Dave's Music Database Hall of Fame: Music Maker Inductees (December 2020)

Top 20 Classic Rock Acts Originally posted 12/22/2020. January 22, 2019 marked the 10-year anniversary of the DMDB blog! To honor that, Dave’s Music Database announced its own Hall of Fame. This eighth class of music maker inductees focuses on the top classic rock acts as ranked in the DMDB’s book Charting the Classic Rock Hits 1962-1981. You can see the full top 100 list here. These are the top 20 from that list, minus previous inductees, which included The Beatles, David Bowie, Bob Dylan, Elton John, Paul McCartney, The Rolling Stones, Bruce Springsteen, and Rod Stewart. See the full list of music maker inductees here.

AC/DC (active 1973-) Inducted December 2020 as a “Top 20 Classic Rock Act”

Hard-rock group from Australia. Members included brothers Angus Young (guitar) and Malcolm Young (guitar: 73-14) with Dave Evans (vocals: 73-74), Bon Scott (vocals: 74-80), Phil Rudd (drums: 74-82, 95-), Mark Evans (bass: 74-77). Cliff Williams (bass: 77-), Brian Johnson (vocals: 80-), Simon Wright (drums: 82-89), Chris Slade (drums: 89-95). Their album Back in Black is one of the best-selling of all-time and is featured in the DMDB book The Top 100 Albums of All Time. Read more.

Eric Clapton (1945-) Inducted December 2020 as a “Top 20 Classic Rock Act”

Guitarist Eric Clapton has been inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame three times as a member of the Yardbirds, Cream, and as a solo artist. His most iconic song, “Layla,” was recorded with Derek & the Dominos and is featured in the DMDB book The Top 100 Songs of the Rock Era. Its parent album, Layla & Other Assorted Love Songs, is featured in the DMDB book The Top 100 Albums of All Time. Read more.

Creedence Clearwater Revival (active 1967-1972) Inducted December 2020 as a “Top 20 Classic Rock Act”

Rock group formed while members attended high school at El Cerrito, California. Members included John Fogerty (vocals/guitar), his brother Tom Fogerty (guitar), Stu Cook (keyboards/bass: 67-72), and Doug Clifford (drums: 67-72). Their song “Proud Mary” is featured in the DMDB book The Top 100 Songs of the Rock Era. Read more.

The Doors (active 1965-1971) Inducted December 2020 as a “Top 20 Classic Rock Act”

Rock group formed in Los Angeles, California. Members included Jim Morrison (vocals), Ray Mazarek (keyboards), Robbie Krieger (guitar), and John Densmore (drums). “Light My Fire” is featured in the DMDB book The Top 100 Songs of the Rock Era. Their debut album, The Doors, is featured in the DMDB book The Top 100 Albums of All Time. Read more.

Eagles (active 1971-1980, 1994-) Inducted December 2020 as a “Top 20 Classic Rock Act”

Rock/country group formed in Los Angeles, California. Members included Don Henley (vocals/drums: 71-80,94), Randy Meisner (bass/vocals: 71-77), Bernie Leadon (guitar/vocals: 71-75), Don Felder (guitar/vocals: 75-80,94), Joe Walsh (guitar/vocals: 75-80,94), and Timothy B. Schmit (bass/vocals: 77-80,94). Their song “Hotel California” is featured in the DMDB book The Top 100 Songs of the Rock Era. Their album Hotel California is featured in the DMDB book The Top 100 Albums of All Time. Read more.

Fleetwood Mac (active 1967-) Inducted December 2020 as a “Top 20 Classic Rock Act”

Formed initially as a British blues group, but by 1975 the group had evolved into a California pop-rock group. Members included Mick Fleetwood (drums: 67-), John McVie (bass: 67-), Peter Green (guitar: 67-70), Jeremy Spencer (guitar: 67-71). Danny Kirwan (guitar: 68-72), Christine McVie (keyboards/vocals: 68, 70-97), Bob Welch (guitar: 71-74), Lindsey Buckingham (guitar/vocals: 75-87,97,03), and Stevie Nicks (vocals: 75-93,97,03-). Their album Rumours is featured in the DMDB book The Top 100 Albums of All Time. Read more.

Jimi Hendrix (1942-1970) Inducted December 2020 as a “Top 20 Classic Rock Act”

Legendary psychedelic-blues/rock guitarist born Johnny Allen Hendrix in Seattle, Washington. Died of a drug overdose in London on 9/18/1970. Started playing as a sideman with Little Richard and others before he was discovered in 1966 by the Animals’ Chas Chandler at New York City’s Café Wha? Went to London to form the Jimi Hendrix Experience (66-69) with Noel Redding (b) and Mitch Mitchell (d). Formed Band of Gypsys (69-70) with Buddy Miles (d) and Buddy Cox (b). His cover of Bob Dylan’s “All Along the Watchtower” is featured in the DMDB book The Top 100 Songs of the Rock Era. The Experience albums Are You Experienced and Electric Ladyland are featured in the DMDB book The Top 100 Albums of All Time. Read more.

The Kinks (active 1963-1994) Inducted December 2020 as a “Top 20 Classic Rock Act”

Brothers Ray and Dave Davies formed the Kinks with Peter Quaife and Mike Avory in London in 1963. They were one of the biggest groups in the British invasion. Their song “You Really Got Me” is featured in the DMDB book The Top 100 Songs of the Rock Era and is considered a foundational song for garage rock. That song, “Waterloo Sunset,” and “Lola” rank in the top 1% of all songs, according to Dave’s Music Database. Their album Village Green Preservation Society ranks as one of the top 1000 of all time. Read more.

Led Zeppelin (active 1968-1980) Inducted December 2020 as a “Top 20 Classic Rock Act”

British heavy-metal rock supergroup. Members included Robert Plant (vocals), Jimmy Page (guitar), John Paul Jones (bass/keyboards), and John “Bonzo” Bonham (drums; died on 9/25/80, at age 33, of asphyxiation). “Stairway to Heaven” is featured in the DMDB book The Top 100 Songs of the Rock Era. Their albums Led Zeppelin I, Led Zeppelin II, Led Zeppelin IV, and Physical Graffiti are featured in the DMDB book The Top 100 Albums of All Time. Read more.

Pink Floyd (active 1965-1987, 1994) Inducted December 2020 as a “Top 20 Classic Rock Act”

English progressive-rock group. Members included Syd Barrett (guitar/vocals: 65-68), Roger Waters (bass/vocals: 65-83), Nick Mason (drums: 65-87,94), Richard Wright (keyboards: 65-87,94), and David Gilmour (guitar/vocals: 68-87,94). “Another Brick in the Wall Part II” is featured in the DMDB book The Top 100 Songs of the Rock Era. Their albums Dark Side of the Moon (which holds the record for most weeks on the Billboard album chart), Wish You Were Here, and The Top 100 Albums of All Time. Read more.

Bob Seger (1945-) Inducted December 2020 as a “Top 20 Classic Rock Act”

Rock singer/songwriter born in Detroit, Michigan. Has sold more than 51 million records worldwide. His 1994 Greatest Hits album has been a continuous presence on either the Billboard Top 200 Albums or Catalog Albums charts since its release and was named the #1 Catalog Album of the Decade (2000-2010). His song “Old Time Rock and Roll” ranks in the DMDB’s top 1% of songs. Read more.

The Who (active 1964-) Inducted December 2020 as a “Top 20 Classic Rock Act”

Rock group formed in London. Founding members were Roger Daltrey (vocals), Pete Townshend (guitar/vocals), John Entwistle (bass/vocals), Keith Moon (drums; died in 1978). “My Generation” is featured in the DMDB book The Top 100 Songs of the Rock Era. Their albums Tommy and Who’s Next are featured in the DMDB book The Top 100 Albums of All Time. Read more.