Punk rock will get its proper place in music history as pioneers the Ramones and Talking Heads are among the inductees into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame for 2002, it was announced Thursday.
Memphis icon and “Shaft” composer Isaac Hayes, rockers Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers and 1960s stars Brenda Lee and Gene Pitney where also voted in.
Stax Records co-founder Jim Stewart was named the “nonperformer” inductee, and guitar legend Chet Atkins will be inducted in the “sidemen” category.
Artists become eligible for induction 25 years after the release of their first record. Eligible artists who did not make the cut for next year include Lynyrd Skynyrd, Patti Smith, Lou Reed, Jackson Browne, Gram Parsons and Bob Seger.
The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Foundation’s 17th annual induction ceremony will be held March 18 in New York. VH1 will exclusively air the ceremony at 9 p.m. March 20.
“The 2002 class of inductees reflects the diversity of rock ‘n’ roll,” executive director of the foundation Suzan Evans said. “This year’s honorees represent genres from Memphis soul, early ’60s pop and classic rock to the New York punk movement. We expect this ceremony to be one of the best ever.”
