LOS ANGELES — Guns N’ Roses, the Beastie Boys, the
Red Hot Chili Peppers, Eric B. & Rakim and the Cure are among the 15
nominees for induction as the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame’s class of
2012.
In addition, ‘70s female-fronted rock acts
Heart and Joan Jett&the Blackhearts are under consideration along
with rap group The Beastie Boys, singer-songwriter Laura Nyro, disco queen Donna Summer, R&B
collective War and British rock group Small Faces. Blues guitarist and
singer Freddie King, R&B band the Spinners and Scottish
singer-songwriter Donovan round out the latest batch of Hall of Fame
nominees.
Inductees are typically announced in December, ahead of a ceremony that takes place in New York in March.
At
least 25 years must have elapsed since a musician or group released its
debut recording for the act to be eligible for induction. That makes
Guns N’ Roses eligible for the first time because the L.A. hard rock
outfit’s debut album, “Appetite for Destruction,” was released in 1987.
Likewise, this is the first year of eligibility for rap duo Eric
B.&Rakim, whose debut, “Paid in Full,” also appeared in 1987.
King
and Donovan are the senior members of this year’s nominees, having
released their first recordings in 1961 and 1965, respectively.
Because
of the rancor over the years between Guns N’ Roses founding member Axl
Rose and former members of the band who have since departed, including
guitarist Slash, the group’s induction sets up the prospect of a
dramatic reunion, if all parties opt to set aside their differences for
the occasion. In a similar situation, Creedence Clearwater Revival
singer, guitarist and songwriter John Fogerty refused to join with the
Bay Area band’s surviving members — bassist Stu Cook and drummer Doug
Clifford — when Creedence was inducted in 1993.
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