Fifteen musicians/bands have been nominated for the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame’s class of 2015. They include well-known living legends like Sting, Green Day, Nine Inch Nails and Joan Jett and the Blackhearts, and those who have passed — Lou Reed, Stevie Ray Vaughan and Bill Withers, singer of Lean On Me and Ain’t No Sunshine. Less straight up rock acts like gangsta rappers N.W.A. are also nominated this year. But Nile Rodgers’ disco band Chic of “Le Freak” fame wins in nominations. This is their tenth! Even Johnny Marr of The Smiths (also nominated this year) has cited Chic as “a formative influence.”
If you don’t think disco should have ever died, now’s your chance to be heard. While nominees are voted on by more than 700 artists, journalists and music executives, the Hall of Fame is also accepting online votes from a single “fans’ ballot.” The thirtieth annual Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction ceremony will take place on April 18 in Cleveland.
