The potential class for the 2015 inductees into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame includes the industrial goth-rock of Nine Inch Nails, the jazz-coated pop of Sting, the pop-punk-rock of Green Day and Joan Jett & The Blackhearts and the astringent blues of Stevie Ray Vaughan.
Other nominees this year span the genres of Motown, hip-hop and electronic dance (and will surely to ignite the usual debate as to why non-rock artists are being considered for an institution called the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame).
They are:
- The Paul Butterfield Blues Band
- Chic
- Kraftwerk
- The Marvelettes
- N.W.A
- Lou Reed
- The Smiths
- The Spinners
- War
- Bill Withers
Somewhat surprisingly, Bon Jovi, eligible since 2009, didn’t earn a second look (neither did Deep Purple, Cheap Trick, The Moody Blues, Yes or Warren Zevon for that matter). And for those wondering, The Police were inducted in 2003.
To be eligible for nomination, an individual artist or band must have released its first single or album at least 25 years prior to the year of nomination, so the 2015 nominees had to release their first recording no later than 1989.
Credit: Melissa Ruggieri
Credit: Melissa Ruggieri
As it did last year, the Hall of Fame will allow fans to participate in the induction selection process, which is the only reason KISS was finally recognized earlier this year.
Through Dec. 9, fans can visit www.rockhall.com, www.rollingstone.com, andwww.usatoday.com to cast their votes. The top five artists, as selected by the public, will comprise a "fans' ballot" that will be tallied along with the other ballots to choose the 2015 inductees.
Other ballots will be sent to an international voting body of more than 700 artists, historians and members of the music industry.
The 2015 inductees will be announced in December.
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