Green Day is going to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
No surprise there.
The multiplatinum act, which rose out of the East Bay punk scene to become one of the world’s biggest bands, was widely seen as an absolute lock for induction in its first year of eligibility.
Obviously, the voters agreed.
Green Day is the biggest name in the Rock Hall’s class of 2015, which was announced on Tuesday. The other inductees in the “performer category” are The Paul Butterfield Blues Band, Joan Jett & the Blackhearts, Lou Reed, Stevie Ray Vaughan & Double Trouble and Bill Withers. Also, Ringo Starr — who was enshrined in 1988 as a member of the Beatles — is receiving the Award for Musical Excellence. Plus, The “5” Royales are receiving the Early Influence Award.
The induction ceremony takes place April 18 in Cleveland.
Green Day appeared to be the only “sure thing” in the original field of 15 nominees this year. The group simply had too much in its favor — including gargantuan sales figures, huge pop culture impact and overwhelming respect from its peers — for voters not to roll out the red carpet.
Green Day was the only act to make the cut in its first year of eligibility. (In order to be eligible, an act must have released its first single or album at least 25 years before nomination.) The other inductees have all been eligible for several years.
Here’s a look at the Class of 2015:
Lou Reed: The great singer-songwriter-guitarist, who clearly ranks as one of rock’s true visionaries, becomes a two-time inductee. He was enshrined as a member of the highly influential Velvet Underground in 1996. Now, he’s being recognized for his solo career.
Stevie Ray Vaughan and Double Trouble: It’s about time that the Hall got around to inducting this Texas troubadour, who many consider one of the greatest guitarists of all time. It’s hard to name a more significant blues artist of the last 40 years.
The Paul Butterfield Blues Band: Butterfield’s band was one of the most influential acts of the ’60s. The group greatly helped popularize electric blues-rock.
Joan Jett and the Blackhearts: Jett is best known for the 1982 smash “I Love Rock ‘n’ Roll,” but, really, that’s just part of her story. Jett has delivered so many good tunes over the years. Her influence on rock is immense.
Bill Withers: His career lasted only 15 years, but still delivered so many landmark songs, such as “Ain’t No Sunshine,” “Use Me,” “Lovely Day” and “Lean on Me.”
Ringo Starr: Of course, you know about his work with the Beatles. Yet, Starr also delivered significant songs outside of the Fab Four — including “Back Off Boogaloo,” “It Don’t Come Easy,” “Photograph,” “Oh My My” and “The No No Song.”
The “5” Royales: The group delivered “Dedicated to the One I Love” and a number of other early rock standards during its lengthy career, which ran from 1945 to 1965.
Those are the ones that made the cut. Yet, the were some notable nominees who didn’t end up getting inducted, including legendary hip-hop act N.W.A., pioneering electronic music act Kraftwerk, former chief of Police Sting and alt-rock titans Nine Inch Nails.
Follow Jim Harrington at twitter.com/jimthecritic and www.facebook.com/jim.bayareanews.
