Rock & Roll Hall of Fame inductees were announced today. Here's the article from Billboard.com...


January 14, 2009 02:16 PM ET

(Jonathan Cohen, N.Y.)
Metallica, Run-D.M.C., Jeff Beck, Little Anthony and the Imperials and Bobby Womack will be inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame during an April 4 ceremony at Cleveland's Public Hall.

Run-D.M.C. becomes just the second rap act named to the Hall, following Grandmaster Flash and the Furious Five in 2006. Surviving members Joseph "Run" Simmons and Darryl "DMC" McDaniels will perform at the event for the first time since the 2002 murder of group member Jam Master Jay.

Beck was originally inducted into the Rock Hall in 1992 with the Yardbirds; the 2009 nod is in recognition of his solo career.

Additional 2009 inductees include rockabilly legend Wanda Jackson in the early influence category, as well as and pianist Dewey Lyndon "Spooner" Oldham and Elvis Presley bassist Bill Black and drummer D.J. Fontana in the sideman category.

Do you think the Hall is so embarassed about not electing Neil Diamond long ago, that they've decided to never acknowledge him? Not that he's a favorite, but I was shocked to hear he wasn't in.

I recently watched a documentary on VH1 about the Yardbirds & I was completely fascinated by their history & talent that emerged from them. I'm the youngest in my family so I grew up as a lil kid listening to them & many other British Invasion bands. I absolutely love that era including Motown. Glad to see that Jeff Beck is also being recognized for his solo career.

I don't know - the Hall is so subjective sometimes as to who they will honor and who they don't think deserves recognition. Personally, I've always been irritated that Heart has never come up for consideration. Have had this conversation with friends before and came up with a pretty good list of people who have passed their 25th anniversary in music and are still not in the Hall (same goes for the Country Music Hall of Fame, but that's a whole different thread...).