Van Halen & REM lead Rock Hall ballot

Van Halen and R.E.M. lead the ballot for induction into the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame this year. It's the first time on the ballot for both acts, though Van Halen has been eligible for a few years. According to the Cleveland Plain Dealer, the female vocal group the Ronettes are also first-timers. The rest of the nominees include the disco group Chic, the British Invasion band the Dave Clark Five, rap pioneer Grandmaster Flash, Patti Smith, the Stooges, and soul singer Joe Tex. Ballots should be mailed this week.

For unknown reasons, the process of selecting the nominees has been delayed this year. It's unknown if that will have any effect on the induction ceremony, which has traditionally been held at the Waldorf Astoria Hotel in New York City in March.