The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductees for 2015 will include Lou Reed, Green Day, Joan Jett and The Blackhearts, Stevie Ray Vaughan, Bill Withers, and The Paul Butterfield Blues Band.
Nine Inch Nails, The Smiths, Chic, N.W.A., Sting, and Kraftwerk were some of the nominated artists not making the cut this time around. Nine Inch Nails and Green Day were the only nominees on the ballot in their first year of eligibility, and Lou Reed, who died in Oct. 2013, was previously inducted with the Velvet Underground in 1996.
The only member of The Beatles not inducted as a solo artist, Ringo Starr, will receive the Award of Excellence, and influential 1950’s R&B group The “5” Royales will receive the Early Influence Award.
In order to be eligible for this year’s ballot, artists or bands need to have released their first single or album in 1989 or earlier. The induction ceremony will take place April 18, 2015 in Cleveland, Ohio.
