FUSE TV - Nirvana, LL Cool J, NWA Among Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Nominees

Nirvana, LL Cool J, KISS and NWA topped the nomination list for the 2014 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Sixteen artists have been nominated in total, with Paul Butterfield Blues Band, Chic, Deep Purple, Peter Gabriel, Hall and Oates, Link Wray, the Meters, the Replacements, Linda Ronstadt, Cat Stevens, Yes and the Zombies all up for inclusion into the hall.

If Nirvana seems a bit premature given that an artist can be nominated no earlier than 25 years after their original release, consider two things: 1. You're probably older than you remember and 2. "Love Buzz," the band's debut single and cover of Dutch rock band Shocking Blue, was released in 1988, seven months before their debut album Bleach.

Prog rock, that bombastic genre traditionally shunned by the hall, appears to be making slight strides. After last year's inclusion of Genesis, the band's original frontman Peter Gabriel is up for inclusion alongside British prog-metal group Deep Purple and Yes, the genre's quintessential archetype/punching bag. 

Paul Butterfield Blues Band, Deep Purple, Chic, the Meters,  and NWA all return as potential nominees from last year. Chic co-founder Nile Rodgers has had a massive career resurgence from last year--see "Get Lucky" and collaborations with Adam Lambert and Avicii for starters--that could elevate the group's chances.

While Beastie Boys, Public Enemy, Run-D.M.C. and Grandmaster Flash and the Furious Five have all been inducted into the Hall, the inclusion of incendiary political group NWA for the second year in a row continues the tonal shift in favor of pioneering rap acts.

Like last year, fans can help pick the winner, with the top five artists picked at RollingStone.com making it onto the "fan's ballot" and counted alongside designated music industry Illuminati. Ballots will be sent to more than 600 members of the music industry and historically, 4-6 of the nominated acts are inducted each year. The hall will announce inductees in December, with the induction ceremony set for next April.

Nominees for 2014 induction:

• Nirvana 
• Chic 
• Deep Purple 
• Kiss 
• Hall & Oates 
• The Replacements 
• Peter Gabriel 
• LL Cool J 
• Link Wray 
• The Meters 
• N.W.A 
• The Paul Butterfield Blues Band 
• The Zombies 
• Cat Stevens 
• Yes 
• Linda Ronstadt