There are some bands and artists whom I personally believe should be inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Some of these groups have been nominated more than once, but none have been inducted. Which is rather strange since the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame has inducted other genres, which have nothing to do in relation to rock and roll music, but has excluded these rock and roll bands.

Deep Purple
I had to do some digging myself and was unbelievably shocked when I discovered that Deep Purple was not inducted into the Hall of Fame. This is the band that made “Smoke on the Water.” Deep Purple was a major pioneer in the Hard Rock movement. They had the reputation of great performers, great musicianship, and the hit albums that their contemporaries did. Unfortunately, Deep Purple had several lineup changes throughout their existence, making that the only actual “set back” for them to exclude them from the inductions that their peers have experienced. “Smoke on the Water” tells the story of a fan shooting a flare gun during a 1971 Frank Zappa show at the Casino in Montreux, Switzerland, setting the venue ablaze. “Smoke on the Water” also includes one of the most famous guitar riffs of all time.
Steppenwolf
Steppenwolf’s induction is beyond overdue. Steppenwolf was the band that made songs that defined a generation and were the soundtrack to Easy Rider, a movie which also defined a generation and properly demonstrated what many young people were feeling in late 1960s America. I cannot think of one reason why Steppenwolf is not in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Everyone should be familiar with Steppenwolf’s hit song “Born to be Wild.” If you aren’t, I highly suggest you give it a listen and familiarize yourself with a song that has been severely overplayed for the past 50 years. “Born to be Wild” also made history by featuring the words “heavy metal” in a musical composition, giving Steppenwolf the main credit of coining the term heavy metal in its current use. Steppenwolf also had its share of songs, which showed both sides of the drug culture of the 1960s, with songs such as “Magic Carpet Ride” and “The Pusher.”
Warren Zevon
Warren Zevon is a folk rock artist. His music was full of sarcasm, and you can hear it in his voice. Although he is often remembered as a one hit wonder with his song “Werewolves of London,” his lyrics and music far surpass the “one hit wonder” title. Jackson Browne, Tom Petty, and Bruce Springsteen have called him one of the greatest songwriters. Warren Zevon never stopped making music, even while literally dying and in severe pain from terminal cancer. His last album was The Wind; it was released two weeks before he died.
I actually just saw Joan Jett, one of the newest members of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. She opened for The Who concert I recently saw. Perhaps I will write an article about that experience one day.