GUNS N' ROSES Nominated For ROCK AND ROLL HALL OF FAME Induction

GUNS N' ROSES is among 15 finalists for induction into the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame. Also hitting the ballot for the first time are THE CURE, HEART, JOAN JETT AND THE BLACKHEARTS, ERIC B. AND RAKIM, THE SPINNERS, THE SMALL FACES/FACES, FREDDY KING and RUFUS WITH CHAKA KHAN, while previous nominees BEASTIE BOYS, LAURA NYRO, WAR DONOVAN and RED HOT CHILI PEPPERS also made the cut. Votes will be cast by a group of more than 500 musicians and industry professionals; of the 15 nominees, the five that get the most votes will be announced in January and inducted into the Hall Of Fame at its 27th annual ceremony on April 14, 2012 in Cleveland, Ohio, home to the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame And Museum.

GUNS N' ROSES was nominated in its first year of eligibility.

"It's a great honor," former GUNS N' ROSES guitarist Gilby Clarke told The Plain Dealer. "The band deserves it. It was a long time coming."

Acts become eligible 25 years after the release of their first record.

Eccentric singer Axl Rose is the only original member of the current GUNS N' ROSES lineup, and while he has recently been on friendlier terms with guitarist Izzy Stradlin and bass player Duff McKagan, he and guitarist Slash are not on speaking terms.

Asked about what the former bandmates will do if they are inducted, Slash said, "We'll cross that bridge when we get there . . . If they're gonna pass you over, I don't think it's worth worrying about too much."

Earlier this year, former GUNS N' ROSES bassist Duff McKagan spoke to MusicRadar.com about the possibility of the band being inducted into the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame.

"My only experience with the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame was when VELVET REVOLVER played it and we were inducting VAN HALEN," he said. "That whole band was supposed to be there, including David Lee Roth we were going to do a song with him. It all started falling apart in the two weeks leading up to the gig. It was sad to watch

"We were just the innocent band that was there to play VAN HALEN songs, and we saw their whole thing crumble. To see Michael Anthony and Sammy Hagar show up, when it was supposed to be everybody... Michael and Sammy were really cool guys and good sports about it, but they took all the heat over the situation. A lot of heat.

"I don't know if I want to set myself up for heat. It's going to be a debacle, isn't it? A press debacle. I just don't know what else to say about it."

Slash said that he was glad to see Alice Cooper going in this year, and as for who has been overlooked, the guitarist said, "The one that comes to mind right off the bat and it's not even a band that I'm a huge fan of but definitely is eligible is KISS. And I know that they've been passed over every fucking year."