ROCK & ROLL HALL OF FAME: NOMINEES FOR CLASS OF 2024

The Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Foundation has announced its nominees for the Class of 2024.

The 15 artists, in alphabetical order, are:

• Mary J. Blige - second nomination
• Mariah Carey - first nomination
• Cher - first nomination
• Dave Matthews Band - second nomination
• Eric B. & Rakim - first nomination
• Foreigner - first nomination
• Peter Frampton - first nomination
• Jane's Addiction - second nomination
• Kool & the Gang - first nomination
• Lenny Kravitz - first nomination
• Oasis - first nomination
• Sinéad O'Connor - first nomination
• Ozzy Osbourne - first nomination
• Sade - first nomination
• A Tribe Called Quest - third nomination

For Foreigner, this nomination is long overdue as they've been eligible since 2002.

Mick Jones, the founder and last original member still in the band, tells us, “I deeply appreciate the recognition from the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame committee. It is wonderful that Foreigner has maintained its presence all these years and brought the music to our fans. Getting this news today is an incredible endorsement of what we have achieved over time. I know I speak for my fellow Foreigner nominees, Lou Gramm, Rick Wills, Al Greenwood, Dennis Elliott and the families of [the late] Ed Gagliardi and Ian McDonald."

Ozzy Osbourne posted on social media Saturday afternoon, “I'm deeply honored to receive this news from the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. To be one of the few musicians who’s being considered for a second entry, now as a solo artist, is something I could never have imagined. After 44 years as a solo artist the fact that I can continue to record music and receive this recognition is something I am incredibly proud of.”

Ozzy was inducted as a member of Black Sabbath in 2006, an honor, that in 1999, he wanted no part of, saying, "Just take our name off the list. Save the ink. Forget about us. The nomination is meaningless because it's not voted on by the fans. It's voted on by the supposed elite of the industry and the media, who've never bought an album or concert ticket in their lives, so their vote is totally irrelevant to me."

While Sabbath did attend the induction ceremony, they did not perform. Metallica paid tribute, performing "Hole in the Sky" and "Iron Man."

Peter Frampton, who’s been eligible since 1997, tweeted Saturday morning after the announcement, “That’s really great. Wait, you mean I’m not already in the Rock Hall?”

Cher has not commented on her nomination, but in December she didn't have nice things to say about the Hall. "You know what, I wouldn't be in it now if they gave me a million dollars. I'm not kidding you. I'm never changing my mind. They can just go you-know-what-themselves."

To be eligible for nomination, an individual artist or band must have released its first commercial recording at least 25 years prior to the year of nomination.

John Sykes, Chairman of the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Foundation, says, “This remarkable list of nominees reflects the diverse artists and music that the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame honors and celebrates. Continuing in the true spirit of rock and roll, these artists have created their own sounds that have impacted generations and influenced countless others that have followed in their footsteps.”

Nominee ballots will be sent to an international voting body of more than 1000 artists, historians and members of the music industry. An artist’s musical impact and influence on other artists, length and depth of career, and body of work -- as well as innovation and superiority in style and technique -- are taken into consideration.

And once again you can cast your ballot at Vote.RockHall.com.

Inductees will be announced in late April. The Rock & Roll Hall of Fame 2024 Induction Ceremony will take place in Cleveland this fall with date and on-sale information to be announced.

The ceremony will once again stream live on Disney+ with a special airing on ABC at a later date and streaming on Hulu the next day.

Source: RockHall and Premiere