(PR) The nominations for induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame were announced Wednesday. The twelve nominees are: ABBA, Darlene Love, Donna Summer, Genesis, Jimmy Cliff, KISS, Laura Nyro, LL Cool J, Red Hot Chili Peppers, The Chantels, The Hollies and The Stooges. Ballots will be sent to more than 500 voters, who will select artists to be inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame at the 25th Annual Induction Ceremony on March 15, 2010 at the Waldorf Astoria in New York City.
Five of the twelve nominees will be inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. To be eligible for nomination into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, an act must have released its first single or album at least 25 years prior to the year of nomination. This year's nominees had to release their first single no later than 1984.
The inductees will be announced in January 2010, and all inductees are ultimately represented in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum in Cleveland, Ohio.
[KISS qualified a decade ago but the Rock Hall turned a blind eye to them, so it is curious to read their description of the group: Few bands short of The Beatles inspired more kids to pick up the guitar than KISS. With their signature make-up, explosive stage show and anthems like "Rock and Roll All Night" and "Detroit Rock City," they are the very personification of rock stars. Original members Ace Frehley, Peter Criss, Paul Stanley and Gene Simmons came together in New York in 1972. While their first two records didn't generate many sales, they quickly gained a national following for their bombastic, pyro-filled stage show. Their 1975 live disc Alive! captured that energy and reached number nine on the charts, quickly making them one of the most popular bands of the 1970's - scoring countless hit singles, sold-out tours and appearing everywhere from comic books to lunch boxes to their very own TV movie. They continue to perform sold out concerts around the world.
Who wants to bet LL Cool J gets in and KISS doesn't? And what about Rush?]