″ are standout songs for a group that has produced 22 gold, 18 platinum and 8 multi-platinum albums. Chicago has charted five No. 1 albums, and placed a whopping 21 songs in the Billboard top 10. (Photo Credit: Jerry Lai / Getty Images)

8 – Deep Purple (Eligible since 1993) Deep Purple was founded a few years before Aerosmith (1967) and the band has been no less influential. Perhaps the most recognizable guitar riff in rock music is the intro to “Smoke on the Water” – brilliant in its simplicity. Deep Purple, along with bands like Black Sabbath and Judas Priest, helped to invent and shape the very sound of hard rock and metal as we know it today. (Photo Credit: Richard Heathcote / Getty Images)

7 – Scorpions (Eligible since 1997) With massive hit songs like “Rock You Like a Hurricane”, “No One Like You”, and “Big City Nights”, it’s hard to figure out why the Scorpions aren’t in the rock hall already. The group has sold well over 100 albums worldwide, and have had global impact as well – their song “Wind of Change” became a number 1 hit all over Europe and was adopted as an anthem following the fall of the Iron Curtain in 1990. (Photo Credit: Frazer Harrison / Getty Images)

6 – Thin Lizzy (Eligible since 1996) From the twin guitars to the inventive lyricism of frontman Phil Lynott, Thin Lizzy produced some great rock hits over the years. Cited as a primary influence on Metallica, Thin Lizzy might have had a longer career if not for the tragic death of Lynott in 1986 from septicemia. “The Boys Are Back in Town”, “Jailbreak” and “Whiskey in the Jar” are only a few prime examples of Thin Lizzy’s musical excellence. (Photo Credit: Helge Øverås / Creative Commons [CC-BY-3.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0)%5D)

5 – Yes (Eligible since 1994) Some wonder if the Rock Hall induction committee has a problem with progressive rock bands. If so, they should get over it, because groups like Yes and Rush definitely deserve the call to the hall. “Owner of a Lonely Heart” is one of many reasons why the group deserve induction, as is the fact that the group has sold over 50 million albums worldwide. (Photo Credit: Rob Verhorst / Getty Images)

4 – MC5 (Eligible since 1991) In recent years, Iggy Pop and the Stooges finally received the honor of induction to the hall. The Stooges are often credited for being the first punk rock band, but there is no doubt that, Detroit rockers MC5 were another group that was instrumental in shaping the punk rock style. “Kick Out the Jams” was the debut album and song that made the group famous. (Photo by Jo Hale/Getty Images)

3 – The Moody Blues (Eligible since 1989) How does one define musical excellence? Well, the high-water point of The Moody Blues’ career was certainly their 1981 album “Long Distance Voyager”, one of 14 Platium and/or Gold albums by the group, featuring such memorable tracks as “Gemini Dream” and “The Voice”. (Photo Credit: Cory Schwartz / Getty Images)

2 – Ronnie James Dio (Eligible since 1982) Ronnie James Dio, is considered by many to be the greatest rock singer of all time. Completely self-taught, the first recording to feature Dio on vocals was released in 1958 (Ronnie and the Redcaps). Dio has collaborated with some of the greatest guitarists in history, recording such hits as “Man in the Silver Mountain” (with Ritchie Blackmore’s Rainbow), “Heaven and Hell” (after replacing Ozzy Osbourne in Black Sabbath), and “Holy Diver” (with his solo band formed in ’82). Shortly before his death from stomach cancer in 2010, Dio was honored at the Revolver Golden Gods award as the greatest metal singer of all time. Surely, there is a place in the Rock Hall for one considered by many as the greatest singer.. and he invented the ‘horns’ after all! \m/ (Photo Credit: Robert Cianflone / Getty Images)

1 – Link Wray (Eligible since 1985) What do you think of when you think of rock music? For many, the power chord comes to mind. Link Wray is credited as inventing that technique, powered by overdriven amplifiers. The man more or less made heavy rock music possible, beginning with his ’58 debut “Rumble”. Sadly, he didn’t live to see induction, passing away in 2005 – but after 27 years of waiting, there is perhaps no artist and contributor to rock music who is more deserving. Pictured above is one of his guitars, a newer model Fender Stratocaster, that he used in the last years of his career. (Photo Credit: Gene Natale, Jr. / 88.7 WJCU)