Joan Jett, Heart, Guns 'N Roses, & Beastie Boys Among Rock Hall of Fame Nominees

Joan Jett & the Blackhearts (seen here at Coney Island in July) are among the nominees for the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame.

Female rockers may finally get their due this year in the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, as Heart and Joan Jett & the Blackhearts are among the nominees. Also nominated are Guns 'N Roses, the Beastie Boys, The Cure, Freddie King, The Spinners, Donna Summer, Donovan, Eric B. & Rakim, Laura Nyro, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Rufus with Chaka Khan, The Small Faces/The Faces, and War.

I've seen Joan Jett and Heart in the last year and a half (Jett just a few months ago) and they can still rock (pretty good considering that Jett just turned 53 a few days ago, and Ann & Nancy Wilson of Heart are a bit older than that). Jett and the Blackhearts haven't had a new album in a few years, but Heart released its first collection in more than half a decade, "Red Velvet Car,"last year.


Above: Joan Jett & the Blackhearts performing "Light of Day" (written by Bruce Springsteen). 

Besides Jett and Heart, I'm glad to see a couple of influential 1960s singer-songwriters (Donovan and Nyro) represented. Freddie King definitely makes sense, since so many rockers were influenced by King and other veteran bluesmen, but as usual some of the non-rock choices leave me scratching my head: Donna Summer? The Spinners? (See information on all the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame nominees here.)

The inductees will be chosen in a few weeks, so we'll find out then who actually is getting into the hallowed rock hall in Cleveland.


Above: Heart performing "WTF" from their latest album, 2010's "Red Velvet Car."

In addition to Joan Jett & the Blackhearts, I think it's time to induct her former bandmates—the Runaways—as well as one of their key influences, Suzi Quatro.

Which of these nominees do you think deserve to get inducted? What artists or other figures would you like to see chosen?