ABCFoo Fighters, Rage Against the Machine and Iron Maiden are among the 16 nominees for induction into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 2021.
The other nominees include New York Dolls, Todd Rundgren, The Go-Go’s, Devo, Kate Bush, Mary J. Blige, JAY-Z, Chaka Khan, Carole King, Fela Kuti, LL Cool J, Tina Turner and Dionne Warwick.
To be eligible for induction, an artist must have released their first commercial recording 25 years before the year of their nomination. Foo Fighters, who celebrated their 25th anniversary in 2020, are nominated for the first time this year.
Dave Grohl, of course, is already a Rock Hall inductee with Nirvana. Should Foo Fighters be chosen for induction, Grohl would join a rare company of artists who’ve been enshrined as a member of two different acts.
Speaking to ABC Audio, Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Vice President of Education Jason Hanley says, “I think in the 21st century, Dave Grohl and the Foo Fighters have, in many ways, become the emblem of continuing rock and roll moving forward. They are the 21st century rock and roll band.”
Iron Maiden, meanwhile, are also first-time nominees. Vocalist Bruce Dickinson has been critical of the Rock Hall in the past, saying in a 2018 interview with The Jerusalem Post that he would “never want” to be inducted.
“If we’re ever inducted I will refuse,” he said. “They won’t bloody be having my corpse in there.”
The 2021 Rock Hall inductees will be announced in May. They will be chosen by an “international voting body of more than 1,000 artists, historians, and members of the music industry.” Additionally, you can vote for your favorites to be included in the so-called “fans’ ballot.” The top-five vote-getters among fans will comprise a single ballot to be included in the official count
You can vote now through April 30 via RockHall.com.
By Josh Johnson
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