Today’s announcement from the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in Cleveland, OH is a bittersweet one. While it is always great to see music legends recognized in museum settings, is is disheartening to see that New Orleans funk and rock pioneers, The Meters, will see another year go by without this institution’s recognition of the seminal band’s early contributions to the creation of rock and roll.

Although they were among the nominees this year, and last year, to be inducted into the national Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, The Meters were not selected for 2014’s ceremony. The 2014 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Performer Inductees were chosen by more than 700 voters of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Foundation. Artists are eligible for inclusion in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame 25 years after the release of their first recording. Similar to the Grammys, in past years, honorees are nominated and selected by members of an academy or foundation, not a public engagement platform. Artists that have sampled, or that have been directly influenced by, The Meters have been inducted in recent years, including the Red Hot Chili Peppers, the Beastie Boys and more.

For this year’s inductions however, the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame again offered fans the opportunity to officially participate in the selection process. The public was able to cast votes online for who they believe to be most deserving of induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. The top five artists, as selected by the public, comprised a “fans’ ballot” that was tallied along with the other ballots to choose the 2014 Inductees. Three of the top five artists from the fans ballot will be inducted in 2014.

“This year’s Hall of Fame Inductees really capture the passion of the fans,” said Joel Peresman, President and CEO of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Foundation. “We’re thrilled to again be able to have the fans be a part of the show, especially as we bring the ceremony to Barclays Center and partner again with HBO and Playtone.”

2014 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Inductees:

Performer Category:

·       Peter Gabriel

·       Hall and Oates

·       KISS

·       Nirvana

·       Linda Ronstadt

·       Cat Stevens

Ahmet Ertegun Awards:

·       Brian Epstein

·       Andrew Loog Oldham

The Award for Musical Excellence:

·       The E Street Band

 

The 29th Annual Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony will take place on Thursday, April 10, 2014 at Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York. The 2014 Ceremony will again be open to the public, as it has been for the Induction Ceremonies in Cleveland (2009, 2012) and Los Angeles (2013). This will be the first time that the ceremony will be open to the public in New York. More Info: www.rockhall.com

Here’s to hoping that 2015 will be the year The Meters make it into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.