The class of 2025 is set for the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, bringing together empowering artists that inspired a generation, barrier-breaking duos that transcend genre, and bands that set music on a new course through their amazing career. Here to talk about it all, and preview what might be coming at this year's induction ceremony, is Rock Hall President Greg Harris, who dialed in to Audacy's Taryn Daly after this year's announcement was made.
LISTEN NOW: Rock Hall President Greg Harris
Being based in Seattle, Taryn first asked Greg about the fan reaction to Soundgarden joining the class of 2025 after a few years on the ballot. "It's been fantastic, especially the dialogue on who might be singing during their induction," admits Greg. "It's really fun to watch that. I have a feeling there's so many artists that are as excited as the fans, and it's just incredible that they're being recognized, appropriately so, for really being foundational to that whole Seattle sound."
Soundgarden is joined by 6 others artists entering in the Performance category, alongside Cyndi Lauper, The White Stripes, Joe Cocker, Bad Company, Chubby Checker, and Outkast.
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"It's all about impact and influence," Harris reminds us when talking about Outkast's induction. "For them, Rock & Roll isn't just one sound, it's an attitude and it's a spirit, and they embrace it."
The Outkast reunion is just one of the many fans hope to see on stage when the ceremony takes place on November 8, with everyone holding their breath that Meg and Jack White will take the stage together as well. "I think we all have our fingers crossed for that," Harris shares. "They've not played together, it's my understanding, in over a decade and [it] would be quite remarkable."
Along with the celebration of the class of 2025 comes the debate over those who didn't make it in, this year headlined by Phish, as the iconic jam band won the fan vote but did not break through into the final induction class. "It's very similar to what happened with Dave Matthews fans. He won the fan vote multiple years in a row before being inducted, and, you know, it all resets again. But Phish fans really came in and they have such a strong connection to the band, well deserved that they are recognized in winning the fan vote. Right now let's celebrate this year's induction class and then we can get into who should be inducted later at another time."
The 2025 Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Induction will be live on November 8 at the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles, California. The 2025 ceremony will once again stream live on Disney+, with a special airing on ABC at a later date.
To hear more reaction from Greg Harris, check out the full interview above.