Rock Hall 2015: Green Day and 5 other acts who will get in - San Jose Mercury News

Green Day should go right ahead and book those plane tickets to Cleveland.

Because this multiplatinum act — which rose out of the East Bay punk scene to become one of the world's biggest bands — appears to be an absolute lock for induction to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in its first year of eligibility.

But what other acts will join Green Day when the Class of 2015 is enshrined in April in Cleveland? That's where things get a bit tricky.

The Rock Hall recently announced its field of nominees -- and it's absolutely loaded with compelling candidates. The 15 nominated acts include Sting, The Smiths, Bill Withers, Nine Inch Nails, N.W.A., Lou Reed and Kraftwerk.

Of course, not all of the 15 nominees will get in. Last year, the Hall inducted six performers -- including KISS, Linda Ronstadt and Nirvana -- so look for a similar tally in 2015.

The Hall's more than 600 voters will get the final say on which of the acts deserve to join popular music's most exclusive club. The results will be announced in December. (In order to be eligible, an act must have released its first single or album at least 25 years before nomination.)

Here are the six acts that should make the cut in 2015:

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Green Day

Kraftwerk

Sting

Lou Reed

Stevie Ray Vaughan

N.W.A.

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Also in the running:

The Paul Butterfield Blues Band

Chic

Joan Jett and the Blackhearts

The Marvelettes

Nine Inch Nails

The Smiths

The Spinners

War

Bill Withers

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Follow Jim Harrington at http://twitter.com/jimthecritic.