The artists chosen for induction into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 2025 were announced on Sunday, April 27, during the latest episode of America Idol. As previously reported, the honorees in the Performer category are Bad Company, Cyndi Lauper, Soundgarden, Joe Cocker, Outkast, The White Stripes, and Chubby Checker.
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Now, some of the 2025 inductees have taken to social media to share their reactions to the accolade, while others have been interviewed about the honor. Here’s what a few of the newly announced inductees had to say:
[RELATED: Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Class of 2025 Revealed on American Idol: See Full List]
Bad Company Members
Bad Company posted a joint statement on its socials that reads, “Thank you to all of our fans and voting members of the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame committee. Congratulations to all our fellow inductees. We stand alongside some amazing artists, past and present. What an absolute honor.”
Meanwhile, Bad Company frontman Paul Rodgers and drummer Simon Kirke were interviewed by Billboard about being chosen for induction.
“It is pretty amazing and very cool to be part of an iconic American institution that celebrates music, musicians and sometimes unsung heroes behind the scenes,” Rodgers told Billboard. “I know that our fans, friends and some media have wanted this for a long time, so they will be pleased at last. I am looking forward to seeing some old friends, reconnecting with Chubby Checker—maybe do the twist?”
Kirke told Billboard he was “very happy” about the honor. He added, “It’s been a long time coming. … I’m not taking anything away from the [Rock Hall] committee; they had their reasons, but it’s a welcome addition if you will.”
Founding Bad Company guitarist Mick Ralphs, who suffered a debilitating stroke in 2016, emailed Billboard a note that reads, “I am elated and think that Bad Company’s induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame is fantastic!”
Only the four founding members of Bad Company will be inducted— Rodgers, Kirke, Ralphs, and bassist Boz Burrell. Burrell died of a heart attack in September 2006 at age 60.
Rodgers and Kirke told Billboard they both plan to perform at the 2025 induction ceremony this fall in Los Angeles. Rodgers noted that details about their performance “will come a little closer to the time.”
Cyndi Lauper
Lauper posted a message on her socials that reads, “I’m humbled to be in the company of so many of my heroes—Aretha [Franklin], Tina [Turner], Chaka [Khan], Joni [Mitchell], Wanda [Jackson], to name just a few. Women have made so many important contributions to music and to rock n roll and a win for one of us is a win for all of us.”
She added, “Thank you to the voting members of the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame for this honor. And thank you to my fans for supporting me throughout my career. I could not do any of this without you.”
Soundgarden Guitarist Kim Thayil
Soundgarden guitarist Kim Thayil also was interviewed by Billboard about the influential grunge band being chosen for induction. The Seattle group first became eligible for induction in 2019, and were nominated twice before 2025.
The band’s members who will be inducted include the classic lineup of Thayil, frontman Chris Cornell, drummer Matt Cameron, and bassist Ben Shepherd, as well as founding bass player Hiro Yamamoto.
Thayil told Billboard that he thinks Cornell, who died by suicide in 2017 at age 52, would “definitely be stoked” about Soundgarden’s Rock Hall induction.
“He’s the one who convinced me how appreciative the fans and our peers and the Soundgarden community—that includes the people that we work with and work for us—would be about it,” Kim noted. “He realized how important that was, and he understood that would be important to us because it’s important to people who cared about us and helped us and supported us all along.
Thayil added, “I think [Chris would] be very appreciative and thankful to all the people who have believed in him and believed in the work he did and the work that we all did, collectively.”
The 64-year-old guitarist also told Billboard that Cameron and Shepherd were “very happy” about the honor, and Yamamoto “was really enthused, too.”
As for whether Soundgarden’s surviving members will perform at the Rock Hall ceremony, Thayil said that’s something that needs to be discussed.
“There has to be a reverence for the missing brother and founder,” he maintained. “[A]nd there also has to be reverence for the legacy—both for Chris’ work and Chris’ creativity, as well as the regard and reverence we have for ourselves collectively and for each other.”
More About the 2025 Rock Hall Induction Ceremony
The 2025 Rock Hall Induction Ceremony will take place November 8 at the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles. The event will stream live on Disney+, and a highlights special will air on ABC at a later date. The special also will be available on demand on Hulu a day after its premiere on ABC.
In addition to the seven honorees in the Performer category, six other inductees will be welcomed int o the Rock Hall in 2025.
Rap group Salt-N-Pepa and late singer/songwriter Warren Zevon will be inducted in conjunction with receiving the Musical Influence Award. Disco-era producer Thom Bell, late, lauded session keyboardist Nicky Hopkins, and legendary session bassist Carol Kaye will be honored with induction while receiving the Musical Excellence Award. Lastly, veteran producer and music executive Lenny Waronker inducted while being presented the Ahmet Ertegun Award.
Ticket information about the 2025 Rock Hall Induction Ceremony will be announced at a later date.
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