Rock Hall Announces Nominees for 2023 Class; Rock Hall President Greg Harris Checks in to Discuss

The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame announced its list of 14 nominees eligible to be inducted into the Class of 2023, and it includes a diverse list of talent.

This year’s list of artists selected by the Hall’s nomination committee includes: Kate Bush, Sheryl Crow, Missy Elliott, Iron Maiden, Joy Division/New Order, Cyndi Lauper, George Michael, Willie Nelson, Rage Against The Machine, Soundgarden, The Spinners, A Tribe Called Quest, The White Stripes, and Warren Zevon.

“It’s an incredible list,” Rock and Roll Hall of Fame President and CEO Greg Harris tells Michele Amabile of 1071 The Boss. “It’s going to be hard as heck to settle on just five of these.”

Harris explained that the current ballot will now go out to 1,000 voters, including recent inductees who now have a say in who goes in the hall.

“When you think about it, Smokey Robinson votes, Bruce (Springsteen) gets a ballot and can vote, and the members of The Red Hot Chili Peppers. They all come back. So it’s going to be hard to pick just five. Everybody here is incredible.”

Eight of the artists are nominated for the first time, he said, while others are “back after multiple nominations.”

“It’s Rage’s fifth, Kate Bush’s fourth, The Spinners have been nominated four times and Iron Maiden, Soundgarden and A Tribe Called Quest,’ it’s their second times,” he said.

Shortly after the nominations were announced, artists began to react on social media with surprise and gratitude.

“It’s such an honor and thrill to be recognized by the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame as a nominee,” Lauper wrote on Facebook. ” Seeing my name on this year’s ballot with so many talents that I admire means so much to me. It has been a lifetime privilege to reach so many different kinds of fans with a message of following your own path (and having fun along the way, too). To my wonderful fans: Thank you for your support and love over the years!”

Missy Elliott embraced the nomination, writing, “Rock & Roll Hall of Fame I have cried and cried because I always dreamed BIG but this is bigger than I could imagine… to be nominated also with the other AMAZING artist I am Humbly Grateful Thank you to all of my fans/Supporters who helpedr get here! I love you all! And you can also VOTE link in my bio #757 VA all DAY“

Harris understands their joy.

“This is the day when fans of all 14 of these artists…get to celebrate that their artists are getting nominated. It’s a big, exciting day for us both here in Cleveland at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and around the world for fans of these bands,” he said.

Listen to the interview below, which includes Greg’s special connection to New Jersey (hint: he’s a local boy!):