The Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Foundation has announced its nominees for induction this year and they are, in alphabetical order:
- Mary J. Blige
- Kate Bush
- Devo
- Foo Fighters
- The Go-Go’s
- Iron Maiden
- JAY-Z
- Chaka Khan
- Carole King
- Fela Kuti
- LL Cool J
- New York Dolls
- Rage Against the Machine
- Todd Rundgren
- Tina Turner
- Dionne Warwick
To be eligible for nomination, an individual artist or band must have released its first commercial recording at least 25 years prior to the year of nomination.
Seven out of this year's 16 nominees are on the ballot for the first time:
- Foo Fighters(Dave Grohlis in as a member ofNirvana)
- Fela Kuti
- The Go-Go’s
- Iron Maiden
- JAY-Z
- Dionne Warwick
- Mary J. Blige
The previous nominees on this list are:
- Carole King(She was inducted in 1990 along with her ex-husbandGerry Goffinin the non-performer category for her songwriting -- this is her second nomination as a performer)
- Tina Turner(inducted in '91 as a member ofIke & Tina Turner-- this is her second nomination as a solo artist)
- Chaka Khan(third nomination)
- Todd Rundgren(third nomination, and, he still wants nothing to do with the Hall of Fame)
- Rage Against the Machine(third nomination)
- LL Cool J(sixth nomination)
- Devo(second nomination)
- Kate Bush(second nomination)
- New York Dolls(second nomination)
If elected, Carole King and Tina Turner will become the second and third female artists inducted twice, followingStevie Nicksin 2019.
Commenting on the nomination, Go-Go's drummer Gina Schock tells us, "Quite a bit overdue, but nevertheless happy to hear."
Acts who were snubbed AGAIN include: Motorhead,Emerson, Lake & Palmer,Warren Zevon,Jethro Tull,Megadeth,Scorpions,Twisted Sister,Slayer,Bad Company,Pat Benatar,Dave Matthews Band,Procol Harum. . .
Ozzy Osbourne (although he's in with Black Sabbath),Peter Frampton,Styx,Chic,Captain Beefheart, J. Geils Band,Jane's Addiction, Pixies, the Smiths, Sonic Youth, Iggy Pop, Blue Oyster Cult, Soundgarden, Oasis. . .
And Motley Crue, who have won an unofficial FAN VOTE that's been held at the actual Rock Hall in Cleveland.
Ballots will now be sent to an international voting body of more than 1,000 artists, historians and members of the music industry. Factors such as an artist’s musical influence on other artists, length and depth of career and the body of work, innovation and superiority in style and technique are taken into consideration.
Voting is also open to the public through April 30 at RockHall.com, or at the Museum in Cleveland. The top five artists, as selected by the public, will comprise a “fans’ ballot” that will be tallied along with the other ballots to select the 2021 Inductees.
Inductees will be announced in May and the induction ceremony will take place in Cleveland in the fall.
Last year's inductees were Depeche Mode,The Doobie Brothers,Whitney Houston,Nine Inch Nails,The Notorious B.I.G., and T. Rex.