Journey, Yes, ELO and Cars Among 2017 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Nominees
Journey, Electric Light Orchestra, Yes, the Cars, Pearl Jam and the J. Geils Band are among the artists nominated for induction in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame's class of 2017.
The announcement was made live this morning on Volume, SiriusFM's new music talk station, by Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Foundation CEO Joel Peresman and Steven Van Zandt, a 2014 inductee with the E Street Band.
The full list of nominees includes Bad Brains, Chaka Khan, Chic, Depeche Mode, ELO, the J. Geils Band, Jane’s Addiction, Janet Jackson, Joan Baez, Joe Tex, Journey, Kraftwerk, MC5, Pearl Jam, Steppenwolf, the Cars, Zombies, Tupac Shakur and Yes.
Pearl Jam, who became eligible this year, entered the nominating process already called "a heavy favorite" by Cleveland's The Plain Dealer. Artists are eligible for induction 25 years after the release of their first record. The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction ceremony is scheduled for April 2017, with a taped presentation following later on HBO.
Last year's class was particularly weighted toward classic rock, as Cheap Trick, Deep Purple, Steve Miller and Chicago joined N.W.A on the list of inductees. That was the first year Chicago, Cheap Trick and Miller had appeared on a ballot.
Still, the list of classic rockers many fans say should have been honored long ago still includes Yes, Journey, the Cars, Iron Maiden and the Moody Blues, among others. The Cars and Yes – whose mainstay member Chris Squire has since died – were nominated in 2016, but didn't make the final cut last time around.
Fans will again be able to help determine who goes in by voting at the Rock Hall's website; those polls open today and then close at 11:59PM ET on Dec. 5. Their votes are combined into a single ballot that joins hundreds of others submitted by artists, historians and music industry insiders — including every living Rock Hall inductee. Chicago claimed the fan vote last time around. Voting is limited to one ballot per day.
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