🎸 2016 – Arena Giants & Hip-Hop Legends
- Cheap Trick
- Chicago
- Deep Purple
- N.W.A
- Steve Miller
Deep Purple finally getting in? Long overdue.
N.W.A? Proof that the Hall had fully embraced cultural impact over narrow genre boxes.
🎤 2017 – 90s Alt & Stadium Swagger
- Joan Baez
- Electric Light Orchestra
- Journey
- Pearl Jam
- Tupac Shakur
- Yes
Pearl Jam first year eligible and straight in.
Tupac inducted within the first year of eligibility too.
Prog, grunge and hip-hop sharing a stage. Only in rock history.
🎶 2018 – Female Power & 80s Anthems
- Bon Jovi
- The Cars
- Dire Straits
- The Moody Blues
- Nina Simone
Bon Jovi fans celebrated like it was 1987 again.
Dire Straits quietly strolled in with impeccable guitar tone.
🥁 2019 – Heavy, Grunge & Soul Icons
- The Cure
- Def Leppard
- Janet Jackson
- Radiohead
- Roxy Music
- Stevie Nicks
Radiohead getting the nod felt inevitable.
Stevie Nicks became the first woman inducted twice as a performer.
Def Leppard fans? Absolutely buzzing.
🔥 2020 – Pandemic Year, Big Names
- Depeche Mode
- The Doobie Brothers
- Whitney Houston
- Nine Inch Nails
- The Notorious B.I.G.
- T. Rex
Nine Inch Nails going in? Industrial finally got its crown.
T. Rex inducted at last — glam fans everywhere nodded approvingly.
🎸 2016–2020 Verdict
By the end of 2020:
- Hip-hop was firmly part of the Hall’s DNA
- 90s alternative legends were fully recognised
- Metal and industrial had solid representation
- And the genre debate? Still raging in every comment section known to mankind
We’ve now reached the most recent stretch…
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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