Foo Fighters (photo: Danny Clinch)
The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame has unveiled its class of 2021, the most diverse mix of artists ever to join in one year. Foo Fighters, Jay-Z, Tina Turner, The Go-Go’s, Carole King and Todd Rundgren were all voted into the Hall this year. Additionally, the Early Influence Award will be given to Kraftwerk, Charley Patton and Gil Scott-Heron. LL Cool J, Billy Preston and Randy Rhoads will all be honored with the Musical Excellence Award. The Ahmet Ertegun Award will go to Clarence Avant.
“This diverse class of talented Inductees reflects the Rock Hall’’s ongoing commitment to honor artists whose music created the sound of youth culture,” said Hall Chairman John Sykes. “It will make for an unforgettable live celebration of music in October at this year’s Induction Ceremony in Cleveland.”
Three artists are being inducted a second time: Dave Grohl, already in with Nirvana; King, who was inducted as a songwriter in 1990 with longtime writing partner Gerry Goffin; and Turner, as one half of Ike & Tina, in 1991.
“It’s very difficult to get inducted twice and we have three this year,” Sykes told Rolling Stone. “It’s also a rare year where three of the six inductees are women: Tina, Carole and the Go-Gos. It just shows the continued power and relevance and recognition of women in music.”
The 36th Annual Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony will take place on Saturday, October 30, 2021 at 8 pm ET at Rocket Mortgage Fieldhouse in Cleveland, with a radio simulcast on SiriusXM‘s Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Radio channel 310. The Induction Ceremony will air at a later date on HBO and stream on HBO Max.
