Dave Matthews Band, Ozzy Osbourne Among Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame 2024 Inductees
Mary J. Blige, Cher, Foreigner, Peter Frampton, Kool & the Gang, and A Tribe Called Quest round out the inducted performers in one of the largest classes in the history
Celebrate oh! Celebrate we will! Cause life is short but sweet for certain! The Dave Matthews Band has been selected as one of the eight performer inductees for the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, alongside Ozzy Osbourne, Mary J. Blige, Cher, Foreigner, Peter Frampton, Kool & The Gang, and A Tribe Called Quest.
Because of Disney synergy, since the ceremony will once again livestream on Disney+ on October 19 after moving there last year from a 28-year stay on HBO, the inductees were announced on American Idol by host Ryan Seacrest and judge Lionel Richie, who is class of 2022. It will be available next day on Hulu and air at a later date in a likely condensed “special” form on ABC. When recent previous shows hit 4 hours, it’s understandable. It’s especially understandable when it’s one of the largest induction classes ever. The fan vote saw Dave Matthews Band come out on top after a massive campaign, being nominated after having done the same in 2020 without being inducted that, the first and only time such happened.
Like how the Baseball Hall has its Ford C. Frick and Buck O’Neil Awards, the Rock and Roll Hall has its own inductees through awards. As such, Alexis Korner, John Mayall, and Big Mama Thornton are being recognized with the Musical Influence Award; Jimmy Buffett, MC5, Dionne Warwick, and Norman Whitfield will be receiving the Musical Excellence Award; and Suzanne de Passe gets the nonperforming Ahmet Ertegun Award. That brings the class to 16.
In December 2023, Cher stated in an interview on The Kelly Clarkson Show about her previous snubs, “I wouldn’t be in it now if they gave me a million dollars” and that the organization “can just go you-know-what themselves.” Apparently there’s been some more favorable management changes. As for DMB, its composition isn’t the same as it started out, not only with saxophonist LaRoi Moore’s death in 2008, but violinist Boyd Tinsley’s firing in 2018 due to allegations of sexual misconduct. With Dave Matthews still as lead vocalist (of course), drummer Carter Beauford, bassist Stefan Lessard and guitarist Tim Reynolds are still doing their thing. Rock & Roll Hall of Fame CEO Greg Harris has confirmed Tinsley is part of the induction but the band themselves would have to actually initiate such reunions with invitation.
The Dave Matthews Band is one of my favorite bands and I am absolutely ecstatic that they’re going to be inducted. It’s not often I get to talk about music here so of course this was an occasion I was going to mark.
