Dennis DeYoung Blasts Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, Calls It ‘Shameful’

Dennis DeYoung, never known for mincing words, offered a pointed critique of the 2025 Rock & Roll Hall of Fame inductions, sharing his thoughts in a lengthy and candid social media post.

This year’s ceremony included several honorees who were inducted long after their passing—among them Joe Cocker and Warren Zevon—as well as artists who couldn’t attend due to health concerns, including Bad Company frontman Paul Rodgers.

DeYoung, cofounder and former vocalist of Styx, said he was especially disappointed that Rodgers wasn’t well enough to make an appearance. Writing on Facebook, he lamented:

“I would have liked to have seen him perform years ago to demonstrate how one of rock’s premiere singers actually rocks. You know, like the name on their institution’s logo. I have said this repeatedly for decades, just change the damn name.”

DeYoung Blasts the Hall’s “Tragic” Timing

The rocker argued that this year’s lineup only highlighted what he sees as deep flaws in the Hall’s selection process. “It clearly pointed out the tragic manner in which this joint operates. Making so many musicians wait until they’re either incapacitated or dead is shameful,” he wrote.

He questioned why artists like Cocker and Zevon were only now being acknowledged. “Joe Cocker, Warren Zevon et al are suddenly eligible decades after their success? Explain that—what’s changed except the Hall’s inability to let go of their clear prejudices and induct them?”

DeYoung didn’t hold back, accusing the Hall of recognizing its mistakes only after it’s too late to restore what was lost. “Have Joe, Warren and others recently become more popular? … no,” he continued. He argued that the Hall’s original criteria were “a ruse and a joke concocted to protect their own personal choices.”

Why He Sold His Catalog — and What He Still Hopes For

DeYoung’s post was originally meant to focus on his decision to sell his publishing and royalty rights to Primary Wave in 2023. He said that when he met the company’s core team in person, he quickly sensed their genuine admiration for Styx’s legacy, which helped him feel confident about the deal.

According to DeYoung, Primary Wave founder Larry Mestel asked him what he hoped the future might hold. DeYoung admitted that despite never receiving a nomination—and with Styx having been eligible since 1998—he still dreams of one day entering both the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame and the Songwriters Hall of Fame. He added that a final Styx tour remains high on his wish list:

“One last Styx tour would also be great for our fans. They are acutely aware of that and naturally in favor of one. Raise your hand if you’re in agreement. Ooh that’s a lotta hands.”

Life Now: Family, Healing, and a Memoir Packed With Rock History

In recent years, DeYoung has stepped back from public life to care for his wife, Suzanne, during her battles with cancer. Earlier this month, he shared an uplifting update as she celebrated her birthday. “She’s doing well after two bouts with cancer and would like to thank everyone who offered their words of encouragement and their prayers,” he said. “It helped a great deal.”

He spoke more about her journey during a conversation with UCR earlier this year and confirmed that he has been steadily writing his memoir. Though there’s no release timeline yet, he teased that the book will be loaded with behind-the-scenes tales from decades on the road and in the studio.

“I’ve got all kinds of stories — and shameless plug — they’re all in the book,” he laughed. “There’s a Kiss story, an Aerosmith story that’s historic, not because of us, but because of them. There’s a ZZ Top story and I’ll probably get around to telling the Frank Zappa story.”

The memoir, he hinted, may be one of the most revealing projects of his career—blending humor, rock history, and personal reflection as he looks back on the long, winding path that shaped both his music and his life.