The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame 2018 inductees features a stellar line-up of rock legends and jazz stars, People magazine reported, including jazz/soul songstress Nina Simone.
Honoring an era defined by power ballads and big hair, this year’s inductees include 80s icons Bon Jovi, Dire Straits and The Cars, who made the cut along with progressive rockers the Moody Blues
Meanwhile, gospel singer Sister Rosetta Tharp has been recognized with an award for “early influence,” the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame said.
A band or artist can only be eligible for nomination if their first commercial recording was released 25 years prior to their year of induction, Billboard noted.
It was up to a voting body comprised of over 900 artists, historians and music industry experts to then determine whether an artist or band was worthy of induction and, once ballots were submitted, they take into account various factors before making the final call.
The 33rd Annual Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction ceremony is slated to take place on Saturday, April 14, in Cleveland and the ceremony will be premiered on HBO, with a radio broadcast on SiriusXM.
In the midst of this glitzy affair, the burning question is whether Bon Jovi’s estranged guitarist, Richie Sambora, will be present at the induction, People noted.
The guitarist withdrew from the band’s “Because We Can” tour in 2013, citing wanting to be with his family as reasons for his departure.
"I just started spending time with my kid between [tour] legs, and my spirit wouldn’t pull myself out the door. I just needed to be home," he said, according to The Hollywood Reporter.
However, in an interview with Billboard during the nomination process earlier this year, Sambora said he would be at the induction ceremony.
“Sure. Of course, why not? There’s not a lot of malice there, you know. I mean, there’s just -- it was just time for me to leave at that point. So yeah, of course,” he said.
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