With the recent announcement of the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame class of 2025, fans are buzzing with excitement and curiosity about potential reunions that might take place during the induction ceremony. This prestigious event has a rich history of bringing musicians back together, sometimes even coaxing them out of retirement or reconciling long-standing rifts. A notable example occurred during the 2022 induction when Judas Priest reunited with former guitarist K.K. Downing, who had departed the band in 2011. Such moments highlight the power of music to mend relationships and rekindle old flames.

As we look forward to the 2025 Rock Hall class, there’s a tantalizing prospect of witnessing some of these iconic bands come together once more, although the likelihood of each reunion varies significantly. The potential for nostalgia and celebration at this ceremony makes it a must-watch event for any music enthusiast. Let’s delve into three major reunions that fans hope to see at the upcoming Rock Hall induction ceremony.

Could Soundgarden Reunite for a Tribute Performance?

When discussing any potential Soundgarden “reunion,” it’s essential to acknowledge the absence of their legendary frontman Chris Cornell, who tragically passed away in 2017. However, there is still a possibility for a partial reunion featuring the surviving members: guitarist Kim Thayil, drummer Matt Cameron, and bassist Ben Shepherd. These musicians have previously come together for meaningful performances, such as the tribute concert “I Am the Highway” in 2019 and a benefit show in December 2024 under the name Nudedragons, alongside Seattle vocalist Shaina Shepherd.

All surviving members have conveyed a strong desire to collaborate again and pay homage to Cornell’s remarkable legacy. In 2018, Shepherd remarked, “We’re going through natural healing, then thinking about the natural next step.” Thayil also highlighted the importance of the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, especially after the band’s 2023 nomination, stating, “If you’re a fan, it’s a validation of your choices and your appraisals in your musical tastes.” A brief reunion at the Hall could provide both the band and their dedicated fans with a necessary sense of closure and celebration of Cornell’s impact. “Now that Chris is gone, it’s even more important,” Thayil emphasized. “It’s for Chris’s memory and the band’s legacy, and for our fans – for the love and commitment they’ve shown us for all these decades.”

The White Stripes: A Reunion Unlikely Yet Intriguing

Since their split in 2011, the White Stripes have charted very different paths. Jack White has been prolific as a solo artist, consistently releasing new music and touring with projects like The Raconteurs and Dead Weather. In stark contrast, Meg White has largely withdrawn from the music scene, retreating to her hometown of Detroit and distancing herself from public life. In a 2014 interview with Rolling Stone, Jack remarked, “I don’t think anyone talks to Meg. She’s always been a hermit.” Their contrasting personalities and approaches to music are well-documented; White noted how they would experience different reactions during their studio sessions, stating, “I’m like, ‘Damn, we just broke into a new world right there!’ And Meg’s sitting in silence.”

Despite White’s defense of Meg’s contributions to their music, her reluctance to engage with the media and evident disenchantment with the music industry casts doubt on the feasibility of a White Stripes Rock Hall reunion. Moreover, Jack has expressed ambivalence towards the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame itself, telling WRIF’s Meltdown in 2022, “I haven’t really thought about that. I mean, you know, all the awards are political, really. So it’s hard to really grasp any real thought about what they actually mean. You know, maybe it should be called the Music Museum instead.”

Outkast: The Possibility of a Reunion on the Horizon?

It has been nearly twenty years since the iconic Atlanta hip-hop duo Outkast released their final studio album, Idlewild, in 2006, which marked a stark contrast to their 2003 diamond-selling masterpiece, Speakerboxxx/The Love Below. In 2014, Andre 3000 and Big Boi reunited for a festival circuit tour, performing at major events like Coachella and Austin City Limits. However, as we approach a decade since that tour, the possibility of new music seems increasingly distant.

In a candid conversation with Rolling Stone in December 2024, Andre reflected on the future of the duo, stating, “I’ll say maybe 10, 15 years ago, in my mind, I thought an Outkast album would happen. I don’t know the future, but I can say that we’re further away from it than we’ve ever been. I think it’s a chemistry thing. We have to be wanting to do it. It’s hard for me to make a rap, period, you know? And sometimes I’m in the belief of ‘Let things be.’”

Despite these uncertainties, Outkast expressed their gratitude for their Rock Hall nomination in a joint Instagram post. While Andre chose not to elaborate further, Big Boi indicated that he would “definitely” attend the ceremony if the duo were inducted, expressing the honor it would be to be considered alongside music legends. “It’s like the last Infinity Stone in my Thanos glove. It’s not even something I thought was on the table when we started making music,” he shared. “When you think about the Rock Hall, you think of the Beatles, the Rolling Stones, the Who, and all of these legendary rock bands. It’s been cool to see them move into other genres and it’s a huge honor to be considered alongside people I’ve admired since I was a kid.”