Pearl Jam, Journey, and Tupac Headline 2017 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Class

Music

 | December 20, 2016 | By Sara Wilkins

Pearl Jam, Journey, and late rapper Tupac Shakur will be inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

The iconic music stars will join the class of 2017, along with Joan Baez, Electric Light Orchestra and Yes.

We are excited to announce Pearl Jam will be inducted into the @RockHall of Fame! #PearlJam #RockHall2017 pic.twitter.com/EkxGCtKtNM

— Pearl Jam (@PearlJam) December 20, 2016

According to a statement released by the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame on Tuesday, the six acts will enter the prestigious group at the Rock Hall’s 32nd annual induction ceremony at Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York on April 7.

The 2017 selected group were chosen out of 19 nominees by more than 900 music industry voters in the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Foundation, and all of the inductees were first time nominees with the exception of Yes. To be eligible for the hall, an individual artist or band must have released their first single or album at least 25 years prior to the year of nomination.

Thank You To our fans ?? Happy Holidays ??

A photo posted by Neal Schon (@nealschon) on Dec 20, 2016 at 6:00am PST

Pearl Jam’s acceptance, in the band’s first year of eligibility, was seen as a foregone conclusion this year, after the organization inducted fellow Seattle band Nirvana in 2014.

As only the sixth hip hop artist to join the Hall of Fame, the addition of the slain rapper, who was murdered in 1996 at the age of 25, also adds to the hall’s representation of rap music. At this stage, it remains unclear as to who will accept the award on his behalf, after his mother, Afeni Shakur, died in May.

We thank all the Yes fans who have been so passionate over the decades & helped us to keep the flag flying. They have been heard.
Steve Howe

— yesofficial (@yesofficial) December 20, 2016

By admitting Journey, known for 1980s hits “Don’t Stop Believin'” and “Open Arms,” as well as Electric Light Orchestra and Yes, the Hall of Fame has finally accepted some of music’s most enduring acts.

We are humbled to be included in such impressive company and grateful to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame for this… https://t.co/RnsOgrrgVG

— JOURNEY (@JourneyOfficial) December 20, 2016

While revered folk musician Baez’s arrival marks another woman being accepted into the institution, she is the only woman among the inductees this year, and is only the third to be inducted over the last four ceremonies, after Joan Jett last year.

Meanwhile, Nile Rodgers will receive the Award for Musical Excellence. Chic, the disco group he co-founded, was nominated for the 11th time in the performer category, but did not gain admittance.

Other nominees considered for induction this year included: Bad Brains, Chaka Khan, Depeche Mode, Jane’s Addiction, Janet Jackson, Kraftwerk, Steppenwolf and The Zombies.