The Rock & Roll Hall of Fame has chosen the nominees for 2019’s ceremony. The 15 artists and bands include Def Leppard, Todd Rundgren, Stevie Nicks, Radiohead, The Cure and Rage Against The Machine.
Other nominees include Roxy Music, Devo, Kraftwerk, the Zombies, MC5, John Prine, Rufus featuring Chaka Khan, LL Cool J and Janet Jackson.
It’s the first time Def Leppard, Nicks, Rundgren, Roxy Music, Prine and Devo have been nominated.
Def Leppard frontman Elliott talked to Billboard about his band’s 13-year wait to get nominated (they’ve been eligible since 2005).
“You’re looking at the likes of Todd Rundgren (23 years) and Roxy Music (21 years) and Devo (15 years), and it took them long enough to get a nomination,” Elliott said. “So, I don’t feel so bad now that we got overlooked when you see people like them, people I was out buying their records when I was 12 years old. So, it’s alright. It’s kinda cool.”
Approximately 1,000 members of the music industry, journalists, music historians and other artists will determine the Class of 2019. But fans will also be able to get in on the action through a special vote. The top five artists will make up a “fans’ ballot” that will be added up along with the other ballots to select the 2019 inductees. Fans can cast one ballot a day.
To be eligible for induction an artist or band must have released their first commercial recording at least 25 years ago.
Def Leppard’s current lineup—Joe Elliott, Rick Allen, Vivian Campbell, Phil Collen, and Rick Savage—are included in the list as is late guitarist Steve Clark and the group’s first guitarist, Pete Willis, reports Louder.
Roxy Music’s lineup features Bryan Ferry, Brian Eno, John Gustafson, Eddie Jobson, Andy Mackay, Phil Manzanera, Graham Simpson and Paul Thompson.
The Cure’s current lineup with Robert Smith, Simon Gallup, Jason Cooper and Roger O’Donnell are included, as are Lol Tolhurst, Porl Thompson, Perry Bamonte, Michael Dempsey and Boris Williams.
The Rock & Roll Hall of Fame will reveal the winners in December. The ceremony will take place at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, on March 29, 2019.
