Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Class of 2024 Announced; Inductees React

The 2024 Class of inductees into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame was announced Sunday night (April 21) by Ryan Seacrest and Rock and Roll Hall of Famer Lionel Richie on American Idol.

Ozzy Osbourne (as a solo artist, having already been inducted with Black Sabbath in 2006), Foreigner, Peter Frampton and Dave Matthews Band, A Tribe Called Quest, Cher, Kool & the Gang and Mary J. Blige will all be inducted this year in Cleveland on Oct. 19, the Hall announced.”

“It’s quite an honor and it’s been a long time coming,” original Foreigner singer Lou Gramm told Good Day Rochester. “I felt so good last night…I know my mouth is going to be sore from smiling today.”

Mick Jones said, “I was thrilled to learn of Foreigner’s nomination, and this confirmation of our coming membership in the home of my peers is a priceless highlight of my career. October 19th will be an emotional day for me, Lou, Al, Dennis, and Rick, and a very special moment for the families of Ian and Ed. The leadership of Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Chairman, John Sykes, and Nominating Committee Chairman, Rick Krim, has brought a new era of inclusivity and relevance that reflects all that the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame should be, and we are proud to become a part of it. Long may it continue.”

“I think I’m a little bit in shock, and speechless,” Frampton told Billboard on a call from his home in Nashville. “I never expected this. People always said, ‘You should be in.’ I said, ‘Eh, what is to be,’ y’know? So mixed emotions, because it’s something that I just never expected, whereas other people did for me. (laughs) It’s wonderful.”

The Dave Matthews Band was the winner of the fan vote, with Frampton trailing in second with 528,000 votes.

“It’s great to finally be inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. All the guys would love it,” Jersey native Robert “Kool” Bell tells Billboard. “I did 48 shows with Van Halen, 10 shows with Kid Rock, opened for the Dave Matthews Band, Elton John, Rod Stewart. I also worked with Foreigner…If you’re gonna call it a Rock & Roll Hall of Fame then, yeah, I guess you could say that I feel like a rock n’ roller.”

Osbourne responded: “Thank You Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Voters & Fans for the induction. My solo career, has been a much larger part of my overall music career as a whole, so this feels more special. Not bad for a guy who was fired from his last band.”

The Rock Hall will also induct the late Jimmy Buffett and early punk influences the  MC5 with the Musical Excellence Award. The MC5 were often eligible but never voted into the hall. Buffett passed away in September 2023; founding MC5 guitarist Wayne Kramer died in February 2024.

“Rock & Roll is an ever-evolving amalgam of sounds that impacts culture and moves generations,” says John Sykes, chairman of the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Foundation. “This diverse group of inductees each broke down musical barriers and influenced countless artists that followed in their footsteps.”

The other Musical Excellence honorees are Dionne Warwick, and late Motown songwriter and producer Norman Whitfield. Additionally, late blues icon Big Mama Thornton (who originally sang “Hound Dog” and influenced the late Elvis Presley)  and British blues musicians John Mayall and the late Alexis Korner are being inducted with the Musical Influencer Award, while music, film and TV executive Suzanne de Passe will receive the industry Ahmet Ertegun Award