The nominees for the 2015 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame have been announced, including The Smiths, the late Lou Reed and Sting — as a solo act. Also included in the 15 nominees are bands you may not believe have even been around that long, like Green Day, or Nine Inch Nails.
To be eligible for this year’s ballot, artists or bands had to have released their first single or album no later than 1989. Pretty Hate Machine, NIN's first album, marks its 25th anniversary this month, and Green Day's EP 1,000 Hours dropped in April of 1989.
According to Joel Peresman, head of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Foundation, the 2015 nominees “represent the myriad places where rock and roll converges with blues, electronic, dance, Motown, R&B, funk and other genres."
"Rock and roll incorporates the styles of so many different kinds of music and that's what makes this group of nominees — and this art form — so powerful and unique,” he continued.
For the third year in a row, the public gets to vote alongside the artists, historians and music industry insiders. The polls are now open until December 9 and you can vote here. After which, the top five acts will comprise a "fan's ballot" that will count as one of the more than 700 ballots that determine the Class of 2015.
Other gems up for the award include N.W.A, the Paul Butterfield Blues Band, Kraftwerk, Chic, Joan Jett & the Blackhearts, the Marvelettes, the Spinners, Stevie Ray Vaughan, War and Bill Withers.
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