The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame officially announced its 2014 inductees today, with upcoming members including Nirvana, Kiss, Peter Gabriel, Hall and Oates, Cat Stevens and Linda Ronstadt.
Beatles manager Brian Epstein and original Rolling Stones manager Andrew Loog Oldham will both receive the Ahmet Ertegun Award for non-performers, and The E Street Band will be given the Award for Musical Excellence.
Musicians are eligible for the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame 25 years after the release of their first album or single. The induction ceremony will be held at Brooklyn’s Barclays Center on April 10th, 2014. The general public will be able to attend the event for the first time in New York City, and tickets go on sale in January. HBO will broadcast the ceremony in May.
Below is Nirvana’s video for “Smells Like Teen Spirit.” Ah, middle school:
Commenting on Nirvana’s swift induction, Rock and Roll Hall of Fame President and CEO Joel Peresman said, “People see the relevancy of that band (Nirvana). We’re just getting into the creative of the show, so I don’t know what’s going to happen with that performance. They have to figure it out.”
Kiss, being very serious:
Some have wondered why Kiss, who has been eligible for induction for 15 years now, were finally selected. Peresman commented, “The Kiss Army has descended on Cleveland in recent years. And we’ve gotten thousands of letters. They also did extremely well in the public vote.”
Peter Gabriel’s “Sledgehammer:”
Gabriel was previously inducted into the Hall of Fame as a member of Genesis in 2010, but was unable to attend the ceremony “This time I will definitely go,” the singer told Rolling Stone. “I’m very grateful to have gotten in again. It’s a huge honor since it’s for your whole body of work and not just a specific project.”
Image via YouTube.