Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Inductees 2016: Cheap Trick, N.W.A., Chicago Lead 2016 Class

The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum has announced its inductees for 2016, its 31st class. Cheap Trick, N.W.A., Chicago, Deep Purple and Steve Miller made the cut this year.

The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame made the big revelation about its latest class on its official website, and this year, classic rock ruled supreme, represented by Cheap Trick, Chicago, Deep Purple and Miller.

Unlike last year, which saw induction of Nirvana and Green Day, no act in this year's class was in its first year of eligibility (to gain admittance into the Hall of Fame, you must be 25 years removed from your first single or album release).

The class is led by Cheap Trick, the powerful pop-rock luminaries who are best known for their hits "Want You To Want Me" and "Surrender." Since the 1970s, Cheap Trick have been a constant presence on the touring circuit, making them one of rock's more prolific acts.

Chicago also lead the inductees. The jazzy rock band, which fused together horns and pop for a uniquely distinguishable sound, was the winner of the Rock Hall fan vote, tallying over 37.7 million votes.

Two other classic rock juggernauts, Deep Purple and Steve Miller, have been eligible for the Rock Hall for years and are finally getting their dues in the class of 2016. Deep Purple, best known for their sludgy brand of rock 'n' roll and helping to bring in an era of metal, have classics such as "Smoke on the Water," "Hush" and "Highway Star" in their lineup. Miller, best known for his mid-'70s hits "The Joker' and "Fly Like an Eagle," also fills out the classic rock filled lineup.

The lone standout in the five inductees are rap pioneers N.W.A., who were surely helped by the visibility of their 2015 biopic Straight Outta Compton. Known for bring gangsta rap and street life to the mainstream, the influence of N.W.A. is endless in hip-hop. The rap collective helps to bring some much needed diversity to this year's nominees, which are otherwise overwhelmingly white, male and old.

Of course, for every act that got into the Rock Hall this year, there are those who were shortlisted but didn't make the cut. Those include Janet Jackson and first time nominees Nine Inch Nails.

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Cheap trick, N.W.A., Deep purple, Steve Miller, Chicago