Beastie Boys and Tom Waits are among a new batch of nominees announced for the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, reports BBC News. The eclectic list also includes the rockers Bon Jovi, singer-songwriters DONOVAN and Neil Diamond, and the rapper LL Cool J.
Over 500 experts from the US music industry will now vote as to who should be inducted into the 'Hall of Fame', and an announcement will be made in December 2010, with the induction ceremony taking place in New York next year. Joel Peresman, President of the Fame Foundation, said, "We believe our nominating committee has put forth a list of artists that truly represents the wide variety of music that defines rock and roll".
In order to be eligible for a 'Hall of Fame' nomination, musical acts must have released their debut single or album at least 25 years prior to the nomination year. Beastie Boys released their first EP in 1982, entitled 'Polly Wog Stew', and followed it up in 1986 with their debut studio album 'Licensed to Ill' which is still Columbia Records' fastest ever selling debut record. Tom Waits released his first album, 'Closing Time', back in 1973.