We have previously written about the ridiculousness of the 50% rule here, here, here and here (4 years ago!).

The fact that the Rock Hall had left that requirement on their website for so long (and repeated it often) just shows their general indifference to the rules of induction, which ends up generating a lot of skepticism about the process. The Rock Hall doesn’t use an independent accounting firm to tally the votes like most major award organizations do (the Grammys), and never makes the voting results public (like the Baseball Hall of Fame does).

The Rock Hall has picked up a tool that Rolling Stone magazine has utilized for years: The Beatles = $$$ (the Beatles have been on the cover 30 times over the years). So, the Rock Hall decided that this was the year they would finally induct the Beatles manager, Brian Epstein, in the Non-Performer category, thereby injecting some ultimate boomer nostalgia into the festivities without even having to put Ringo on the ballot. Could they coax Paul McCartney into inducting Epstein and even performing a song or two? It’s certainly possible.

The Rock Hall didn’t stop with the Fab Four. Andrew Loog Oldham, the Rolling Stones former manager, is also being inducted as a Non-Performer. (The Stones pop up on the cover of Rolling Stone regularly too -- Mick has appeared 30 times.) Will the Stones perform? You can bet they’ll be invited. Even if they won’t, the Rock Hall will be able to pull together some big names to perform a couple classic songs.

And finally, the Rock Hall decided to play one more huge card it had in its deck: finally inducting the E Street Band in the Musical Excellence category. It has been 15 years since the Rock Hall honored Bruce solo (on Rolling Stone 24 times), so this gives the Hall a great excuse to get the entire group on a stage close to home.

It appears that the Rock Hall is using the categories in which it has full control to guarantee a successful induction ceremony and HBO broadcast. The Non-Performer and Musical Excellence inductees are named by special committees and are not subject to a vote, so the Rock Hall literally could have picked any year to honor these Hall of Famers (all well deserving). So, why this year? The Rock Hall traditionally signs three year deals with its media partners, and this is the third year HBO has the broadcast rights. It seems possible that the Rock Hall decided to go all out this year to set themselves up for their next media deal. Also worth noting is that Brooklyn’s Barclays Center has a seating capacity of 19,000*, by far the largest venue they have ever tried to fill for an induction ceremony. Even with all of the Rush fans last year**, the Rock Hall had a hard time selling all of the expensive seats in the 7,100 seat Nokia Theatre in LA, so they want to maximize the number of headliners this year. They didn’t want to put the success of the show solely in the hands of a potential KISS reunion, a Nirvana performance without Kurt, or a Linda Ronstadt no-show. By including the Beatles, Stones, and Bruce, they put themselves in a can’t-lose situation no matter which performers the Voting Committee selected.

Joel Peresman confirmed that the induction ceremonies will now be on a three city rotation: New York (2014, 2017, 2020, etc.), Cleveland (2015, 2018, 2021, etc.) and Los Angeles (2016, 2019, 2022, etc.). It will be difficult for future events to top the 2014 Ceremony for sheer star power, but look at the future eligibility dates and start making plans.

* - The capacity of Barclays for the induction ceremony will end up being approximately 2,000 less than a typical concert because of all of the VIP table seating on the floor.

** - Let’s face it, even if you’re a die-hard fan of an inductee, it’s tough to shell out $350+ to see a short speech and two or three songs. This year, the Rock Hall is making that easier to swallow by including additional artists almost everyone loves. This is only the fourth ceremony that has been open to the public, so the Rock Hall is probably still trying to figure out how much they can charge for these things. The 2013 Los Angeles ceremony was considerably more expensive than either of the Cleveland ceremonies in 2009 and 2012.

*** - This year’s ceremony still won’t rival the Rock Hall’s 25th Anniversary Concert from Madison Square Garden. Check out the lineup and set lists for that one.

**** - Read also last year’s take on HBO’s involvement, still as relevant as ever.

That Metal Show host and notable Rock Hall critic, Eddie Trunk, tweeted that his sources tell him that Kiss will be inducted and that the Induction Ceremony will be in Brooklyn (which would likely be the Barclays Center).

• Nirvana: There has never been any doubt that this band would be a first ballot Hall of Famer. The only question that remains is who will sing during the performance at the Induction Ceremony.
• Kiss: In recent interviews, Gene Simmons and Paul Stanley have changed their tone when talking about the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame selectors. This could be a sign that both the Rock Hall and the band have grown beyond their feud and are ready to finally make each other whole.
• Linda Ronstadt: The public proclamations of support from the Eagles earlier this year pushed the Nominating Committee to put Ronstadt on the ballot for the first time and it seems likely the voters won’t waste any time inducting her.
• Yes: The Rock Hall’s supposed prog bias has taken a couple of major hits in the last few years, first with Genesis getting inducted in 2010 and then Rush in 2013. Both bands were inducted the first time they appeared on the ballot. Now Yes has finally been nominated so the voters get a chance to induct them as well.
• Chic: Seven times Chic has been nominated and then failed to be inducted, so why should it be any different this year? Well, 2013 was an extraordinary year for Nile Rodgers (although he probably doesn’t have ordinary years), so there is a general feeling the time is finally right.
• The Zombies: 2008, The Dave Clark Five; 2010, The Hollies; 2012, The Small Faces / The Faces; 2014, The Zombies?

Over 1000 voters participated in the Future Rock Legends simulated Rock Hall ballot. Here is how they ended up:

1. Nirvana 80%
2. Deep Purple 62%
3. Kiss 47%
4. Peter Gabriel 42%
5. Yes 42%
6. Chic 34%
7. Hall & Oates 32%
8. N.W.A 30%
9. Linda Ronstadt 29%
10. Cat Stevens 27%
11. The Zombies 22%
12. Link Wray 16%
13. The Replacements 15%
14. LL Cool J 10%
15. The Paul Butterfield Blues Band 7%
16. The Meters 5%

Official voting closes December 10th at 5pm, and the inductees are typically announced about a week after that. Also watch for one or two inductees in the Non-Performer category to be named. The 2014 Induction Ceremony will be in April in New York and for the third year in a row, tickets will be available to the public (exact date and location TBD).

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First, the nominee ballot itself:

Cat Stevens
Chic
Deep Purple
Hall & Oates
KISS
Linda Ronstadt
Link Wray
LL Cool J
The Meters
Nirvana
N.W.A
The Paul Butterfield Blues Band
Peter Gabriel
The Replacements
Yes
The Zombies


So, let's break up these nominees and examine them based on different criteria, with an emphasis on the criteria people have claimed in the past made a difference about who gets nominated.


First, by subgenre:

1 - 80s Alternative
1 - Alternative/Grunge
1 - Blue-Eyed Soul
1 - Blues Rock
1 - Country Rock
1 - Disco
2 - Hard Rock/Metal
1 - New Orleans R&B/Funk
1 - Progressive Rock
1 - Psychedelic
2 - Rap
1 - Rockabilly/Instrumental
1 - Rock Fusion
1 - Singer/Songwriter


Next, by members, including birthplaces. Asterisks (*) indicates members that did not appear on an "important" recording. Any members not listed did not appear on a major recording. ??? indicates unknown birthplace or birthdate:

Cat Stevens - 1 
(B. Steven Demetre Georgiou on 21 Jul 1948, Marylebone, London, England)

Chic - 6 
Bernard Edwards (B. 31 Oct 1952, Greenville, North Carolina)
Nile Rodgers (b. 19 Sep 1952, Greenwich Village, New York, New York)
Tony Thompson (b. 05 Nov 1954, Queens, New York, New York)
Norma Jean Wright (b. ??? (it's around the mid-50's) in Elyria, Ohio)
Luci Martin (b. 10 Jan 1955, New York, New York) (??? - which borough?)
Alfa Anderson (b. 07 Sep 1946, Bronx, New York, New York)

*Note:  Wright was 17 when she joined local Ohio trio the Topettes.  She then sang background on "Then Came You" by the Spinners/Dionne Warwick, then toured with the Spinners, then joined Chic in 1977.  By that timeline, she was born somewhere around the mid-50's.

Deep Purple - 10
Rod Evans (b. 19 Jan 1947, Edinburgh, Scotland)
Ritchie Blackmore (b. 14 Apr 1945, Weston-super-Mare, England)
Jon Lord (b. 09 Jun 1941, Leicester, England)
Nicky Simper (b. 03 Nov 1945, Norwood Green, Southall, London, England)
Ian Paice (b. 29 Jun 1948, Nottingham, England)
Ian Gillan (b. 19 Aug 1945, Hounslow, London, England)
Roger Glover (b. 30 Nov 1945, Brecon, South Wales)
David Coverdale (b. 22 Sep 1951, Saltburn, England)
Glenn Hughes (b. 21 Aug 1951, Penkridge, England)
*Tommy Bolin (b. 01 Aug 1951, Sioux City, Iowa)

Hall & Oates - 2
Daryl Hall (b. Daryl Franklin Hohl 11 Oct 1946 in Pottsdown, Pennsylvania)
John Oates (b. 07 Apr 1949 in Manhattan, New York, New York/raised in North Wales, Pennsylvania)

KISS - 4
4 - Gene Simmons (b. Chaim Witz on 25 Aug 1942 in Tirat HaCarmel, Israel)
Ace Frehley (b. Paul Daniel Frehley on 12 Apr 1951, The Bronx, New York, New York)
Paul Stanley (b. Stanley Harvey Eisen on 20 Jan 1952, Manhattan, New York, New York)
Peter Criss (b. George Peter John Criscuola on 20 Dec 1945 in Brooklyn, New York, New York)
*Simmons made it clear only the original four will be inducted.  Otherwise, other members to be considered are: 
*Eric Carr (b. Paul Charles Caravello on 12 Jul 1950 in Brooklyn, New York, New York)
*Vinnie Vincent (b. Vincent John Cusano on 06 Aug 1952 in Bridgeport, Connecticut)
*Mark St. John (b. Mark Leslie Norton on 07 Feb 1956 in Anaheim, California)
*Bruce Kulick (b. 12 Dec 1953 in Brooklyn, New York, New York)
*Eric Singer (b. Eric Doyle Mensinger on 12 May 1958, Euclid, Ohio)
*Tommy Thayer (b. 07 Nov 1960, Portland, Oregon)

Linda Ronstadt - 1
(b. 15 Jul 1946 in Tucson, Arizona)

Link Wray - 1
(b. Fred Lincoln Wray on 02 May 1929 in Dunn, North Carolina)

LL Cool J - 1
(b. James Todd Smith on 14 Jan 1968 in Bay Shore, New York)

The Meters - 7
Art Neville (b. 17 Dec 1937 in New Orleans, Louisiana)
Leo Nocentelli (b. 15 Jun 1946 in New Orleans, Louisiana)
Joseph "Zigaboo" Modeliste (b. 28 Dec 1948 in New Orleans, Louisiana)
George Porter, Jr. (b. 26 Dec 1947 in New Orleans, Louisiana)
Cyril Neville (b. 10 Oct 1948 in New Orleans, Louisiana)
*Russell Batiste (b. 12 Dec 1965 in New Orleans, Louisiana)
*Brian Stoltz (b. ??? in New Orleans, Louisiana)

Nirvana - 5
Kurt Cobain (b. 20 Feb 1967 in Aberdeen, Washington)
Kris Novoselic (b. 16 May 1965 in Compton, California/raised in San Pedro, California)
*Dave Crover (b. 23 Oct 1967 in Aberdeen, Washington)
*Chad Channing (b. 31 Jan 1967 in Santa Rosa, California)
David Grohl (b. 14 Jan 1969 in Warren, Ohio)

N.W.A - 6 –
Ice Cube (b. O’Shea Jackson on 15 Jun 1969 in Los Angeles, California)
Easy-E (b. Eric Lynn Wright on 07 Sep 1963 in Compton, CA)
Dr. Dre (b. Andre Rommelle Young on 18 Feb 1965 in Compton, California)
Yella (b. Antoine Carraby on 11 Dec 1967 in Compton, California)
Arabian Prince (b. Mik Lezan on 17 Jun 1964 in Compton, California)
MC Ren (b. Lorenzo Jerald Patterson on 14 Jun 1969 in Los Angeles, California)

The Paul Butterfield Blues Band - 17
Paul Butterfield (b. 17 Dec 1942 in Chicago, Illinois)
Mike Bloomfield (b. 28 Jul 1943 in Chicago, Illinois)
Sam Lay (b. 20 Mar 1935 in Birmingham, Alabama)
Jerome Arnold (b. 26 Nov 1936 in Chicago, Illinois)
Elvin Bishop (b. 21 Oct 1942 in Glendale, California, from 1952 raised in Tulsa, Oklahoma)
Mark Naftalin (b. 02 Aug 1944 in Minneapolis, Minnesota)
Billy Davenport (b. 23 Apr 1932 in Chicago, Illinois)
Bugsy Maugh (b. 07 Mar 1942 in St. Joseph,  Missouri)
Phil Wilson (b. 08 Sep 1941, St. Louis, Missouri)
Gene Dinwiddie (b. 19 Sep 1936 in Louisville, Kentucky)
David Sanborn (b. 30 Jul 1945 in Tampa, Florida)
Keith "Whistlin' Willie" Johnson (???)
Buzzy Feiten a.k.a. Buzz Feiten (b. Howard Feiten on ??? in Centerpoint, New York)
Rod Hicks (b. 01 Jul 1942 in Detroit, Michigan)
Steve Medaio (b. 18 Jul 1948 in Brooklyn, New York, New York)
Ted Harris a.k.a. Teddy Harris, Jr. (b. 27 Aug 1934 in Detroit, Michigan)
Trevor Lawrence (b. on ??? in Brooklyn, New York, New York)

Peter Gabriel - 1
(b. 13 Feb 1950, Chobham, Surrey, England)

The Replacements - 6
Paul Westerberg, vocals/guitar (b. 31 Dec 1959, Minneapolis, Minnesota)
Bob Stinson, lead guitar b. (17 Dec 1959, Waconia, Minnesota)
Tommy Stinson, bass (b. 06 Oct 1966, Minneapolis, Minnesota)
Chris Mars, drums (b. 26 Apr 1961, Minneapolis, Minnesota)
Slim Dunlap, lead guitar (b. Robert Dunlap 14 Aug 1951, Minneapolis, Minnesota)
Steve Foley, drums (b. 04 Jun 1959, Hopkins, Minnesota)

Yes - 17
Jon Anderson (b. 25 Oct 1944, Accrington, England)
Tony Kaye (b. 08 Jul 1952, Leicester, England)
Peter Banks (b. 15 Jul 1947, Barnet, London, England)
Bill Bruford (b. 17 May 1949, Sevenoaks, England)
Chris Squire (b. 04 Mar 1948, Kingsbury, London, England)
Steve Howe (b. 08 Apr 1947, Holloway, London, England)
Rick Wakeman (b. 18 May 1949, Perivale, London, England)
Alan White (b. 14 Jun 1949, Ferryhill, England)
Patrick Moraz (b. 24 Jun 1948, Morges, Switzerland)
Geoff Downes (b. 25 Aug 1952, Stockport, England)
Trevor Horn (b. 15 Jul 1949, Durham, England)
Trevor Rabin (b. 13 Jan 1954, Johannesburg, South Africa)
*Billy Sherwood (b. 14 Mar 1965, Las Vegas, Nevada)
*Igor Khoroshev (b. 14 Jul 1965, Moscow, Russia)
*Benoit David (b. 18 Aug 1953, Montreal, Quebec, Canada)
*Oliver Wakeman (b. 26 Feb 1972, perhaps Gerrards Cross, England???)
*Jon Davison (b. ??? 1971, Laguna Beach, California)  

The Zombies - 10
Colin Blumstone, lead vocals (b. 24 Jun 1945 in Hatfield, England)
Rod Argent-keyboards, vocals (b. 14 Jun 1945 in St. Albans, England)
Paul Atkinson- guitar (b. 19 Mar 1945 in Cuffley, England-d. 01 Apr 2004 in Santa Monica, California of kidney and liver disease)
Chris White-bass (b. 07 Mar 1943 in Barnet, England)
Hugh Grundy-drums (b. 06 Mar 1945 in Winchester, England)
*Sebastian Santa Maria-organ, guitar (b. 24 Sep 1959 in Santiago, Chile)
*Jim Rodford-bass (b. 07 Jul 1941 in St. Albans, England) – founding member of Argent
*Steve Rodford –drums (b.??? (perhaps in St. Albans, England?)) – Jim Rodford’s son
*Keith Airey – guitar (b. ??? (England?))
*Tom Toomey-guitar (b. ??? (England?))


Next, by previous inductions. Clyde McPhatter was the first person to be inducted more than once into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, as a soloist and as a member of the first incarnation of the Drifters. So, when someone is inducted more than once, we say he has joined the Clyde McPhatter club.  This year, Peter Gabriel is poised to join the Clyde McPhatter Club, having been previous inducted in as a member of the band Genesis in 2010.


Next, by race:

White: 9 
Cat Stevens, Deep Purple, Hall & Oates*, KISS, Nirvana, Peter Gabriel, the Replacements, Yes and the Zombies.
*Note: John Oates is part Spanish-Moorish.  If you harp about that, I'll laugh at you.  Understand, the point of this section is that it really doesn't matter, if you get too technical, it becomes ridiculous, and if you go back far enough, you'll find we're all related anyways. . . .

Black: 3 
Chic, LL Cool J, N.W.A

Hispanic: 1
Linda Ronstadt

Native American: 1
Link Wray (Shawnee)

Mixed: 2
Paul Butterfield Blues Band, The Meters*
*Note: as for the Meters being mixed race, this depends on whether they induct Brian Stoltz or not.


Next, by gender*:

Male: 91

Women: 4.

*These numbers depend on which members are eventually inducted.


Next, by nationality based on place of birth*:

Unknown - 1 (probably U.S., but unless I can find something that says where Keith Johnson of the PBBB was born, I'm not going to assume. . .).

Canada - 1

Chile - 1

Israel - 1

Russia - 1

South Africa - 1

Switzerland - 1

United Kingdom – 31
Scotland - 2, Wales - 1, England - 28

United States - 57
Alabama - 1, Arizona - 1, California - 10, Florida - 1, Illinois - 4, Iowa - 1, Kentucky - 1, Louisiana - 7, Michigan - 2, Minnesota - 7, Missouri - 2, Nevada - 1, New York - 11, North Carolina - 2, Ohio - 2, Pennsylvania - 2, Washington - 2

*These numbers depend on which members are eventually inducted.


Next, by the number of top 40 hits on the Billboard 100*, including noteworthy tracks:

Cat Stevens - 11 top 40 hits.  
Noteworthy songs include but are not limited to: 
1967 
"Matthew and Son"
"Here Comes My Baby"
"The First Cut Is The Deepest"
1970 
"Lady D'Arbanville"
“If You Want To Sing Out, Sing Out”
1971 
"Wild World" (#11 Pop)
"Moon Shadow" (#30 Pop)
"Peace Train" (#7 Pop)
"Father And Son"
"Hard Headed Woman"
"Where Do The Children Play"
"The Wind"
1972 
"Morning Has Broken" (#6 Pop)
"Sitting" (#16 Pop)
"Can't Keep It In"
1973 
"The Hurt" (#31 Pop)
1974 
"Oh Very Young" (#10 Pop)
"Another Saturday Night" (#6 Pop) (original by Sam Cooke)
"Ready" (#26 Pop)
1975 
"Two Fine People" (#33 Pop)
1977 
"(Remember The Days Of The) Old Schoolyard" (#33 Pop)
"Was Dog A Doughnut?"

Chic - 5 top forty hits.  
Noteworthy songs include but are not limited to: 
1977 
"Dance, Dance, Dance (Yowsah, Yowsah, Yowsah)" (#6 Pop, #6 R&B)
1978 
"Everybody Dance" (#38 Pop)
"Le Freak" (#1 Pop, #1 R&B) 
"Chic Cheer"
"Savoir Faire"
1979 
"I Want Your Love" (#7 Pop, #5 R&B)
"Good Times" (#1 Pop, #1 R&B)
"At Last I Am Free"
"My Forbidden Lover"
"My Feet Keep Dancing"
"What About Me"
"Will You Cry (When You Hear This Song)"
1980 
"Rebels Are We" (#8 R&B)
"Real People"
1982 
"Soup For One"
1992
"Chic Mystique" (#1 Dance)

Deep Purple - 3 top 40 hits.  
Noteworthy songs include but are not limited to: 
1968 
"Hush" (#4 Pop) (originally by Billy Joe Royal) (written by Joe South)
"Kentucky Woman" (#38 Pop) (originally by Neil Diamond)
1970 
"Black Night"
"Speed King"
"Child In Time"
1971 
"Strange Kind Of Woman"
1972 
"Smoke On The Water" (#4 Pop)
"Highway Star"
"Space Truckin'"
1973 
"Woman From Tokyo"
1974  
"Burn"
"Mistreated"
"Soldier Of Fortune"
"Stormbringer"

Hall & Oates - 29 top 40 hits.  
Noteworthy tracks include but are not limited to: 
1973 
"She's Gone" (#7 Pop)
1975 
"Sara Smile" (#4 Pop)
"Grounds For Separation"
1976 
"Do What You Want, Be What You Are" (#39)
"Rich Girl" (#1/2 wks Pop)
1977 
"Back Together Again" (#28 Pop)
1978 
"It's A Laugh" (#20 Pop)
1979 
"Wait For Me" (#18 Pop)
1980 
"How Does It Feel To Be Back" (#30 Pop)
"You've Lost That Lovin' Feeling" (#12 Pop) (originally by the Righteous Brothers)
"Everytime You Go Away"
"You Make My Dreams Come True" (#5 Pop)
1981 
"Kiss On My List" (#1/3 wks Pop)
"Private Eyes" (#1/2 wks Pop)
"I Can't Go For That (No Can Do)" (#1 Pop)
1982 
"Did It In A Minute" (#9 Pop)
"Your Imagination" (#33 Pop)
"Maneater" (#1/4 wks Pop)
"One On One" (#7 Pop)
1983 
"Family Man" (#6 Pop) (originally by Mike Oldfield)
"Say It Isn't So" (#2 Pop)
"Adult Education" (#8 Pop)
1984 
"Out Of Touch" (#1/2 wks Pop)
"Method Of Modern Love" (#5 Pop)
1985 
"Some Things Are Better Left Unsaid" (#18 Pop)
"Possession Obsession (#30 Pop)
"A Nite At The Apollo Live! The Way You Do The Things You Do/My Girl" (#20 Pop) (Daryl Hall, John Oates with David Ruffin & Eddie Kendrick) (both songs originally by the Temptations) 
1988 
"Everything Your Heart Desires" (#3 Pop)
"Missed Opportunity" (#29 Pop)
"Downtown Life" (#31 Pop)
1990 
"So Close" (#11 Pop) (co-written by Jon Bon Jovi)

KISS - 9 top 40 hits. 
Noteworthy tracks include but are not limited to:  
1974 
"Black Diamond"
"Cold Gin"
"Deuce"
"Firehouse"
"Goin' Blind"
"Let Me Go, Rock 'N' Roll"
"Parasite"
"Strange Ways"
"Strutter"
1975 
"C'mon And Love Me"
"Getaway"
"Love Her All I Can"
"Rock Bottom"
"Rock And Roll All Nite" (#12 Pop)
"She"
1976 
"Beth" (#7 Pop)
"Calling Dr. Love" (#16 Pop)
"Detroit Rock City"
"Do You Love Me?"
"God Of Thunder"
"Hard Luck Woman" (#15 Pop)
"I Want You"
"Makin' Love"
"Shout It Out Loud" (#31 Pop)
1977 
"Almost Human"
"Christine Sixteen" (#25 Pop)
"I Stole Your Love"
"Love Gun"
"Shock Me"
1978 
"Rocket Ride" (#39 Pop)
 1979 
"I Was Made For Lovin' You" (#11 Pop)
"Sure Know Something"
1982 
"I Love It Loud"
"War Machine"
1990 
"Forever" (#8 Pop)

Linda Ronstadt - 21 top 40 hits.  
Noteworthy songs include but are not limited to: 
1967 
"Different Drum" (Stone Poneys featuring Linda Ronstadt) (written by Michael Nesmith) (originally by the Greenbriar Boys) (#13 Pop)
1968 
"Some Of Shelly's Blues" (Stone Poneys) (written by Michael Nesmith)
1970 
"Long, Long Time" (#25 Pop)
1973 
"Desperado" (originally by the Eagles)
1974 
"You're No Good" (originally by Dee Dee Warwick, hit first by Betty Everett) (#1 Pop)
"I Can't Help It (If I'm Still In Love With You)" (originally by Hank Williams) (#2 Ctry)
"When Will I Be Loved" (originally by the Everly Brothers) (#2 Pop, #1 Ctry)
"Faithless Love" (written by J.D. Souther)
"Heart Like A Wheel" (originally by Kate & Anna McGarrigle)
1975 
"Heat Wave" (written by Holland-Dozier-Holland) (originally by Martha & the Vandellas) (#5 Pop)
"Love Is A Rose" (#5 Ctry) (originally by Neil Young)
"Tracks Of My Tears" (#25 Pop) (originally by the Miracles)
1976 
“That'll Be The Day" (originally by the Crickets) (#11 Pop)
"Crazy" (written by Willie Nelson) (originally by Patsy Cline) (#6 Ctry)
"Lose Again" (written by Karla Bonoff)
"Someone To Lay Down Beside Me" (written by Karla Bonoff)
1977 
“Blue Bayou" (originally by Roy Orbison) (#3 Pop, #2 Ctry)
"It's So Easy" (originally by the Crickets) (#5 Pop)
"Poor, Poor Pitiful Me" (originally by Warren Zevon) (#31 Pop)
"Tumbling Dice" (originally by the Rolling Stones) (#32 Pop)
"I Never Will Marry" (traditional, earliest recording by the Carter Family) (#8 Ctry)
1978 
"Back In The U.S.A." (originally by Chuck Berry) (#16 Pop)
"Ooh Baby  Baby" (originally by the Miracles) (#7 Pop) (only song by Ronstadt to chart on Pop, R&B & Country charts)
1980 
"How Do I Make You" (originally by Billy Thermal) (written by Billy Steinberg) (Pop #10)
"Hurt So Bad" (originally by Little Anthony & the Imperials) (#8 Pop)
"I Can't Let Go" (originally by the Hollies) (co-written by Chip Taylor) (#31 Pop)
1982 
"Get Closer" (#29 Pop)
"I Knew You When" (originally by Wade Flemons, first a hit by Billy Joe Royal) (written by Joe South) (#37 Pop)
1986 
"Somewhere Out There" (Linda Ronstadt and James Ingram) (written by James Horner, Barry Mann and Cynthia Weil) (#2 Pop)
1987 
Next four songs by Dolly Parton, Linda Ronstadt & Emmylou Harris – 
"To Know Him Is To Love Him" (originally by the Teddy Bears) (co-written by Phil Spector) (#1 Ctry)
"Telling Me Lies" (originally by Linda Thompson) (#3 Ctry)
"Those Memories Of You" (originally by Bill & James Monroe in 1978) (#5 Ctry)
"Wildflowers" (written by Dolly Parton) (#6 Ctry)
1989 
"Don't Know Much" (Linda Ronstadt featuring Aaron Neville) (originally by Barry Mann) (co-written by Barry Mann and Cynthia Weil) (#2 Pop)
"All My Life" (Linda Ronstadt featuring Aaron Neville) (originally by Karla Bonoff) (#11 Pop)
1993 
"Winter Light" (co-written by Linda Ronstadt)
1995 
"Feels Like Home" (written by Randy Newman)
1999 
"After The Gold Rush" (Dolly Parton, Linda Ronstadt & Emmylou Harris) (originally by Neil Young)

Link Wray - 2 top 40 hits.  
Noteworthy tracks include but are not limited to: 
1958 
"Rumble" (#16 Pop)
 1959 
"Raw-hide" (#23 Pop)
“Comanche”
“Lillian”
“Slinky”
“Right Turn”
 1961 
"Jack The Ripper"
1963
“Black Widow”
“Run Chicken Run”
“Ace Of Spades”
“Batman Theme”
“Hidden Charms” (originally by Howlin' Wolf) (written by Willie Dixon)
1964
“Deuces Wild”
1965 
"I'm Branded"
“Hang On”
1971 
"Fire And Brimstone"
“La De Da”
1973
“I’m So Glad, I’m So Proud” (I never heard a guitar sound like this – C2)
1974
“Backwoods Preacher Man” (original by Tony Joe White)
1978
“Fire” (Robert Gordon w/ Link Wray) (written by Bruce Springsteen)
1979
“Switchblade”

LL Cool J - 14 top 40 hits.  
Noteworthy tracks include but are not limited to:  
1985 
"Dear Yvette"
"El Shabazz"
"I Can't Live Without My Radio"
"Rock The Bells"
1987 
“Get Down"
"I'm Bad" (#4 R&B)
"I Need Love" (#14 Pop, #1 R&B)
"Jack The Ripper"
1989 
"Big Ole Butt"
"Going Back To Cali" (#31 Pop)
"I'm That Type Of Guy" (#15 Pop, #7 R&B, #1 Rap)
"It Gets No Rougher"
"Jingling Baby"
1990 
"Mama Said Knock You Out" (#17 Pop, #1 Rap)
"Around The Way Girl" (#9 Pop, #5 R&B, #1 Rap)
"Eat Em Up L Chill"
"Illegal Search"
"Rampage"
"The Boomin' System" (#6 R&B, #1 Rap)
"To Da Break Of Dawn"
1993 
"Back Seat (Of My Jeep)"
“How I’m Comin’” (#1 Rap)
1995 
"Hey Lover" (#3 Pop, #3 R&B, #1 Rap)
1996 
"Doin It" (#9 Pop, #7 R&B)
"Loungin" (#3 Pop, #4 R&B, #1 Rap)
1997 
"4, 3, 2, 1"
1998 
"Father" (#18 Pop, #1 Rap)
2002 
"Luv U Better" (#4 Pop, #1/4 wks R&B)
“Paradise” (LL Cool J f/Amerie) (#36 Pop)
2004 
"Headsprung" (#16 Pop, #7 R&B)
“Hush” (LL Cool J f/7 Aurelius) (#26 Pop)
2006 
"Control Myself" (f/ Jennifer Lopez) (#4 Pop)

The Meters - 2 top 40 hits.  
Noteworthy songs include but are not limited to:  
1969 
"Sophisticated Cissy" (Pop #34)
"Cissy Strut" (Pop #23)
"Ease Back"
"Live Wire"
"Rigor Mortis"
"Same Old Thing"
"Cardova"
"Ease Back"
"Here Comes The Meter Man"
1970 
"Look-Ka Py Py"
"Handclapping Song"
"Chicken Strut"
"Hey! Last Minute"
"Tippi-Toes"
1974 
"Hey Pocky A-Way"
"Just Kissed My Baby"
"People Say"

Nirvana - 4 top 40 hits.  
Noteworthy tracks include but are not limited to: 
1989 
"About A Girl"
"Negative Creep"
1990 
"Been A Son"
"Sliver"
1991 
"Breed"
"Come As You Are" (#32 Pop, #3 Mod)
"Drain You"
"In Bloom"
"Lithium"
"Lounge Act"
"On A Plain"
"Polly"
"Smells Like Teen Spirit" (#6 Pop, #1 Mod)
"Something In The Way"
"Stay Away"
"Territorial Pissings"
1993 
"All Apologies" (#1 Mod)
"Dumb"
"Heart-Shaped Box" (#1 Mod)
"Pennyroyal Tea"
"Rape Me"
"Where Did You Sleep Last Night" (live)
1994 
"About A Girl" (Live) (#22 Pop, #1 Mod)
1995 
"The Man Who Sold The World" (#39 Pop, #6 Mod) (originally by David Bowie)
2002 
"You Know You're Right" (#1 Mod)

N.W.A - No top 40 hits.
Noteworthy tracks include but are not limited to:
1987 
"Boyz-n-the Hood" (Eazy-E solo, Ice Cube wrote lyrics)
"8 Ball"
"Dopeman"
1988  
"Express Yourself"
"F*** Tha Police"
"Gangsta Gangsta"
"Something 2 Dance 2"
"Straight Outta Compton"
"I Ain't Tha 1"
"Quiet On Tha Set"
1989 
"A B**** Is A B****"
1990 
"Just Don't Bite It"
"100 Miles And Runnin'"
1991 
"Findum, F***um & Flee"
"Message To B.A."
"Alwayz Into Somethin'"
"Appetite For Destruction"
"N***az 4 Life"
"Prelude"
"Real N***az Don't Die"
1999 
"Chin Check" (N.W.A w/ Snoop Dogg) (from the movie Next Friday)

The Paul Butterfield Blues Band - No top 40 hits.  
Noteworthy tracks include but are not limited to – 
1965
"Born In Chicago"
"I Got My Mojo Working" (originally by Ann Cole, first popularized by Muddy Waters)
"Mellow Down Easy" (originally by Little Walter)
"Shake Your Money-Maker" (originally by Elmore James)
"Screamin'"
"Thank You Mr. Poobah"
1966
"East-West"
"Get Out Of My Life, Woman" (originally by Lee Dorsey)
"Mary, Mary" (written by Michael Nesmith)
1967
"Double Trouble" (originally by Otis Rush)
"Driftin' And Driftin'"
"Drivin' Wheel"
1968
Last Hope's Gone"
1969
"Love March"
"Losin' Hand"
"Walking By Myself"

Peter Gabriel - 5 top 40 hits.  
Noteworthy songs include but are not limited to: 
1977 
"Here Comes The Flood"
"Solsbury Hill"
1980 
"Biko"
"Family Snapshot"
"Games Without Frontiers"
“I Don’t Remember”
“Self-Control”
“Intruder”
1982 
"Shock The Monkey" (#29 Pop)
"San Jacinto"
1986 
"Sledgehammer" (#1 Pop)
"In Your Eyes" (#26 Pop)
"Big Time" (#8 Pop)
"Red Rain"
"Don't Give Up" (Peter Gabriel/Kate Bush)
"Mercy Street"
1990 
"Shakin' The Tree" (W/Youssou N'Dour)
1992 
"Steam" (#32 Pop)

The Replacements - None.  
Noteworthy songs include but are not limited to: 
1983 
"Color Me Impressed"
1984 
"I Will Dare"
"Unsatisfied"
"Sixteen Blue"
"Answering Machine"
1985 
"Androgynous"
"Bastards Of Young"
"Here Comes A Regular"
"Left Of The Dial"
"Kiss Me On The Bus"
"Hold Me Life"
"Swingin' Party"
1987 
"Can't Hardly Wait"
"Alex Chilton"
"Skyway"
1989 
"I'll Be You" (#1 Mod)
"Talent Show"
1990 
"Merry Go Round" (#1 Mod)
"Achin' To Be"
1991 
"When It Began" (#4 Mod)

Yes - 6 top 40 hits.  
Noteworthy songs include but are not limited to:
1971 
"I've Seen All Good People: Your Move" (#40 Pop)
"Starship Trooper"
"Yours Is No Disgrace"
"Roundabout" (#13 Pop)
"South Side Of The Sky"
"Long Distance Runaround"
"Heart Of The Sunrise"
1972 
"Close To The Edge"
"And You And I"
1977 
"Awaken"
1983 
"Owner Of A Lonely Heart" (#1 Pop)
"Leave It" (#24 Pop)
"It Can Happen"
"Changes"
1987 
"Love Will Find A Way" (#30 Pop)
"Rhythm Of Love (#40 Pop)

The Zombies - 3 top 40 hits.  
Noteworthy songs include but are not limited to:
1964 
"She's Not There" (#2 Pop)
"Leave Me Be"
“Summertime” (first performed by Abbie Mitchell) (first a hit by Billie Holiday) (written by Ira & George 
“Whenever You’re Ready”
“Tell Her No” (#6 Pop)
“Just Out Of Reach”
“She’s Coming Home”
1965
“I Love You”
1966
“The Way I Feel  Inside”
1967 
"Care Of Cell 44"
1968 
"Time Of The Season" (#3 Pop)
"This Will Be Our Year"
“Beechwood Park”
“Brief Candles”
“A Rose For Emily”
“Imagine The Swan”
“Maybe After He’s Gone”
“A Butcher’s Tale (Western Front 1914)”
2011
“A Moment In Time”

*Billboard chart positions come from Joel Whitburn’s books, such as Top Pop Singles, Hot R&B Songs, Hot Country Songs or Rock Tracks.


Next, by dead members:
Currently, there are 18 possible*. Note: ??? means either the date, place or cause of death remains unreported.


Chic -2 
Bernard Edwards (d. 18 Apr 1996, Tokyo, Japan of pneumonia)
Tony Thompson (d. 12 Nov 2003, Encino, California of kidney cancer)

Deep Purple -2
Jon Lord (d. 16 Jul 2012, London, England of pancreatic cancer)
Tommy Bolin (d. 04 Dec 1976, Miami, Florida of an overdose from heroin and other drugs)

Link Wray -1 (d. 05 Nov 2005, Copenhagen, Denmark of heart failure) 

Nirvana -1 
Kurt Cobain (d. 05 Apr 1994 in Lake Washington, Washington, of suicide by shooting himself in the chin with a shotgun)

N.W.A – 1
Eazy-E (d. 26 Mar 1995 in Los Angeles, California of complications from A.I.D.S.)

The Paul Butterfield Blues Band – 7
Paul Butterfield (d. 04 May 1987 in Hollywood, CA, of morphine overdose)
Mike Bloomfield (d. 15 Feb 1981 in San Francisco, CA of drug overdose – details unclear)
Billy Davenport (d. 24 Dec  1999 in ???)
Phil Wilson (d. 01 Apr 1992 (some sources say 25 Mar 1992) in New York, murdered during a home invasion)
Gene Dinwiddie (d. 11 Jan 2002 in La Puente, California  of ???)
Rod Hicks (died 02 Jan 2013 in Detroit, Michigan of cancer)
Ted Harris a.k.a. Teddy or Theodore Harris (d. 19 Aug 2005 in Detroit, Michigan of cancer) 

The Replacements - 2
Bob Stinson, lead guitar (d. 18 Feb 1995, Minneapolis, Minnesota, of organ failure due to years of drug abuse)
Steve Foley, drums (d. 23 Aug 2008, Minneapolis, Minnesota of accidental overdose of prescription drug)

Yes - 1
Peter Banks (d. 07 Mar 2013, Barnet, London, England of heart failure)

The Zombies - 1
Paul Atkinson- guitar (d. 01 Apr 2004 in Santa Monica, California of kidney and liver disease)


*These numbers depend on which members are eventually inducted.


Next, by number of years eligible:
An act becomes eligible 25 years after its first national release (in parentheses).  *Note: technically, no act can be eligible for more than 29 years, since the R&RHoF was not incorporated until 1985.  For this category, though, the eligibility of all acts will be calculated the same way.

Cat Stevens, 23rd year of eligibility (1966 - "I Love My Dog"/"Portobello Road"
Chic, 12th year of eligibility (1977 - "Dance, Dance, Dance (Yowsah, Yowsah, Yowsah)"/"Sao Paulo")
Deep Purple, 21st year of eligibility (1968 - Shades Of Deep Purple)
Hall & Oates, 17th year of eligibility (1972 - Whole Oates)
Kiss, 15th year of eligibility (1974 - KISS)
Linda Ronstadt, 20th year of eligibility (1969 - Hand Grown Home Sewn (excludes Stone Poneys releases))
Link Wray, 31st year of eligibility* (1958 - "Rumble"/"The Swag")
LL Cool J, 5th year of eligibility (1984 - "I Need A Beat")
The Meters, 20th year of eligibility (1969 - "Sophisticated Cissy"/"Sehorns Farms")
Nirvana, 1st year of eligibility (1988 - "Love Buzz"/"Big Cheese")
N.W.A, 2nd year of eligibility (1987 - Panic Zone (ep))
Paul Butterfield Blues Band, 24th year of eligibility (1965 - The Paul Butterfield Blues Band)
Peter Gabriel, 10th year of eligibility (1977 - Peter Gabriel (a.k.a. "Car") (excludes Genesis releases))
The Replacements, 8th year of eligibility (1981 - Sorry Ma, Forgot To Take Out The Trash)
Yes, 20th year of eligibility (1969 - "Sweetness"/"Something's Coming")
The Zombies, 25th year of eligibility (1964 - "She's Not There"/"You Make Me Feel Good")


Next, number of times nominated, including years nominated:
Years reflect the year the nominee ballot came out only and not the year for which a nominee could be inducted if voted in.  For example, a nomination this year would be indicated as “2013” instead of “2014”, when the induction will occur.

Cat Stevens - twice, 2005 and 2013
Chic – eight times, 2002, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2010, 2012 and 2013
Deep Purple – twice, 2012 and 2013
Hall & Oates - once, 2013
Kiss - twice, 2009 and 2013
Linda Ronstadt - once, 2013
Link Wray - once, 2013
LL Cool J - three times, 2009, 2010, and 2013
The Meters – three times, 1996, 2012 and 2013
Nirvana - once, 2013
N.W.A – twice, 2012 and 2013
The Paul Butterfield Blues Band – three times, 2005, 2012 and 2013
Peter Gabriel - once, 2013
The Replacements - once, 2013
Yes - once, 2013
The Zombies - once, 2013

Next, influence:

Next to each nominee is a list of acts that either cited the nominee as an influence, has cover or sampled the nominee's tracks, or has collaborated with the nominee.

Cat Stevens - Johnny Cash with Fiona Apple (duet), Bobby Darin, the Ventures, Gene Pitney, Santana, Dr. John, Fleetwood Mac, Rod Stewart, Elton John, Jimmy Cliff, Herb Alpert, Linda Ronstadt, the Smiths, Don McLean, Tracy Chapman, the Flaming Lips, Labelle, Sweet, Yo La Tengo, Grandmaster Flash, John Frusciante of the Red Hot Chili Peppers, Bette Midler, Dolly Parton & Ladysmith Black Mambazo (collaboration), Dottie West, Don Williams, Garth Brooks, Pearl Jam, Carly Simon, Sheryl Crow, Rosanne Cash, Brand Nubian, Richie Havens, Sarah McLachlan, Dave Matthews Band, Marianne Faithfull, Busta Rhymes, Jeff Buckley, Beth Orton, Belle & Sebastian, Indigo Girls, Maxi Priest, 10,000 Maniacs, Joan Armatrading, Dan Fogelberg, David Gray, Melanie, Gerry Rafferty, Shawn Mullins, Jewel, David Essex, Kristin Hersch, Elliott Smith, the Mavericks, R. Stevie Moore, Terence Trent D'Arby, Red House Painters, Peter & Gordon, Widespread Panic, Jack Johnson, Badly Drawn Boy, Sandie Shaw, Mr. Big, Big Mountain, Mary Hopkin, the Tremeloes, Davy Dee, Dozy, Beaky, Mick & Tich, Zac Brown Band, Amos Lee, Bruce Robison, Jason Mraz, Boyzone, Travis, Sara Hickman, Starsailor, the John Butler Trio, John Gorka, Marc Cohn, Jann Arden, Bob B. Soxx & the Blue Jeans, Daniel Powter, Hugo Montenegro, Roger Whittaker, Juana Molina, Jose Feliciano, John Waite, the Holmes Brothers, Eddie Vedder of Pearl Jam, Leigh Nash of Sixpence None The Richer, Mandy Moore, Victoria Williams and Girl Talk, among many others.

Chic - Power Station, of course, as well as David Bowie, Rod Stewart, Queen, Blondie, Madonna, Prince, Grandmaster Flash & The Furious Five, Beastie Boys, Public Enemy, Afrika Bambaataa, Roxy Music, Diana Ross, Tina Turner, Slick Rick, Luther Vandross, De La Soul, LL Cool J, Janet Jackson, Duran Duran, the B-52's, Robert Palmer, George Michael /Wham!, Mick Jagger, Debbie Harry of Blondie, Babyface, Carly Simon, Mary J. Blige, Daft Punk, Big Daddy Kane, Boogie Down Productions, the Art Of Noise, Sir Mix-A-Lot, Nas, Digital Underground, The Prodigy, Shalamar, Spandau Ballet, DJ Shadow, Grace Jones, Brandy, Faith Evans, Fugees, the Sugarhill Gang, Sister Sledge, Orange Juice, Heavy D & the Boyz, Lisa Stansfield, Beenie Man, Deadmau5, ABC, INXS, Jody Watley, Robert Wyatt, Will Smith, ESG, MC Lyte, the Egyptian Lover, the Style Council, A Certain Radio, Jamiroquai, Scritti Politti, Busy Bee, Justin Timberlake, Arthur Russell, Black Eyed Peas, Shakira, DJ Jazzy Jeff & The Fresh Prince, Basement Jaxx, Thompson Twins, Rick Ross, Zhane, Deborah Cox, Change, Lost Boyz, Luscious Jackson, Xzibit, Crystal Method, Liquid Liquid, Manic Street Preachers, Robin S., Pizzicato Five, Coolio, Beverley Knight, Dmitri From Paris, Kid Creole & The Coconuts, My Life With The Thrill Kill Cult, Freeway, Slim Thug, Richie Rich (the one on Gee Street), Stereo MC's, the Bucketheads, Johnny Mathis, the Vaughan Brothers, Johnny Marr of the Smiths, Elizabeth Fraser of Cocteau Twins, Gwen Stefani, N'Dea Davenport of the Brand New Heavies and the 69 Boyz, among many others.

Deep Purple - Rainbow, Blackmore’s Night and Whitesnake, of course, Black Sabbath, Aerosmith, Queen, Rush, Heart, AC/DC, Van Halen, Metallica, Guns N' Roses, Public Enemy, Judas Priest, Thin Lizzy, Joe Satriani, Joe Walsh, Dinosaur Jr., Iron Maiden, Pantera, Kansas, Steve Vai, Ministry, Def Leppard, Bad Company, Yngwie Malmsteen, the Cult, Faith No More, Steppenwolf, Boston, the Flaming Lips, Bon Jovi, Foreigner, Marillion, White Zombie, Sammy Hagar, Smashing Pumpkins, Boogie Down Productions, Dream Theater, Alice In Chains, Motorhead, the Dictators, Blue Oyster Cult, Budgie, Mountain, Johnny Winter, UFO, Usher, Voivod, Diamond Head, the Scorpions, Dio, Nazareth, Slade, Hanoi Rocks, Vanilla Fudge, Humble Pie, Twisted Sister, Bachman-Turner Overdrive, Big Audio Dynamite, Danzig, Saxon, Pat Travers, Mother Love Bone, Wynonna Judd, Type O Negative, Charlatans UK, Spooky Tooth, Dokken, Queens Of The Stone Age, Gov't Mule, Styx, Uriah Heep, Collective Soul, Ronnie Montrose, Quiet Riot, Wishbone Ash, Elf, Porcupine Tree, Sunny Day Real Estate, Kyuss, Fates Warning, Celtic Frost, L.A. Guns, Venom, Primal Fear, Helloween, Joe Bonamassa, Krokus, London, Tesla, Lita Ford, Fun Lovin' Criminals, Great White, White Lion, Accept, Anvil, Mercyful Fate, Cactus, Black Label Society, King Diamond, Aldo Nova, P.M. Dawn, Stereo MC's, It's A Beautiful Day, Wolfmother, Golden Earring, Cinderella, Trouble, Monster Magnet, Machine Head, Saint Vitus, Crowbar, Rose Tattoo, Wino, the Escape Club, Bathory, Hellhammer, W.A.S.P., Manowar, the Hellacopters, Iced Earth, Kula Shaker, Killdozer, Witchfinder General, Acid Mothers Temple, "Weird Al" Yankovic, Stryper, Heaven & Hell, Chickenfoot, Asia, Jaco Pastorius of Weather Report and Pat Boone, among many others.

Hall & Oates - Dusty Springfield, Michael Jackson, Van Halen, Madonna, Public Enemy, De La Soul, LL Cool J, George Michael, David Ruffin, Eddie Kendricks, Phil Collins, Nina Simone, Wu-Tang Clan, Boyz II Men, Kanye West, Lil Wayne, the Dramatics, Mobb Deep, Taj Mahal, UGK, Hanoi Rocks, Heavy D & The Boyz, 2 Live Crew, Lisa Stansfield, Above The Law, ABC, U-Roy, Butch Walker, Lou Rawls, Brian McKnight, Mike Oldfield, Simply Red, Everclear, Joe, Styles P, Young Jeezy, Bruce Hornsby, Jagged Edge, Jaheim, Tavares, Death Cab For Cutie, Donell Jones, Maroon 5, After 7, Uncle Kracker, Latimore, Phoenix, Mark Lanegan, Tech N9ne, the Nylons, Robin Thicke, Tamia, Amerie, Stereo MC's, Umphrey's McGee, Big Mountain, Marc Cohn, Cobra Starship, Corey Hart, Foster The People, Band Of Horses, Feist, the Ying Yang Twins, Joan Osborne, Ian Matthews, Fitz & the Tantrums, the Gym Class Heroes, J. Holiday, J Dilla, Jimmy Wayne, Royce Da 5'9", Fun Lovin' Criminals, Curtis Stigers, Young Gunz, Showaddywaddy, the Bird And The Bee, George Benson & Al Jarreau (collaboration), Boney James, "Weird Al" Yankovic, Justin Hayward of the Moody Blues, Gwen Stefani, Krayzie Bone of Bone Thugs-N-Harmony, Shirley Manson of Garbage, Ben Gibbard of Death Cab For Cutie, Brandon Flowers of the Killers, Rob Thomas of Matchbox Twenty, Donny Osmond, Michael Bolton, Savage Garden, Paul Young, Smokie, Clay Aiken, Taylor Hicks, Rick Astley, Vanilla Ice and Girl Talk, among many others.

KISS - Van Halen, Guns N' Roses, Nirvana, Soundgarden, Judas Priest, Dinosaur Jr., Pantera, Def Leppard, Megadeth, the Replacements, Anthrax, White Zombie, Bon Jovi, Afghan Whigs, Chickenfoot, Jason Newsted of Metallica, Velvet Revolver, Pearl Jam, Garth Brooks, Smashing Pumpkins, Nine Inch Nails, Alice In Chains, Kid Rock, Weezer, Motorhead, the Melvins, L7, the Dead Boys, the Misfits, Motley Crue, Slayer, Skid Row, Hanoi Rocks, Twisted Sister, Lenny Kravitz, Marilyn Manson, the Lemonheads, Sepultura, the MIghty, Mighty Bosstones, Danzig, Mercyful Fate, Agnostic Front, the Scorpions, L.A. Guns, Stone Temple PIlots, the Presidents Of The United States Of America, Foo Fighters, Girlschool, Poison, the Plasmatics, Type O Negative, Gin Blossoms, Ratt, Harvey Milk, Trans-Siberian Orchestra, Queens Of The Stone Age, Lita Ford, Anvil, Venom, Manowar, Quiet Riot, Alien Sex Fiend, Cinderella, Slaughter, Extreme, the Darkness, Buckcherry, Great White, Godsmack, Toad The Wet Sprocket, Red House Painters, Tone Loc, Stryper, the Donnas, Hinder, Cornelius, Bathory, Accept, Negative Approach, Urge Overkill, King Diamond, Dramarama, Monster Magnet, Firehouse, Placebo, Black Label Society, Dead Milkmen, Coal Chamber, Dethklok, Helloween, Entombed, Iced Earth, Anvil, Unrest, Nashville %*%*+, Loverboy, W.A.S.P., Slipknot, Juelz Santana, Young Buck, the Hellacopters, Black Veil Brides, Saving Abel, Disciple, Snow, Gilby Clarke of Guns N’ Roses, Jerry Cantrell of Alice In Chains, Marty Friedman of Megadeth, Maynard James Keenan of Tool, Sebastian Bach of Skid Row, Tracii Guns of L.A. Guns, Serj Tankian of System Of A Down, Samantha 7, Bret Michaels of Poison, Eagles Of Death Metal, Cher, Insane Clown Posse and GWAR, among many others.

Linda Ronstadt - Chuck Berry, Bobby Darin, Gene Vincent, Dusty Springfield, Neil Diamond, Frank Zappa, Randy Newman, Neil Young, Paul Simon, Bonnie Raitt, the Eagles, Van Halen, Warren Zevon, Nitty Gritty Dirt Band, Little Feat, Lone Justice, Earl Scruggs, Flaco Jimenez, Harry Belafonte, the Chieftains, George Jones, Lynn Anderson, Glen Campbell, Dolly Parton, Emmylou Harris, Crystal Gayle, Bette Midler, Cliff Richard, Carly Simon, Arlo Guthrie, Nanci Griffith, Sheryl Crow, Jackie DeShannon, Rosanne Cash, Johnny Rivers, Melanie, Tanya Tucker, Patty Loveless, Carlene Carter, Janie Fricke, the Judds, Trisha Yearwood, Martina McBride, Faith Hill, Alison Krauss, Rodney Crowell, Shania Twain, the Lemonheads, Hoyt Axton, Patty Griffin, Dixie Chicks, Vanessa Williams, Carlene Carter, Lorrie Morgan, Amy Grant, k.d. lang, Terri Clark, Bonnie Tyler, Patty Smyth, Wynonna, Jo Dee Messina, Nicolette Larson, Toto, Kid Frost, Juice Newton, Sugarland, Mindy McCready, Joan Osborne, Maria Muldaur, Karla Bonoff, Orleans, Andrew Gold, B.W. Stevenson, Charly McClain, Eva Cassidy, Kim Carnes, Alannah Myles, Chantal Kreviazuk, Wendy Waldman, Baillie And The Boys, Al Martino, Josh Groban, Sheena Easton, Sarah Brightman, Wilson Phillips, Kathy Troccoli, David Sanborn, Natalie Grant, Raul Malo of the Mavericks, Sarah Watkins of Nickel Creek, Tracy Nelson of Mother Earth and Aaron Neville, among many others.

Link Wray - The Ventures, the Yardbirds, Booker T. & the M.G.'s, Duane Eddy, Bob Dylan, the Who, the Kinks, Jeff Beck, Jimi Hendrix, Neil Young, Led Zeppelin, the Stooges, Eric Clapton, Bruce Springsteen, Hal Blaine, Nirvana, T. Rex, the MC5, Joe Walsh, the Dead Kennedys, X, Nick Cave & Mark Lanegan (as the Bootleggers), Quicksilver Messenger Service, the Neville Brothers, the Pointer Sisters, Echo & The Bunnymen, Pete Townshend, Dave Davies of the Kinks, Jimmy Page of the Yardbirds & Led Zeppelin, Dave Mason of Traffic, Duff McKagan of Guns N’ Roses, Ralph Stanley, Boz Scaggs, the Cramps, Syd Barrett, Michael Yonkers, the Kingsmen, the Trashmen, the Surfaris, the Stray Cats, the Black Keys, Billy Childish, Robert Gordon, Be Bop Deluxe, Tony Joe White, Adam and the Ants, Kim Fowley, the Fall, the Flamin' Groovies, NRBQ, Southern Culture On The Skids, Calexico, the Fleshtones, Los Straitjackets, Flat Duo Jets, the 5.6.7.8's, Keiji Haino, the Flesh Eaters, Brownsville Station, Man Or Astro-Man?, the Fireballs, Danny Gatton, Dead Moon, the Scientists, Guitar Wolf, %*%*+ Galore, Redd Volkaert, Thurston Moore of Sonic Youth, Paul Johnson of the Bel-Airs and Brian Setzer, among many others.

LL Cool J - Prince, Run-D.M.C., Beastie Boys, Public Enemy, N.W.A, the Treacherous Three, Sonic Youth, EPMD, De La Soul, George Michael, MC Hammer, 2Pac, the Notorious B.I.G., Ice Cube, Babyface, Snoop Dogg & E-40 (collaboration), Jay-Z, Eminem, Queen Latifah, Missy Elliott, Wu-Tang Clan, Kanye West, Ludacris, Orbital, Kool Moe Dee, Too Short, TLC, Salt-N-Pepa, Timbaland & Magoo, 50 Cent, Nas, Common, Monica, Sean "Puffy" Combs, Redman, Erick Sermon, Method Man, the Geto Boys, DMX, Busta Rhymes, DJ Shadow, Sir Mix-A-Lot, Lil' Kim, UGK, Fat Joe, Gang Starr, Brand Nubian, Eazy-E, 8Ball & MJG, Digital Underground, the Prodigy, Usher, Cam'ron, Ginuwine, Three 6 Mafia, Master P, Guru, the Ultramagnetic MC's, Will Smith, Eve, Twista, Tricky, T.I., Ja Rule, Masta Ace, Foxy Brown, Big L, Keith Murray, Nelly, Jagged Edge, Juvenile, Jadakass,the Yeah Yeah Yeahs, DJ Jazzy Jeff & the Fresh Prince, Keith Murray, Lord Finesse, Funkmaster Flex, Jurassic 5, The Prodigy, Ill Al Skratch, Das EFX, Grand Puba, 3rd Bass, Lagwagon, Rick Ross, New Kids On The Block, the Game, Cobra Starship, Onyx, Lloyd, Lloyd Banks, Craig Mack, Pharcyde, Lost Boyz, UNKLE, Gym Class Heroes, Young MC, Roots, Eagle Eye Cherry, AZ, Canibus, Mase, Bow Wow & Omarion (duo), Luniz, Adina Howard, Richie Rich (on the Gee Street label), Monie Love, Rhymefest, Compton's Most Wanted, Fort Minor, Royce Da 5'9", Black Moon, Bo$$, Dilated Peoples, the Beatnuts, Shyne, Candyman, Dana Dane, Pop Will Eat Itself, Kris Kross, Lords Of The Underground, Organized Konfusion, Company Flow, Q-Tip and Girl Talk, among many others.

The Meters - The Neville Brothers, of course, as well as Miles Davis, Professor Longhair, Allen Toussaint, Dr. John, the Grateful Dead, Paul McCartney, Talking Heads, Run-D.M.C., Beastie Boys, the Red Hot Chili Peppers, Public Enemy, N.W.A, Ice-T, Peter Gabriel, Eric B. & Rakim, EPMD, De La Soul, Phish, LL Cool J, Joe Cocker, Lee Dorsey, Little Feat, Toots & The Maytals, Labelle, Robert Palmer, George Clinton, Ice Cube, A Tribe Called Quest, Wu-Tang Clan, Big Daddy Kane, Boogie Down Productions, KRS-One, Redman, Salt-N-Pepa, Scarface, the Geto Boys, Meat Beat Manifesto, Doug E. Fresh, Sean "Puffy" Combs, Marley Marl, Queen Latifah, Mobb Deep, Cypress Hill, Naughty By Nature, Aaliyah, Brand Nubian, Master P, Heavy D & the Boyz, Gang Starr, 2 Live Crew, DJ Shadow, Das EFX, UGK, the Brothers Johnson, Fatboy Slim, Widespread Panic, Fishbone, Stetsasonic, MC Lyte, Toni Braxton, Pete Rock & C.L. Smooth, the Jungle Brothers, Masta Ace, Primus, the Brand New Heavies, Yellow Magic Orchestra, Tony! Toni! Tone!, Ivan Neville, Lord Finesse, Ultramagnetic MC's, UNKLE, Mantronix, King Tee, the Pizzicato Five, the Black Eyed Peas, 3rd Bass, Del Tha Funky Homosapien, the Radiators, Ginuwine, Tweet, Musiq Soulchild, the Game, Tyrese, Amerie, Tha Alkaholiks, Joss Stone, the String Cheese Incident, Pharcyde, Medeski, Martin & Wood, Compton's Most Wanted, Derek Trucks Band, Corinne Bailey Rae, the North Mississippi Allstars, Main Source, J Dilla, Digable Planets, Bo$$, El-P, Jaco Pastorius of Weather Report, Genius/GZA, Aaron Neville and Insane Clown Posse, among many others.

Nirvana - Foo Fighters, of course, as well as Patti Smith, Herbie Hancock, Steve Earle, Willie Nelson, Graham Parker, the Flaming Lips, Dee Dee Ramone of the Ramones, Pearl Jam, Radiohead, Jay-Z, Timbaland and Magoo, Oasis, Beck, Weezer, the Melvins, My Chemical Romance, Pavement, the Prodigy, the Meat Puppets, Stone Temple Pilots, Tori Amos, Hole, Rancid, L7, Offspring, Staind, Rise Against, Tricky, Flipper, Sleater-Kinney, Sunny Day Real Estate, Blink-182, the All-American Rejects, the Presidents Of The United States Of America, Tony! Toni! Tone!, House Of Pain, the Vines, Agent Orange, UNKLE, Jimmy Eat World, Ben Folds Five, Supergrass, Sum 41, Flipper, Butch Walker, System Of A Down, the Vaselines, Counting Crows, Queens Of The Stone Age, Inspiral Carpets, Crowbar, Sloan, Evanescence, the Eels, Dashboard Confessional, Sevendust, Incubus, Everclear, Elastica, Animal Collective, Travis, Death Cab For Cutie, Avril Lavigne, Stereophonics, Atari Teenage Riot, Veruca Salt, Paramore, Spoon, Hinder, Hoobastank, DJ Quik, String Cheese Incident, Our Lady Peace, Lit, Seether, Fear Factory, Ben Kweller, Amanda Palmer, MUSE, Third Eye Blind, 3 Doors Down, Chevelle, Snow Patrol, Audioslave, the Dillinger Escape Plan, Candlebox, Silverchair, Breaking Benjamin, Good Charlotte, Thursday, Taking Back Sunday, Nada Surf, Polyphonic Spree, Puddle Of Mudd, Cibo Matto, Blue October, Machine Head, Switchfoot, Hawthorne Heights, Marcy Playground, the Toadies, Pop Will Eat Itself, Lifehouse, Placebo, Sponge, the Flys, Harvey Danger, Lana Del Rey, Soda Stereo, Sneaker Pimps, Ataris, MxPx, Flyleaf, Used, ...And You Will Know Us By The Trail Of Dead, Velvet Revolver, Kristin Hersh, Manic Street Preachers, Local H, Mary Lou Lord, Flying Pickets, "Weird" Al Yankovic, Bush, Creed, Nickelback, DC Talk, Jars Of Clay, MxPx, Scott Weiland of Stone Temple Pilots, Paul Anka, Sinead O'Connor, Limp Bizkit, 30 Seconds To Mars, Miley Cyrus and Girl Talk, among many others.

N.W.A - Eazy-E, Ice Cube, MC Ren, Dr. Dre and Yella, of course, as well as Ice-T, EPMD, De La Soul, Professor Griff of Public Enemy, 2Pac, Snoop Dogg, Jay-Z, Eminem, Whodini, Kanye West, Lil Wayne, Redman, Common, Whodini, Scarface, Method Man, Raekwon, 50 Cent, Nas, the Geto Boys, Sublime, Mobb Deep, Meat Beat Manifesto, Kid Rock, Ludacris, Rage Against The Machine, Nelly, Brand Nubian, Sir Mix-A-Lot, UGK, Cypress Hill, Naughty By Nature, Bone Thugs-N-Harmony, DMX, 8Ball & MJG, Fat Joe, Big Punisher, E-40, Above The Law, Da Brat, Tha Dogg Pound, Twista, Three 6 Mafia, Mystikal, Das EFX, Silkk The Shocker, Juvenile, Fatboy Slim, Foxy Brown, D.O.C., T.I., T-Pain, Young Jeezy, Jadakiss, Cam'ron, Rick Ross, Lil Jon, Daddy Yankee, Chamillionaire, Spice 1, Masta Ace, MC Breed, DJ Screw, Master P, Ja Rule, House Of Pain, Everlast, Mack 10, Basement Jaxx, Bubba Sparxxx, Tha Alkaholiks, Happy Mondays, Mike Jones, Full Force, Squarepusher, LTJ Bukem, Warren G, The Game, Brotha Lynch Hung, Yo-Yo, DJ Quik, Xzibit, Coolio, Da Lench Mob, Compton's Most Wanted, Lyfe Jennings, Domino, Onyx, C-BO, Diana King, Richie Rich (of 415), Ant Banks, Webbie, Kurupt, Kid Frost, J Dilla, Lil' Keke, Boot Camp Clik, Playa, O.G. Ron C., Rappin' 4-Tay, Boyz N Da Hood, Sean Price, Do Or Die, Nate Dogg, C-Murder, Daz Dillinger, D12, Esham, Freestyle Fellowship, Mac Dre, Mr. Mike, the Coup, D-Block, Tela, B.G., the Big Tymers, Hot Boys, Boo-Yaa T.R.I.B.E., Do Or Die, Guerilla Black, Doggy's Angels, Tim Dog, Yukmouth, Candyman, the Dayton Family, Project Pat, Tru, Celly Cel, Twinz, Paris, Ray Cash, Bo$$, the Eastsidaz, Crime Boss, the Diplomats, Dilated Peoples, Pastor Troy, P.O.D., Westside Connection, GZA, Bushwick Bill of the Geto Boys, Big Mike of the Geto Boys, Willie D of the Geto Boys, Cash Money Millionaires, B Real of Cypress Hill, Kool G Rap, Scott Weiland of Stone Temple Pilots, Krayzie Bone of Bone Thugs-N-Harmony, L-Burna of Bone Thugs-N-Harmony, Cold 187um of Above The Law, South Circle, Crunchy Black of Three 6 Mafia, Tear Da Club Up Thugs, Ruff Ryders, Nina Gordon of Veruca Salt, Insane Clown Posse, Ace Of Base, Marky Mark & the Funky Bunch and Girl Talk, among many others.

The Paul Butterfield Blues Band - Paul Butterfield, Mike Bloomfield, Elvin Bishop, Mark Naftalin, Electric Flag, John Lee !%+#*$, Muddy Waters, B.B. King, Freddie King, Darlene Love, Bob Dylan, Van Morrison, Wilson PIckett, Janis Joplin, the Allman Brothers Band, Santana, Grateful Dead, Traffic, Jefferson Airplane, Fleetwood Mac, Rod Stewart, Bonnie Raitt, John Mayall's Bluesbreakers, Stevie Ray Vaughan, Roy Brown, Free, Percy Mayfield, the Pixies, Otis Rush, Al Kooper, Clifton Chenier, Bad Company, the J. Geils Band, Quicksilver Messenger Service, Richard Thompson, Pinetop Perkins, James Cotton, Bobby Charles, T.G. Sheppard, Steve Miller, the Monkees, Peter, Paul & Mary, Canned Heat, Blues Traveler, Robert Cray, Humble Pie, Ten Years After, Savoy Brown, Big Brother & The Holding Company, UFO, Hoyt Axton, Ronnie Hawkins, Karen Dalton, Foghat, Robben Ford, George Thoroughgood & the Destroyers, Jeff Healey, Johnny Lang, Jimmie Vaughan, Doug Kershaw, Fabulous Thunderbirds, Organized Konfusion, Mother Earth, Maria Muldaur, the Rubinoos, Jesse Winchester, the Holmes Brothers, Bill Wyman of the Rolling Stones, Levon Helm of the Band, New Riders Of The Purple Sage, Duane Allman of the Allman Brothers Band, Derek Trucks of the Allman Brothers Band, Cyril Neville of the Meters, Mick Mars of Motley Crue, Tracy Nelson of Mother Earth, Starship and the Blues Brothers, among many others.

Peter Gabriel - Randy Newman, Paul Simon, Joni Mitchell, U2, Brian Eno, Herbie Hancock, Depeche Mode, Lou Reed, Sting, Cat Stevens, Willie Nelson & Sinead O'Connor (duet), Queensryche, Cocteau Twins, the Flaming Lips, Robbie Robertson of the Band, Ozzy Osbourne, Phil Collins, Steve Hackett of Genesis, Stewart Copeland of the Police, David Byrne, Nine Inch Nails, Joan Baez, Lionel Richie, Sarah McLachlan, Kate Bush, the Shadows, Dream Theater, Tori Amos, Salt-N-Pepa, David Matthews Band, Tears For Fears, Naughty By Nature, Tricky, Talk Talk, William Orbit, David Sylvian, Das EFX, Jermaine Dupri, Robert Wyatt, Simple Minds, Bow Wow, Ladysmith Black Mambazo, P!nk, Live, David Gray, Erasure, Jeff Buckley, Primus, 3rd Bass, Berlin, Jane Siberry, Paula Cole, Alicia Keys & Bono (duet), Arcade Fire, the String Cheese Incident, Umphrey's McGee, Call, Imogen Heap, Enigma, Bon Iver, Julee Cruise, Ozomatli, TV On The Radio, Vampire Weekend, Take 6, Regina Spektor, Ian Matthews, the Flower Kings, Nena, Blue Nile, Elbow, Blue October, Bon Iver, Laurie Anderson, the Call, Gotye, Coal Chamber, Afro Celt Sound System, the Samples, Pop Will Eat Itself, Julee Cruise, Lori McKenna, Toni Childs, Renee Fleming, Black Uhuru, Manu Dibango, Johnny Clegg, Maire Brennan & Michael McDonald (duet), Seal, Richard Marx, Nicole Nordeman, Robert Fripp of King Crimson, Tony Levin of King Crimson, Al Di Meola of Weather Report, Nona Hendryx of Labelle, Fish of Marillion, Steve Hogarth of Marillion, Jools Holland of Squeeze, A Perfect Circle, Stephin Merritt of the Magnetic Fields, David Archuleta, John Tesh and Girl Talk, among many others.

The Replacements - Paul Westerberg and Chris Mars, of course, as well as Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers, Guns N' Roses, Nirvana, Joan Jett and the Blackhearts, X, Camper Van Beethoven, Matthew Sweet, Yo La Tengo, Afghan Whigs, Glen Campbell, Green Day, They Might Be Giants, Wilco, Uncle Tupelo, the Goo Goo Dolls, Guided By Voices, Liz Phair, Indigo Girls, Son Volt, the Breeders, the Lemonheads, the Posies, the Presidents of the United States of America, Vic Chesnutt, Gin Blossoms, the All-American Rejects, Drive-By Truckers, Jawbreaker, Everclear, Mercury Rev, the Decemberists, Ryan Adams, the Strokes, Toad The Wet Sprocket, Superchunk, Whiskeytown, Soul Asylum, Supergrass, Rocket From The Crypt, Archers Of Loaf, Dramarama, Get Up Kids, Squirrel Bait, Calexico, the New Bomb Turks, Buffalo Tom, the Ataris, Cracker, Crash Test Dummies, Coolio, Nada Surf, Jill Sobule, Fastball, the Queers, Superdrag, the Libertines, Freedy Johnston, Sparklehorse, MxPx, Fall Out Boy, Pegboy, the Hold Steady, Urge Overkill, the North Mississippi Allstars, Lucero, the Dambuilders, the Cows, the Articles Of Faith, the Gaslight Anthem, Gaunt, Jude, Pure, the Smoking Popes, the Weeping Tile, the Old 97's and Relient K, among many others.

Yes - Rick Wakeman, Jon Anderson, Trevor Rabin and Asia, of course, as well as Frank Zappa, Black Sabbath, Genesis, Queen, Rush, the Red Hot Chili Peppers, King Crimson, Return To Forever, Herbie Hancock, Iron Maiden, Todd Rundgren, Phish, De La Soul, LL Cool J, Queensryche, Emerson, Lake & Palmer, Kansas, Steve Vai, Camper Van Beethoven, Journey, Renaissance, Boston, the Flaming Lips, the Alan Parsons Project, Matthew Sweet, Marillion, Dream Theater, Tori Amos, Gary Numan, Tool, Orbital, Lil Wayne, Nas, the Stranglers, Salt-N-Pepa, En Vogue, the Art Of Noise, American Music Club, Sunny Day Real Estate, Sigur Ros, Dio, Vangelis, Focus, King's X, C+C Music Factory, Porcupine Tree, Spock's Beard, MUSE, the Mars Volta, Umphrey's McGee, the Flower Kings, Pendragon, the Mission U.K., Supertramp, Europe, Opeth, Styx, Toto, Trans-Siberian Orchestra, Enigma, Ambrosia, Krokus, Thomas Dolby, Hatfield & The North, the Fiery Furnaces, Gotye, the Stories, Red House Painters, Tortoise, Jeru The Damaja, Canibus, Kris Kross, Explorers Club, Yanni, David Arkenstone, "Weird Al" Yankovic, Petra, Skillet, Colin Blunstone of the Zombies, Steve Morse of Kansas, Tommy Stinson of the Replacements, Fish of Marillion, Susanna Hoffs of the Bangles, Dennis DeYoung of Styx, Roye Allbrighton of Nektar, Mickey Thomas of Jefferson Starship, El-P and John Tesh, among many others.

The Zombies - Argent and Colin Blunstone, of course, as well as the Ventures, Love, Santana, the Bee Gees, Genesis, Electric Light Orchestra, Badfinger, Dinosaur Jr., Todd Rundgren, XTC, Matthew Sweet, Crowded House, the Beau Brummels, Procol Harum, Alan Parsons Project, Yo La Tengo, Eminem, the Monkees, the Modern Lovers, Dave Matthews Band, Sonny & Cher, Jonathan Richman, the Smithereens, the Left Banke, Aimee Mann, America, Dwight Twilley, DJ Shadow, the Shadows Of Knight, Belle & Sebastian, 10cc, the Posies, Gentle Giant, Vanilla Fudge, Supertramp, Family, Let's Active, Boo Radleys, My Morning Jacket, the Youngbloods, Elliott Smith, the New Pornographers, the Beautiful South, the Shins, Ron Sexsmith, Spoon, Sufjan Stevens, Emitt Rhodes, Television Personalities, the Electric Prunes, Foo Fighters, 3rd Bass, Super Furry Animals, Eric Matthews, People, Game Theory, Smith, People, Strawberry Alarm Clock, Apples In Stereo, Neutral Milk Hotel, Juice Newton, the Young Fresh Fellows, Kid Frost, Miguel, the Nylons, Superdrag, Neko Case and Nick Cave (duet), OK Go, Os Mutantes, Joe Byrd & The Field Hippies, Jellyfish, the Sea And Cake, Deerhoof, Olivia Tremor Control, Beulah, the Fastbacks, the La's, Blue Ash, the Clean, Michael Penn, Malcolm McLaren, the Explorers Club, Kurt Elling, Roy Wood of the Move, Robyn Hitchcock of the Soft Boys, Susannah Hoffs of the Bangles, Sneakers, Brent Bourgeois of Burgeois-Tagg, Blake Lewis and Girl Talk, among many others.

(Thanks again to Charles Crossley, Jr. This obviously represents a ton of research and we’re grateful for the opportunity to share it.)

• Future Rock Legends is dedicated to uncovering the next generation’s hall of fame, so we have had this year circled on our calendar for a long time. Nirvana, one of the few remaining first ballot lock of all locks, became eligible this year and promptly gets nominated, and will be inducted easily.
• With the year Nile Rodgers is having, it was clear that Chic was going to get another chance at induction. Eight nominations is enough, and Chic will get in.
• After last year’s induction ceremony, it became evident that the Rock Hall is on a populist streak. That continues this year with the return nominations of Kiss and Deep Purple.
• We can’t emphasize this enough, but with the involvement of HBO, there seems to be the desire to not just broadcast an induction ceremony, but to create the music event of the year. So, Nirvana won’t be the only induction ceremony headliner. There will be another artist sure to get people talking (thinking Kiss, unless Paul or Gene sabotages it).
• Another one of those headliners could be Peter Gabriel. Even though he was inducted just a few years ago with Genesis, he is better known for his solo career. Gabriel missed the induction ceremony that night, so now he has another chance to properly honored.
• Anyone who still cries any time a hip hop artist shows up on the ballot really needs to get over it at this point. LL Cool J and N.W.A are on the ballot this year, and both are deserving. Seems fitting for LL to be inducted in New York, but N.W.A has more support. It’s unlikely both will be inducted from a competitive ballot this year.
• In recent weeks, two Nominating Committee members, Questlove and Roy Trakin, publicly supported Hall & Oates, so it’s not a huge surprise to see them on the ballot, even though it has taken them 16 years to be nominated.
• There was also momentum in the air for a Linda Ronstadt nomination and she lands on the ballot for the first time after 19 years without a nomination. Ronstadt’s nomination also serves as another example of the Nominating Committee listening after a Hall of Famer (in this case the Eagles) makes a public stink about a snubbed artist.
• Speaking of women, Ronstadt is the lone female name on the ballot this year, and one of only three or four women who could be inducted as performers (Chic has the only female members of nominated groups). That won’t help the percentages.
• The Rock Hall has said there will be one or two inductees in the non-performer categories.
• We’re not sure what the future holds for the Rock Hall if political campaigns start having success with getting artists on the ballot, but prog fans can rejoice for a second year in a row with the Yes nomination.
• Did Steven Van Zandt shift his focus away from Procol Harum to the Zombies?
• The Rock Hall found it’s way back to the 50’s to find the influential guitarist Link Wray, who was way overdue to be recognized.
• The Replacements cap a reunion tour with a nomination to the Rock Hall, but may have trouble getting inducted in a crowded field.
• That’s true for returning nominees the Meters, Paul Butterfield Blues Band and Cat Stevens. Of the three, Stevens probably has the best odds of getting in this year.
• The Rock Hall went with 16 nominees this year, instead of the usual 15. A larger ballot is a good thing. Hopefully they will induct more than five or six.
• The official fan vote is back again. Even though it’s basically a symbolic gesture, it’s nice to keep fans included. Just wish their poll was better (like ours!).
• With a strong group of nominees, it’s very likely that there will only be one or two artists who appear on more than 50% of the voters’ ballots, even though the Rock Hall still claims you need to have more than 50% of the vote to be inducted. It’s just not true.
• A year ago, we predicted that with the success public induction ceremonies, that this could be the end of the Waldorf-Astoria events. That seems to be the case, since this year’s ceremony will be in New York and open to the public. They shouldn’t have any trouble selling out whichever venue they hold the ceremony in, unlike this past year.

• Nirvana
  
• Chic
  
• Deep Purple
  
• Kiss
  
• Hall & Oates
  
• The Replacements
  
• Peter Gabriel
  
• LL Cool J
  
• Link Wray
  
• The Meters
  
• N.W.A
  
• The Paul Butterfield Blues Band
  
• The Zombies
  
• Cat Stevens
  
• Yes
  
• Linda Ronstadt
  

Please vote in our poll for the five artists you think will be inducted in April.

Much more to come. Follow us on Twitter or Facebook for the latest.

Glad to have @questlove join the Rock n Roll Hall of Fame nominating committee and the hiphop subcommittee.

— Touré (@Toure) September 21, 2013

The addition of Questlove is not entirely unexpected. Questlove is a music history scholar and became friendly with the Rock Hall when he orchestrated the Beastie Boys tribute performance at the 2012 Induction Ceremony, making him a natural fit on the Nominating Committee, as we suggested six months ago.

Here's a prediction:@Questlove will be on the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Nominating Committee before the Roots get inducted (eligible 2018).

— Future Rock Legends (@futurerocklgnds) March 6, 2013

Update: Last year, Questlove put together a top 50 hip hop songs of all time list for Rolling Stone.

The only place you eventually may be able to see the entire ceremony without actually being there is at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Library & Archives in Cleveland.

Follow us on Twitter (or just bookmark this page to see the feed) and we’ll be sure to post any clips from YouTube that are sure to show up the day after the ceremony.

As for the new president, one of the first public changes to the Rock Hall on his watch is an elimination of the photography ban within the museum. Fans obviously hated the old policy, and the museum staff probably hated enforcing it. Photos from inside the museum are now starting to show up on various social media sites.

For Rush, obviously Geddy Lee, Alex Lifeson and Neil Peart are being honored. John Rutsey, who was the drummer on Rush’s debut album, is not being inducted.

Only the original 70’s era members of Heart are getting in, despite the band’s continued success in the ensuing decades with other members. The inductees are Ann Wilson, Nancy Wilson, Roger Fisher, Steve Fossen, Howard Leese and Michael DeRosier.

Only four members of first ballot Hall of Famers Public Enemy are being inducted -- Chuck D, Flavor Flav, Professor Griff and Terminator X. The Bomb Squad, the influential production team behind PE’s sound, are not included, nor is current and longtime member, DJ Lord.

Deciding which members of Hall of Fame groups to induct is often a sensitive and complicated issue, especially for bands that have been around for decades with multiple lineup changes. The Rock Hall doesn’t publish any criteria for how they determine which members to induct, likely because it gets handled on a case by case basis (for example, see 2012 for all sorts of strange contradictions).

Public Enemy has a full schedule of events booked in the days leading up to the induction ceremony. No word on whether there will be any changes due to Flavor Flav’s legal issues.