Which Bands should be inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame

[Admiral Yi]

Good for Heart.

[Caliga]

Nirvana is a shoe-in.  Of the others I voted for Yes, Hall and Oates, Deep Purple, and KISS.

[sbr]

I'm a big fan of both NWA and LL Cool J, but I don't think either should be in the Rock and Roll HoF.

Cleveland should have followed the Village Voice's lead and called it the "Pazz and Jop Hall of Fame" so we don't have to hear this same argument each and every year.

I don't pay much attention to the Rock and Roll HoF so I didn't know (but should have realized) that that was an annual discussion.

How are some of these people even eligible for the Hall of Fame, they are still performing, much less not been retired for 5 years.

[Savonarola]

I don't pay much attention to the Rock and Roll HoF so I didn't know (but should have realized) that that was an annual discussion.

Usually it's promoted by people who believe that Run-DMC has no place in a "Rock and Roll" Hall of Fame but for some reason see no problem in inducting Randy Newman  ().

How are some of these people even eligible for the Hall of Fame, they are still performing, much less not been retired for 5 years.

I believe the criteria is that your first album has to be released 25 years ago.

[crazy canuck]

Write-in for Milli Vanilli. 

It is apt that someone did it for them.

[Malthus]

Write-in for Milli Vanilli. 

It is apt that someone did it for them.

[Capetan Mihali]

Link Wray!

[Zanza]

Nirvana.

[dps]

This is actually a pretty good list of nominees;  depending on how broad a definition of rock and roll you want to use, almost all of them are at least arguably deserving.  We're limited to voting for 5 of them in the poll, though.

With that limit, it seemed to me that there are 4 acts that were obvious choices, based on their influence:  The Paul Butterfield Blues Band, Peter Gabriel, Nirvana, and NWA.  Those aren't necessarily my favorites among the nominees, but they're the ones that had the most historical impact, IMO.  For my 5th vote, I went with Deep Purple, though I waffled a good bit on that one and considered several other artists.

[Ed Anger]

Cat Stevens can go eat a dick.

[jimmy olsen]

Voted Deep Purple & Nirvana

[CountDeMoney]

The Paul Butterfield Blues Band, Peter Gabriel, Nirvana, and NWA.  Those aren't necessarily my favorites among the nominees, but they're the ones that had the most historical impact, IMO.  For my 5th vote, I went with Deep Purple, though I waffled a good bit on that one and considered several other artists.

Yeah, I'm looking at historical impact and innovation as well, which is why I really can't skip over NWA, Nirvana, Hall & Oates, Link Wray and Deep Purple was a close 5th for me as well.
But it's a tight selection.

[Admiral Yi]

Historical impact, innovation, Hall & Oates? 

[katmai]

Nirvana, N.W.A. and Kiss

[CountDeMoney]

Historical impact, innovation, Hall & Oates? 

You were there.  You were a witness.  They were fundamental in re-energizing the post-disco radio era with six #1 hits and mainstreaming Philly white guy R and B into modern rock.