Among the 16 nominees for Rock & Roll Hall of Fame class of 2021 are some rock heavy hitters, including Foo Fighters, Iron Maiden, the Go-Go’s, Rage Against the Machine, Devo, New York Dolls and Todd Rundgren.
Rounding out the nominees are Mary J. Blige, Jay-Z, Tina Turner, Kate Bush, Chaka Khan, Carole King, Fela Kuti, LL Cool J and Dionne Warwick. Top vote-getters will be announced in May and inducted at a ceremony that will take place in Cleveland in the fall.
There’s a 25-year-rule for eligibility; each nominee’s first single or album had to have been released in 1995 or earlier. Seven of the 16 acts on the ballot (Foo Fighters, the Go-Go’s, Iron Maiden, Jay-Z, Carole King, Fela Kuti, and Dionne Warwick) are appearing for the first time.
Tina Turner is already in the Rock Hall with Ike Turner. Likewise, Grohl was inducted as a member of Nirvana in 2014.
Foo Fighters and Jay-Z are the only acts this year to appear on the ballot in their first year of eligibility.
Last year’s awards were virtual and shown on HBO; a decision on how this year’s ceremony will proceed has not yet been decided.
WOW. Thank you @rockhall!!!#RockHall2021 pic.twitter.com/4vdtU1JVNh
— Foo Fighters (@foofighters) February 10, 2021
Nominee ballots are sent to an international voting body of more than 1,000 artists, historians, and members of the music industry. Fans may also participate; today through April 30, fans can vote every day at rockhall.com, or at the Museum in Cleveland. The top five artists, as selected by the public, will comprise a “fans’ ballot” that will be tallied along with the other ballots to select the 2021 Inductees.
More information about the Rock Hall and 2021’s 36th annual event can be found here.
