Madonna, John Mellencamp, Leonard Cohen Lead 2008 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Inductees

Madonna and John Mellencamp will be inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame next year, alongside Leonard Cohen, the Ventures and the Dave Clark Five. Philly Soul songwriter/producer team Kenny Gamble and Leon Huff will be presented the Ahmet Ertegun Award (previously known as the non-performer category) and blues harmonica player Little Walter will be inducted in the sideman category.

This is Madonna's first year of eligibility; her debut single, "Everybody," was released twenty-five years ago in 1982. The induction ceremony will take place on March 10th, 2008 at New York's Waldorf Astoria.

Among the artists who were nominated this year but did not get in are the Beastie Boys (who were eligible for the first time) and Donna Summer. Read on for a list of Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductees from the past ten years.

2007
Performer: Grandmaster Flash and the Furious Five, Patti Smith, R.E.M., The Ronettes, Van Halen

2006
Performer: Black Sabbath, Blondie, Lynyrd Skynyrd, Miles Davis, Sex Pistols
Lifetime Achievement: Herb Alpert and Jerry Moss

2005
Performer: Buddy Guy, Percy Sledge, The O'Jays, The Pretenders, U2
Lifetime Achievement: Frank Barsalona. Seymour Stein

2004
Performer: Bob Seger, George Harrison, Jackson Browne, Prince, The Dells, Traffic, ZZ Top
Lifetime Achievement: Jann S. Wenner

2003
Performer: AC/DC, Elvis Costello & the Attractions, Righteous Brothers, The Clash, The Police
Sidemen: Benny Benjamin, Floyd Cramer, Steve Douglas
Non-Performer: Mo Ostin

2002
Performer: Brenda Lee, Gene Pitney, Isaac Hayes, Ramones, Talking Heads, Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers
Sidemen: Chet Atkins
Non-Performer: Jim Stewart

2001
Performer: Aerosmith, Michael Jackson, Paul Simon, Queen, Ritchie Valens, Solomon Burke, Steely Dan, The Flamingos
Sidemen: James Burton, Johnnie Johnson
Non-Performer: Chris Blackwell

2000
Performer: Bonnie Raitt, Earth, Wind & Fire, Eric Clapton, James Taylor, Lovin' Spoonful, The Moonglows
Early Influence: Billie Holiday, Nat "King" Cole
Sidemen: Earl Palmer, Hal Blaine, James Jamerson, King Curtis, Scotty Moore
Non-Performer: Clive Davis

1999
Performer: Billy Joel, Bruce Springsteen, Curtis Mayfield, Del Shannon, Dusty Springfield, Paul McCartney, The Staple Singers
Early Influence: Bob Wills and His Texas Playboys, Charles Brown
Non-Performer: George Martin

1998
Performer: Fleetwood Mac, Gene Vincent, Lloyd Price, Santana, The Eagles, The Mamas and the Papas
Early Influence: Jelly Roll Morton
Non-Performer: Allen Toussaint

1997
Performer: Buffalo Springfield, Crosby Stills and Nash, Joni Mitchell, Parliament-Funkadelic, The (Young) Rascals, The Bee Gees, The Jackson Five
Early Influence: Bill Monroe, Mahalia Jackson
Non-Performer: Syd Nathan

For a complete list of inductees since 1986, click here.

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Song Stories

“Help Me”

Joni Mitchell | 1974

Joni Mitchell wrote and recorded this song for her album Court and Spark, but she had to switch from her regular band to make the song sound exactly the way she wanted. "I had attempted to play my music with rock & roll players," she told Rolling Stone. "They’d laugh, 'Awww, isn't that cute? She's trying to teach us how to play.'" Mitchell switched to a jazz band, Tom Scott’s L.A. Express, and scored the biggest hit of her career in the process.

More Song Stories entries »

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