HALL OF A FIELD
Rock noms led by Stevie Nicks, Janet, Def Leppard, LL Cool J
The list of 2019 Rock & Roll Hall of Fame nominees reads like an ’80s Billboard chart.
Iconic singer and songwriter Stevie Nicks, hair band Def Leppard, rapper LLCool J and Janet Jackson are among the 15 artists being considered, the museum announced Tuesday.
For Nicks, 70, an induction would be for her work as a solo artist. She has been a hall of famer since 1998, when she got in with Fleetwood Mac.
Nine artists are returning to the ballot for another try, including Janet Jackson, Radiohead and The Cure.
LL Cool J and the German electronic band Kraftwerk each received their fifth nomination. The Detroit band MC5 is back for a fourth try, as are the 1960s rockers the Zombies.
Jackson has been nominated the past three years in a row and Rufus (featuring Chaka Khan) is also a threetime nominee. The Cure, Radiohead and Rage Against the Machine are back for a second try.
Producer Todd Rundgren has been overlooked through the years, despite 1970s-era hits like “Hello It’s Me,” “’I Saw the Light” and “We Gotta Get You a Woman,” and his track record of crafting others’ work.
Devo attracted punk-era attention with their theory of deevolution and oddball cover of “(I Can’t Get No) Satisfaction.” They also made hits of their own, including “Whip It.”
The artsy British band Roxy Music is best known for their romantic hits “More Than This” and “Love is the Drug.” The country-folk artist Prine is a cancer survivor, with songs like “Angel From Montgomery” and the Iris DeMent duet “In Spite of Ourselves” in his discography.
“Thank you @rockhall! This is a great and unexpected honor!” Prine tweted.
People are eligible for induction 25 years after their first commercial recording.
Usually, about five to seven nominees are voted into the Cleveland hall each year.
“It depends on the number of votes and their proximity to each other in the final count,” explained Shauna Wilson, director of communications for the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. “That will determine how many, which is why we typically see the number vary.”
Past inductees and industry experts vote on who gets in and fans can cast ballots from Oct. 9 to Dec. 9. The top five fan favorites will be included on a “fans’ ballot.”
Winners will be announced in December, with the 34th annual ceremony scheduled for March 29 at Brooklyn’s Barclays Center.