The nominations for the 2014 Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame inductees have been unveiled, with a list that includes made up rock veterans KISS, collegiate punk faves The Replacements, pop duo Hall & Oates, and – in their first year of eligibility – Nirvana.
The grunge icons are among a list of 16 other artists that could be inducted, with bands only eligible for the Hall of Fame once their first release turns 25 (or older), but unlike some of the other hopefuls on the list, Nirvana have earned a nod for their first ever single, a cover of Shocking Blue’s ‘Love Buzz’ released by the pre-Dave Grohl trio in late 1988, as Rolling Stone reports.
Many of the other nominees for the Hall’s Class of 2014 have appeared on previous ballets, having issued their first single or album in 1988 or earlier, including country rock star Linda Ronstadt, guitar hero Link Wray, troubadour Cat Stevens, prog royalty Yes, and The Zombies.
Other nominees include Peter Gabriel (who was inducted already as a member of Genesis in 2009), forthcoming Meredith headliners Chic, the Paul Butterfield Blues Band, funk legends The Meters, and following on from Public Enemy controversially being inducted earlier this year, hip hop artists LL Cool J and N.W.A. are up for the Hall of Fame.
This year’s inductions also saw Deep Purple finally getting nominated, after being snubbed for 20 years, and though they missed out on receiving glory, they are up again for 2014. The grunge icons are among a list of 16 other artists that could be inducted… unlike some of the other hopefuls on the list, Nirvana have earned a nod for their first ever single.
Speaking of the historic snub last year, former Deep Purple member Glenn Hughes said: “We know the people in charge and we know how they think. It’s become like a joke in a way. Gene Simmons will talk to me about it, and go on a rant and all, and he is exactly right. But I’m not gonna hold my breath. Deep Purple, Kiss, Yes, and especially Rush should obviously all be in.”
Canadian power trio Rush were finally inducted this past April, in a ceremony that saw former Nirvana drummer Dave Grohl paying a comic but passionate tribute, while Yes, KISS, and Deep Purple are all up for possible induction in 2014.
For the second year running, the public will be able to vote alongside the official judging panel on who will be inducted into the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame, as Rolling Stone – who are handling the public vote – describe: “The top five acts will comprise a ‘fan’s ballot’ that will count as one of the more than 600 ballots that determine the Class of 2014.”
Funny that Rolling Stone should be handling the public vote given it was the publication’s readers that voted Nirvana as one of the worst bands of the 90s (yes, really).
The Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame nod continues a busy year of Nirvana activity which has included the recent 20th anniversary of their swansong 1993 album, In Utero, the ‘reunion’ of surviving members with Paul McCartney, while the band’s original label Sup Pop have been digging through the archives to reveal Nirvana’s original record contract showing it was $600 well spent, as well as the hilarious letter from a confused Homecoming organiser asking if the label could get the band to record a video message, despite the small fact of Cobain’s demise.
More recently, Novoselic teased fans with some suggestive comments about a Nirvana reunion in Australia, assuming of course that the uber-busy Grohl isn’t already occupied with the new Foo Fighters record.
Rock and Roll Hall Of Fame 2014 Nominees
Nirvana
Deep Purple
KISS
Yes
The Replacements
The Paul Butterfield Blues Band
Chic
The Meters
Lind Ronstadt
Peter Gabriel
Cat Stevens
LL Cool J
N.W.A.
Hall & Oates
Link Wray
The Zombies
