The 10 Most Controversial Rockers To Enter The Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame
The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in Ohio honors iconic musical artists by inducting them in annual ceremonies. Even though several R&B, jazz, pop, and hip-hop stalwarts have been inducted, the vast majority of artists tend to fall broadly under the rock genre of popular music.
While these inductees are well-reputed for their art, some of them have had quite a controversial past. Controversies can often be around the persona and music of the artists. This can be seen in the case of bands like The Clash, whose political style of music was considered to be quite unconventional in their time. However, for other rock n rollers, like Steven Tyler or Gene Simmons, their behavior and ideologies continue to be contentious and polarizing, even today.
10 Anthony Kiedis (The Red Hot Chili Peppers)
The Red Hot Chili Peppers have always been a little 'extra' in their performances, relying on bouts of adrenaline-fueled energy and stage antics. However, lead singer Anthony Kiedis' memoir Scar Tissue brings forwards some unsettling observations from his younger days.
Once, during a tour, then-23-year-old Kiedis engaged in sexual activity with a 14-year-old girl, knowingly committing statutory rape. Despite the fact that he claims the act was consensual and even inspired the song Catholic School Girls Rule, the fact that his sexual partner was a minor cannot be overlooked.
9 John Lennon (The Beatles)
John Lennon enraged Christian conservatives with his famous quote that jokingly positioned The Beatles as "more popular than Jesus." However, his religious controversies and anti-war statements aside, Lennon was also accused of domestic abuse by his first wife, Cynthia Lennon.
Cynthia recounts that he physically struck her once after he found her dancing with another man. This incident eventually led to their separation. Lennon himself claimed that he had been highly chauvinistic before he met Yoko Ono. "I used to be cruel to my woman, and physically – any woman. I was a hitter," the singer said in an interview.
8 The Rolling Stones
When Mick Jagger was selected as a candidate to be knighted by The Queen, the monarch scheduled a knee surgery (probably an intentional decision) and let the Prince of Wales handle the proceedings instead. This sums up the infamous nature of Jagger and his group. Queen Elizabeth II has also had issues with him for his closeness to the late Princess Margaret and his rejection of the monarchy (referring to her as 'The Chief Witch").
On top of this, Jagger and The Rolling Stones guitarist, Keith Richards, has had many run-ins with the law, chiefly for their drug-fueled, sexually-charged parties. When asked about their encounters with groupies and the sexist elements of their album, Some Girls, Jagger was noted saying that their next album would be more "racist and sexist." Hence, the band and its vocalist have courted controversy since their heyday.
7 Michael Jackson
Apart from his stellar discography and undeniable influence on the music industry, Michael Jackson had always been a man of controversy. From his plastic surgery to his publicized marriages, he often drew the scrutiny of the paparazzi.
His death itself created controversy, with his personal physician Conrad Murray being convicted of involuntary manslaughter in 2011. But even in his lifetime, he was in the midst of two sexual abuse allegations (both involving minors). In 2005, he said that he saw nothing wrong in having "sleepovers with children," a statement that aroused more controversy, even though Jackson later clarified that these sleepovers were meant to be non-sexual.
6 The Clash
The Clash's songs bear testimony to the rock band's socialist thought processes, one that visibly angered conservatives. Through Sandinista, they celebrated the victory of left-wing rebels over Nicaraguan dictator, Anastasio Debayle. Their magnum opus, White Riot, expressed their angst around white passiveness and police brutality, documenting the 1976 riots at Notting Hill Carnival by London's Caribbean residents.
These are just a few examples that show how The Clash set the stage for advocating politics through punk rock, often criticizing the monarchy and aristocracy. The Sex Pistols and The Clash arguably ushered in a new era of politically-conscious music.
5 Axl Rose (Guns N' Roses)
Axl Rose and the rest of his bandmates have always had a "bad boy" persona, but they are also regarded as pioneers in their field. Guns N' Roses guitarist, Slash, continues to win over fans, but as for Rose, his lyrics and views on One In a Million haven't aged well for some.
The 1988 track finds the singer rambling on several topics, like the police and religious fanatics. While his frustration here seems to be justified, Rose went a step too far in expressing his rage towards the LGBTQ+ community, immigrants, and Black people.
4 Kurt Cobain (Nirvana)
Kurt Cobain was a trendsetter for Generation X rock n' roll. However, his struggles with drug addiction, stardom, and mental health lead to an early demise, as he died by suicide at the age of 27.
While he continues to be a respected artist, the controversy around him has mostly been regarding his death, with all sorts of conspiracy theories popping up now and again. In fact, private investigators and Cobain's family and friends themselves seem to dispute the official ruling. Even though there are significant rebuttals against these theories, the theory of Cobain's suicide being a murder carries on.
3 Sex Pistols
Much like The Clash, Sex Pistols revolutionized punk rock with their anti-establishment, bold, and provocative songs and album artwork that often drew the ire of traditional British society. For example, God Save The Queen was so bold with its critique on the Queen and "British morals" that BBC banned it on grounds of "gross bad taste."
A cult classic, the song is seen as an "anti-anthem" of sorts, the release of which coincided with Queen Elizabeth II's 25th anniversary of the coronation. Even the single's cover art featured defaced images of the reigning monarch.
2 Gene Simmons (KISS)
KISS bassist, Gene Simmons, has been involved in several bizarre antics outside of music. He's infamous for his boastful attitude of bedding thousands of women, and his controversial views on mental health.
Three years later, he appeared in the news program Fox and Friends, and for unexplained reasons, showed up at a staff meeting sporting an unbuttoned shirt. As a result, Fox News has banned Simmons from their shows for life.
1 Steve Tyler (Aerosmith)
Much like Kiedis, Aerosmith's Steven Tyler engaged in a sexual relationship with a minor. Tyler (aged 27) obtained legal guardianship of 16-year-old Julia Holcomb in 1975, unleashing a troublesome lifestyle fueled by drugs. He even went on to convince Holcomb to get pregnant.
Sometime later, when their Boston apartment caught fire, Tyler pressured her into having an abortion instead, concerned that the fire's smoke and the drugs they were taking would cause birth defects. The relationship soon broke down, and while Aerosmith continued charting success, Holcomb turned into a devout Catholic and joined an anti-abortion group.