In the first year they’ve been eligible for the honor, pioneer grunge band Nirvana is leading the pack of nominees for induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame next year.
Despite the band’s legendary status, this is the first time they’ve been nominated, because acts don’t qualify for the Hall of Fame until at least 25 years have passed since the release of their first album, the New York Times reports. Nirvana’s first single, “Love Buzz,” was released in 1988.
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Other first-time nominees include Hall & Oates, Linda Ronstadt, and The Zombies. Peter Gabriel — also a nominee — was already inducted as part of the band Genesis in 2010, but he’s been nominated this year as a solo artist (past artists who were inducted more than once include Eric Clapton, Paul McCartney, Paul Simon and Neil Young). Previously nominated acts that are once again up for election include N.W.A., LL Cool J, Cat Stevens and Deep Purple.
For the second year in a row, the public has the opportunity to vote for their picks on the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame’s website. The five acts that receive the most votes will be tallied along with ballots from the Hall of Fame’s voting body. The induction ceremony will take place in April in New York.
[NYT]