September 18, 2001 11:35

NEVER MIND THE BALLOTS!

Gram Parsons, Tom Petty and Isaac Hayes are among other names on the ballot papers...

THE
RAMONES[/url], the SEX
PISTOLS[/url], GRAM PARSONS, ISAAC HAYES and
TALKING HEADS are amongst the names included on the nomination
ballot for 2002 induction into the ROCK 'N' ROLL HALL OF FAME.

The stars will jockey for their place in the Hall, based in Cleveland,
Ohio with Tom Petty, Jackson Browne,
Gene Pitney, R&B girl group the Chantels and
doo-wop acts The Dells and The "5" Royales and
repeat nominees AC/DC[/url],
Patti Smith, Brenda Lee and Lynyrd
Skynyrd. Black Sabbath also find themselves on the
ballot paper again, but is unlikely they will accept their nomination even if it
were offered. Ozzy
Osbourne[/url] is no fan of the Hall of Fame and has refused the nomination before.

Around 1,000 ballot papers were sent out to members of the selection committee
over the last week. Normally around a half dozen acts are inducted every year. To
find themselves on the ballot, artists are to have released their first album 25
years ago. Criteria for induction includes "the influence and significance of the
artist's contributions to the development and perpetuation of rock and roll".

Inductees in 2001 included Aerosmith,
Steely Dan, Queen, Michael
Jackson[/url] (solo) and Ritchie Valens.