Rock Hall Chairman May Have Revealed Some Nominees for 2020 Induction Class
The 2020 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame nominees will be announced in the very near future, but new chairman John Sykes may have let some potential nominees slip in a new interview.
Speaking with Cleveland.com, Sykes said, “T. Rex and Depeche Mode were both nominated to get on the ballot, but so was Notorious B.I.G.”
The Rock Hall has been criticized for lacking diversity in its inductees, nomination committee and voter pool for years, and it’s something Sykes has acknowledged in recent interviews. Sykes said in a recent interview with Rolling Stone, “[Former Rock Hall chairman] Jann [Wenner] himself has said that it’s time to evolve. His work has been to make 1.0, and it’s time to take the Hall to 2.0. That means a more diverse board, that means more women, people of color, people who reflect the kind of music that’s now being inducted. We have to look and feel like the artists that come into our Hall. That’s just the natural transition.”
When the 2020 nominees are announced, we’ll all see whether or not T. Rex, Depeche Mode and Notorious B.I.G. are nominated, as well as whether or not the nominees truly reflect a more diverse ballot of artists.
GALLERY: 2019 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - MARCH 29: Inductee Stevie Nicks performs at the 2019 Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame Induction Ceremony - Show at Barclays Center on March 29, 2019 in New York City. (Photo by Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images For The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame)
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - MARCH 29: Harry Styles (R) presents Inductee Stevie Nicks (L) onstage at the 2019 Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame Induction Ceremony - Show at Barclays Center on March 29, 2019 in New York City. (Photo by Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images For The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame)
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - MARCH 29: Don Henley and inductee Stevie Nicks perform at the 2019 Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame Induction Ceremony - Show at Barclays Center on March 29, 2019 in New York City. (Photo by Jamie McCarthy/Getty Images For The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame)
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - MARCH 29: Inductee Stevie Nicks performs at the 2019 Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame Induction Ceremony - Show at Barclays Center on March 29, 2019 in New York City. (Photo by Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images For The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame)
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - MARCH 29: Inductee Stevie Nicks performs at the 2019 Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame Induction Ceremony - Show at Barclays Center on March 29, 2019 in New York City. (Photo by Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images For The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame)
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - MARCH 29: Don Henley and inductee Stevie Nicks perform at the 2019 Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame Induction Ceremony - Show at Barclays Center on March 29, 2019 in New York City. (Photo by Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images For The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame)
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - MARCH 29: Don Henley and inductee Stevie Nicks perform at the 2019 Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame Induction Ceremony - Show at Barclays Center on March 29, 2019 in New York City. (Photo by Jamie McCarthy/Getty Images For The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame)
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - MARCH 29: Harry Styles and inductee Stevie Nicks perform at the 2019 Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame Induction Ceremony - Show at Barclays Center on March 29, 2019 in New York City. (Photo by Theo Wargo/Getty Images For The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame)
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - MARCH 29: Harry Styles and inductee Stevie Nicks attend the 2019 Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame Induction Ceremony - Press Room at Barclays Center on March 29, 2019 in New York City. (Photo by Michael Loccisano/Getty Images For The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame)
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - MARCH 29: Inductee Stevie Nicks attends the 2019 Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame Induction Ceremony - Press Room at Barclays Center on March 29, 2019 in New York City. (Photo by Michael Loccisano/Getty Images For The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame)
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - MARCH 29: Inductee Stevie Nicks performs onstage at the 2019 Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame Induction Ceremony - Show at Barclays Center on March 29, 2019 in New York City. (Photo by Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images For The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame)
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - MARCH 29: Inductee Stevie Nicks performs onstage at the 2019 Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame Induction Ceremony - Show at Barclays Center on March 29, 2019 in New York City. (Photo by Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images For The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame)
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - MARCH 29: Inductee Stevie Nicks speaks onstage at the 2019 Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame Induction Ceremony - Show at Barclays Center on March 29, 2019 in New York City. (Photo by Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images For The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame)
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - MARCH 29: Inductee Janet Jackson attends the 2019 Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame Induction Ceremony at Barclays Center on March 29, 2019 in New York City. (Photo by Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images For The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame)
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - MARCH 29: Inductee Janet Jackson attends the 2019 Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame Induction Ceremony at Barclays Center on March 29, 2019 in New York City. (Photo by Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images For The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame)
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - MARCH 29: Inductee Janet Jackson attends the 2019 Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame Induction Ceremony at Barclays Center on March 29, 2019 in New York City. (Photo by Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images For The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame)
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - MARCH 29: Inductee Janet Jackson and Janelle Monáe attend the 2019 Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame Induction Ceremony - Show at Barclays Center on March 29, 2019 in New York City. (Photo by Theo Wargo/Getty Images For The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame)
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - MARCH 29: Inductee Janet Jackson speaks onstage during the 2019 Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame Induction Ceremony - Show at Barclays Center on March 29, 2019 in New York City. (Photo by Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images For The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame)
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - MARCH 29: Inductee Janet Jackson speaks onstage during the 2019 Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame Induction Ceremony - Show at Barclays Center on March 29, 2019 in New York City.
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - MARCH 29: Inductee Janet Jackson speaks onstage during the 2019 Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame Induction Ceremony - Show at Barclays Center on March 29, 2019 in New York City. (Photo by Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images For The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame)
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - MARCH 29: Inductee Janet Jackson speaks onstage during the 2019 Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame Induction Ceremony - Show at Barclays Center on March 29, 2019 in New York City.
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - MARCH 29: Inductee Janet Jackson and Janelle Monáe attend the 2019 Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame Induction Ceremony - Show at Barclays Center on March 29, 2019 in New York City. (Photo by Theo Wargo/Getty Images For The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame)
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - MARCH 29: Inductee Janet Jackson and Janelle Monáe attend the 2019 Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame Induction Ceremony - Show at Barclays Center on March 29, 2019 in New York City.
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - MARCH 29: Inductee Janet Jackson attends the 2019 Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame Induction Ceremony at Barclays Center on March 29, 2019 in New York City. (Photo by Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images For The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame)
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - MARCH 29: Inductee Janet Jackson poses in the press room at the 2019 Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame Induction Ceremony - Press Room at Barclays Center on March 29, 2019 in New York City. (Photo by Michael Loccisano/Getty Images For The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame)
(Photo by Michael Loccisano/Getty Images For The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame)
(Photo by Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images For The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame)
(Photo by Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images For The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame)
(Photo by Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images For The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame)
(Photo by Jamie McCarthy/Getty Images For The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame)
(Photo by Theo Wargo/Getty Images For The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame)
(Photo by Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images For The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame)
(Photo by Jamie McCarthy/Getty Images For The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame)
(Photo by Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images For The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame)
(Photo by Jamie McCarthy/Getty Images For The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame)
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - MARCH 29: (L-R) Inductees Reeves Gabrels, Simon Gallup, Robert Smith, Roger O'Donnell and Jason Cooper of The Cure attend the 2019 Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame Induction Ceremony at Barclays Center on March 29, 2019 in New York City. (Photo by Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images For The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame)
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - MARCH 29: Inductee Robert Smith of The Cure performs at the 2019 Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame Induction Ceremony - Show at Barclays Center on March 29, 2019 in New York City. (Photo by Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images For The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame)
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - MARCH 29: Trent Reznor introduces inductees The Cure onstage at the 2019 Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame Induction Ceremony - Show at Barclays Center on March 29, 2019 in New York City. (Photo by Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images For The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame)
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - MARCH 29: Inductee Robert Smith of The Cure performs at the 2019 Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame Induction Ceremony - Show at Barclays Center on March 29, 2019 in New York City. (Photo by Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images For The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame)
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - MARCH 29: Trent Reznor introduces inductees The Cure onstage at the 2019 Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame Induction Ceremony - Show at Barclays Center on March 29, 2019 in New York City. (Photo by Jamie McCarthy/Getty Images For The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame)
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - MARCH 29: Trent Reznor introduces inductees The Cure onstage at the 2019 Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame Induction Ceremony - Show at Barclays Center on March 29, 2019 in New York City. (Photo by Jamie McCarthy/Getty Images For The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame)
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - MARCH 29: Inductee Robert Smith and members of The Cure speak onstage at the 2019 Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame Induction Ceremony - Show at Barclays Center on March 29, 2019 in New York City. (Photo by Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images For The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame)
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - MARCH 29: Inductee Robert Smith (C) and members of The Cure speak onstage at the 2019 Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame Induction Ceremony - Show at Barclays Center on March 29, 2019 in New York City. (Photo by Jamie McCarthy/Getty Images For The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame)
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - MARCH 29: Inductee Robert Smith (L) of The Cure performs at the 2019 Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame Induction Ceremony - Show at Barclays Center on March 29, 2019 in New York City. (Photo by Jamie McCarthy/Getty Images For The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame)
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - MARCH 29: (L-R) Inductees Michael Dempsey, Pearl Thompson, Perry Bamonte, Boris Williams, Lol Tolhurst of The Cure attend the 2019 Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame Induction Ceremony - Press Room at Barclays Center on March 29, 2019 in New York City. (Photo by Michael Loccisano/Getty Images For The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame)
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - MARCH 29: Inductee Bryan Ferry of Roxy Music performs at the 2019 Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame Induction Ceremony - Show at Barclays Center on March 29, 2019 in New York City. (Photo by Jamie McCarthy/Getty Images For The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame)
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - MARCH 29: Inductees Bryan Ferry, Phil Manzanera, and Andy Mackay of Roxy Music speak onstage at the 2019 Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame Induction Ceremony - Show at Barclays Center on March 29, 2019 in New York City. (Photo by Jamie McCarthy/Getty Images For The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame)
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - MARCH 29: Inductees Bryan Ferry and Andy Mackay of Roxy Music perform onstage at the 2019 Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame Induction Ceremony - Show at Barclays Center on March 29, 2019 in New York City. (Photo by Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images For The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame)
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - MARCH 29: Inductees Phil Manzanera, Bryan Ferry, and Eddie Jobson of Roxy Music speak onstage at the 2019 Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame Induction Ceremony - Show at Barclays Center on March 29, 2019 in New York City. (Photo by Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images For The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame)
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - MARCH 29: Inductees Phil Manzanera and Bryan Ferry of Roxy Music perform at the 2019 Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame Induction Ceremony - Show at Barclays Center on March 29, 2019 in New York City. (Photo by Jamie McCarthy/Getty Images For The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame)
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - MARCH 29: Inductees Eddie Jobson, Phil Manzanera, Bryan Ferry, and Andy Mackay of Roxy Music perform at the 2019 Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame Induction Ceremony - Show at Barclays Center on March 29, 2019 in New York City. (Photo by Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images For The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame)
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - MARCH 29: Inductees Phil Manzanera and Bryan Ferry of Roxy Music perform at the 2019 Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame Induction Ceremony - Show at Barclays Center on March 29, 2019 in New York City. (Photo by Jamie McCarthy/Getty Images For The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame)
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - MARCH 29: John Taylor and Simon Le Bon of Duran Duran speak onstage at the 2019 Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame Induction Ceremony - Show at Barclays Center on March 29, 2019 in New York City. (Photo by Jamie McCarthy/Getty Images For The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame)
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - MARCH 29: John Taylor and Simon Le Bon of Duran Duran speak onstage at the 2019 Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame Induction Ceremony - Show at Barclays Center on March 29, 2019 in New York City. (Photo by Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images For The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame)
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - MARCH 29: John Taylor and Simon Le Bon of Duran Duran speak onstage at the 2019 Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame Induction Ceremony - Show at Barclays Center on March 29, 2019 in New York City. (Photo by Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images For The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame)
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - MARCH 29: The Bangles’ Susanna Hoffs attends the 2019 Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame Induction Ceremony at Barclays Center on March 29, 2019 in New York City. (Photo by Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images For The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame)
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - MARCH 29: The Bangles’ Susanna Hoffs speaks onstage during the 2019 Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame Induction Ceremony - Show at Barclays Center on March 29, 2019 in New York City. (Photo by Jamie McCarthy/Getty Images For The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame)
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - MARCH 29: The Bangles’ Susanna Hoffs speaks onstage during the 2019 Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame Induction Ceremony - Show at Barclays Center on March 29, 2019 in New York City. (Photo by Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images For The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame)
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - MARCH 29: Rod Argent, Hugh Grundy, Chris White, and Colin Blunstone of The Zombies attend the 2019 Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame Induction Ceremony at Barclays Center on March 29, 2019 in New York City. (Photo by Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images For The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame)
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - MARCH 29: Rod Argent, Hugh Grundy, Chris White, and Colin Blunstone of The Zombies attend the 2019 Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame Induction Ceremony at Barclays Center on March 29, 2019 in New York City. (Photo by Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images For The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame)
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - MARCH 29: Inductees Chris White, Colin Blunstone and Tom Toomey of The Zombies perform at the 2019 Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame Induction Ceremony - Show at Barclays Center on March 29, 2019 in New York City. (Photo by Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images For The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame)
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - MARCH 29: Inductee Colin Blunstone of The Zombies performs at the 2019 Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame Induction Ceremony - Show at Barclays Center on March 29, 2019 in New York City. (Photo by Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images For The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame)
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - MARCH 29: Inductees Rod Argent, Chris White and Colin Blunstone of The Zombies perform at the 2019 Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame Induction Ceremony - Show at Barclays Center on March 29, 2019 in New York City. (Photo by Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images For The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame)
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - MARCH 29: Inductees Chris White and Colin Blunstone of The Zombies perform onstage at the 2019 Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame Induction Ceremony - Show at Barclays Center on March 29, 2019 in New York City. (Photo by Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images For The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame)
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - MARCH 29: David Byrne speaks onstage at the 2019 Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame Induction Ceremony - Show at Barclays Center on March 29, 2019 in New York City. (Photo by Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images For The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame)
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - MARCH 29: David Byrne speaks onstage at the 2019 Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame Induction Ceremony - Show at Barclays Center on March 29, 2019 in New York City. (Photo by Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images For The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame)
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - MARCH 29: David Byrne speaks onstage at the 2019 Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame Induction Ceremony - Show at Barclays Center on March 29, 2019 in New York City. (Photo by Jamie McCarthy/Getty Images For The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame)
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - MARCH 29: Inductees Philip Selway and Ed O'Brien of Radiohead attend the 2019 Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame Induction Ceremony at Barclays Center on March 29, 2019 in New York City. (Photo by Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images For The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame)
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - MARCH 29: Inductees Ed O'Brien and Philip Selway of Radiohead speak onstage with David Byrne at the 2019 Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame Induction Ceremony - Show at Barclays Center on March 29, 2019 in New York City. (Photo by Jamie McCarthy/Getty Images For The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame)