🎸 2011 – New Wave Meets Old School Cool
- Alice Cooper
- Darlene Love
- Dr. John
- Neil Diamond
- Tom Waits
Alice Cooper finally getting in? About time. Shock rock royalty secured.
🎤 2012 – Guns, Blues & Beastie Energy
- Guns N’ Roses
- Red Hot Chili Peppers
- The Beastie Boys
- The Small Faces
- The Faces
- Laura Nyro
- Donovan
Guns N’ Roses induction drama alone could’ve headlined Download.
🎶 2013 – Grunge Gets Its Crown
- Heart
- Public Enemy
- Randy Newman
- Rush
- Donna Summer
- Albert King
Rush finally going in after years of fan campaigning? Prog fans celebrated like Wales had won the Six Nations.
🥁 2014 – Alternative Royalty Arrives
- Nirvana
- KISS
- Peter Gabriel
- Hall & Oates
- Cat Stevens
- Linda Ronstadt
Nirvana first year eligible and straight in.
KISS finally inducted after endless fan outrage.
The arguments were LOUD.
🔥 2015 – Grunge & Soul Power
- Green Day
- Joan Jett & the Blackhearts
- Stevie Ray Vaughan
- Bill Withers
- Lou Reed
Green Day first year eligible and straight in? Punk kids everywhere felt seen.
🎸 2011–2015 Verdict
By the end of 2015:
- Grunge was firmly enshrined
- Punk was fully respected
- Prog fans finally stopped shouting (briefly)
- And the Hall had embraced 90s alternative without apology
This is where the generational handover became obvious.
Michael is the founder, editor, and chief riff wrangler behind The Riff Report, an independent Welsh rock and metal publication built by fans, for fans. With a lifelong passion for loud guitars, unforgettable live shows, and the incredible community that surrounds rock and metal, he created The Riff Report to celebrate everything that makes the scene special—from legendary headline acts and grassroots venues to rising bands that deserve to be heard.
A familiar face at festivals across the UK, Michael spends much of the year covering events including Download Festival, Bloodstock Open Air, Steelhouse Festival, Firevolt, Plumpton Revival, and many more. Whether he’s battling the Welsh weather on a mountainside, surviving a weekend in a muddy campsite, or squeezed against the front barrier with thousands of fellow fans, he’s always searching for the next great story to share.
As editor of The Riff Report, Michael writes festival guides, breaking news, album reviews, gig reviews, interviews, opinion pieces, nostalgia features, and behind-the-scenes stories from across the rock and metal world. His writing combines honest opinions, humour, and a genuine love for live music, bringing readers closer to the bands, festivals, venues, and people that keep the scene alive.
Michael is particularly passionate about supporting independent artists, local venues, charities, and the wider UK rock and metal community. He believes every band deserves a chance to be discovered and every festival has a story worth telling. Through The Riff Report, he aims to shine a spotlight on both the biggest names in rock and the future stars waiting to break through.
When he’s not writing or interviewing artists, you’ll probably find him exploring festival campsites, photographing live shows, chatting with fellow fans over a pint, or planning the next road trip in search of more riffs, bigger crowds, and unforgettable moments.
Above all, Michael believes rock and metal are about more than music—they’re about community, friendship, and creating memories that last a lifetime. That’s exactly what The Riff Report exists to celebrate.
Proudly Welsh. Proudly Loud. Always chasing the next great riff. 🤘
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