CLEVELAND, Ohio – Jay-Z, Foo Fighters, Tina Turner and Iron Maiden top the historic list of nominees for this year’s Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Rolling Stone was the first to reveal the class on Wednesday morning.
The 2021 class will begin during a ceremony held in Cleveland at a date and place yet to be determined this fall. Joining the acts mentioned above on the ballot are Mary J. Blige, Kate Bush, Devo, The Go-Go’s, Chaka Khan, Carole King, Fela Kuti, LL Cool J, New York Dolls, Rage Against the Machine, Todd Rundgren and Dionne Warwick .
It is the most feminine vote that Rock Hall has ever produced, with seven of the 16 acts being led by women. These 2021 nominations are also the most racially diverse in 15 years.
“This remarkable vote reflects the diversity and depth of the artists and music that the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame celebrates,” said John Sykes, president of the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Foundation, in a statement. “These nominees left an indelible impact on the world’s sonic landscape and influenced countless artists who followed them.”
Artists can be nominated 25 years after the release of their first official recording. The 2021 ballot features two new eligible acts in Jay-Z and Foo Fighters. Other artists nominated for the first time (although they have to wait much longer) include Blige, The Go-Go’s, Iron Maiden, Warwick and Afrobeat pioneer Fela Kuti.
Foo Fighters frontman Dave Grohl is trying to gain his second introduction at Rock Hall, having already joined Nirvana in 2014. The same goes for Carole King, who was introduced as a non-performer / songwriter in 1990, and Turner, who won the induction as part of Ike & Tina Turner in 1991. King and Turner were able to join Stevie Nicks (2019) as the only women to be introduced to Rock Hall twice.
LL Cool J leads in terms of repeated appointments. The rap legend is in its sixth nomination. Chaka Khan is in his third solo nomination (the fifth if you count your nominations with the funk band Rufus). This year’s vote also comes with ties from Northeast Ohio. Devo originated in Akron, while Grohl is a native of Warren.
Notably missing out on nominations this year were Kraftwerk, nominated six times since 2003, and Dave Matthews Band and Pat Benatar, who finished in the top two in the 2020 Fan Vote. Speaking of which, fans can give their opinion via the annual online poll until April 30, by visiting rockhall.com. Fan Vote’s top five artists will compose a “fan ballot” counted along with more than 1,000 other ballots by musicians, historians and members of the music industry.
The 2021 Rock Hall class will be announced in May. Information on tickets for the autumn ceremony will be announced later.