🎸 2006 – Blues, Punk & New Wave Cool
- Black Sabbath
- Blondie
- Miles Davis
- Lynyrd Skynyrd
- Sex Pistols
Sabbath finally getting in? Took long enough, mind. Ozzy probably celebrated by confusing the catering staff.
🎤 2007 – Glam, Soul & Producer Power
- Grandmaster Flash and the Furious Five
- R.E.M.
- The Ronettes
- Patti Smith
- Van Halen
Van Halen in. Diamond Dave drama. You love to see it.
🎶 2008 – Pop, Rock & Swagger
- Madonna
- John Mellencamp
- The Dave Clark Five
- The Ventures
- Leonard Cohen
Madonna going in stirred the “is this rock?” debate again. But influence? Massive.
🥁 2009 – Classic & Alternative Collide
- Metallica
- Run-D.M.C.
- Jeff Beck
- Little Anthony and the Imperials
- Bobby Womack
Metallica finally entering the Hall? Headbangers worldwide nodded in approval.
🔥 2010 – Prog, Punk & Pop Royalty
- ABBA
- Genesis
- The Hollies
- The Stooges
- Jimmy Cliff
ABBA and The Stooges in the same class? That’s disco and dirt sharing a stage. Glorious chaos.
🎸 2006–2010 Verdict
By the end of this stretch:
- Metal was firmly inside the building
- Hip-hop had smashed the door wide open
- Punk pioneers were getting overdue respect
- And genre arguments were officially permanent
This is where the Hall stopped pretending it was just about 60s rock.
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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