BLACK SABBATH Among Nominees For ROCK AND ROLL HALL OF FAME

The Associated Press is reporting that BLACK SABBATH are among the nominees for a new class of inductees at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, joined by heartland rocker JOHN MELLENCAMP, jazz legend MILES DAVIS, rap pioneers GRANDMASTER FLASH & THE FURIOUS FIVE and BLONDIE.

Cat Stevens, who had folk hits in the 1970s before converting to Islam and largely retiring from music, was also nominated, along with punk rock pioneers THE PATTI SMITH GROUP, the SEX PISTOLS and THE STOOGES.

"Free Bird" singers LYNYRD SKYNYRD, the '60s beat group DAVE CLARK FIVE, Boston-area blues-rockers J. GEILS BAND, dance masters CHIC and Texans JOE TEX, and the SIR DOUGLAS QUINTET were also on the ballot.

Musicians, industry professionals and journalists vote, and results of the 21st annual election will likely be announced in December.

Artists are eligible to be inducted into the Rock Hall after at least 25 years have passed since their first record was released.

Six years ago, Ozzy Osbourne attempted to take BLACK SABBATH's name off the Hall of Fame's 1999 nomination list, deeming the institution's nod "meaningless."

In an October 1999 letter to the Hall of Fame, Osbourne said: "Just take our name off the list. Save the ink. Forget about us. The nomination is meaningless, because it's not voted on by the fans. It's voted on by the supposed elite for the industry and the media, who've never bought an album or concert ticket in their lives, so their vote is irrelevant to me." He says, "Let's face it, BLACK SABBATH has never been media darlings. We're a people's band and that suits us just fine."