Tupac, Joan Baez, Journey to be inducted into Rock Hall of Fame
NEW YORK — The late rapper Tupac Shakur, Bay Area folk star Joan Baez and 1970s favorites Journey are among those named in the next class of Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductees that also include Seattle rockers Pearl Jam, Yes and Electric Light Orchestra.
The rock hall also said Tuesday, Dec. 20, that it would give a special award to Nile Rodgers, whose disco-era band Chic failed again to make the cut after its 11th time nominated.
Shakur was shot and killed after attending a boxing match in Las Vegas in 1996, a murder that has spawned conspiracy theories but remains unsolved.
Baez was a political activist and mainstay of the folk movement, performing at the first Newport Folk Festival at age 19 in 1959.
Journey’s 1981 song “Don’t Stop Believin’” was given new life by being featured in the closing scene of HBO’s “The Sopranos” and became a favorite of a new generation.
Yes’ hits include “I’ve Seen All Good People,” “Roundabout” and “Owner of a Lonely Heart,” and its fans have waged a vociferous campaign to see them honored.
Electric Light Orchestra got its start melding classical influences to Beatles-influenced pop, and charted with “Evil Woman,” “Mr. Blue Sky” and “Don’t Bring Me Down.”
The hall’s award for musical excellence to songwriter and guitarist Rodgers is no consolation prize.