Pearl Jam Voted Into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame
In their first year of eligibility, Pearl Jam will be inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. The institution made the announcement via press release this morning.
Joining Pearl Jam in the Class of 2017 are folksinger Joan Baez, Electric Light Orchestra, Journey, Tupac Shakur and Yes, all of whom will be inducted in the Performer category. Nile Rodgers, the guitarist, songwriter and producer who helped shape the sounds of funk and disco, will be given the Award for Musical Excellence, which is traditionally given to producers and/or backup musicians and was known as the Sideman category prior to 2011.
Pearl Jam were the only act of the alternative era to gain induction. Fellow nominees Bad Brains, Depeche Mode and Jane's Addiction did not make the final cut. Four of the seven acts that will be inducted — Journey, ELO, Pearl Jam and Yes — were in the Top Five of the fan vote that counted as one ballot, with the Cars being excluded. Chic, the band with whom Rodgers rose to fame, were among the nominees.
The induction ceremony will take place on April 7, 2017 at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, N.Y., and will be broadcast on HBO at a later date. Although complete ticket information has yet to be announced, the Hall did say that those who are active members of the Hall as of Dec. 31 will have access to a pre-sale at an as-yet undisclosed date.
On March 30, a week prior to the ceremony, an exhibit on this year’s inductees will open at the Hall’s Cleveland home.
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