Rock Hall announces nominees for induction

Willie Nelson, the White Stripes, Missy Elliott and the late George Michael are among the eight first-time contenders on the list of 2023 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame nominees eligible for induction.

The other four new nominees announced Wednesday morning are Cyndi Lauper, Sheryl Crow, Joy Division/ New Order and the late Warren Zevon. They join repeat nominees Kate Bush, Rage Against the Machine, Iron Maiden, the Spinners, A Tribe Called Quest and Soundgarden.

Matt Cameron, the drummer in Soundgarden, is a San Diego native. He was inducted in 2017 as a member of Pearl Jam. Should Soundgarden earn enough votes for induction, Cameron would become the first drummer to be inducted as a member of two separate bands.

has been inducted twice, once as a member of the Beatles and once as a solo artist.

Previous Rock Hall inductees who came of musical age in San Diego include Pearl Jam singer Eddie Vedder, Tom Waits, Heart’s Ann and Nancy Wilson, the Byrds’ Chris Hillman and the late Frank Zappa. Talking Heads bassist Tina Weymouth was born in Coronado, but her family moved away when she was still a child.

Nelson, who will celebrate his 90th birthday with an all-star April 29 Hollywood Bowl concert, is this year’s oldest nominee.

While he he has never claimed to be a rock artist, Nelson’s musical appeal cuts across genres and generations, and he has collaborated with numerous rockers over the years.

This year marks the fifth time Rage Against the Machine is on the ballot. Kate Bush is on the ballot this year for the fourth time since 2018. The Spinners, who were first nominated in

2012, are also on the ballot for the fourth time.

The White Stripes and Elliott are the only two artists to make the 2023 ballot in their first year of eligibility.

To become eligible for induction, bands or solo artists must have released their first commercial recording at least 25 years prior to the year of their first nomination.

Among the acts who became eligible this year but did not make the ballot are Muse, Destiny’s Child, Mos Def, Queens of the Stone Age and San Diego’s Grammy Award-winning Switchfoot.

This year’s slate of 14 nominees is three less than were on last year’s ballot. There are usually at least 15 nominees, which suggests the nominating committee did not feel any other artists merited inclusion on this year’s ballot.

Inductees will be announced in May, with the induction ceremony in the fall.