Green Day, Lou Reed, Joan Jett to enter Hall Of Fame

Green Day, Lou Reed and Joan Jett are the biggest names confirmed for induction into the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame next year.

They’ll be honoured at a ceremony in Cleveland, Ohio on April 18, alongside public poll winners Stevie Ray Vaughan and Double Trouble. The Paul Butterfield Blues Band and Bill Withers join them.

Meanwhile, Ringo Starr will be given the Award For Musical Excellence while early R&B band the 5 Royales are to take the Early Influence Award.

Nine Inch Nails, who appeared on the 2015 shortlist announced in October, won’t be inducted.

Green Day enter the Rock Hall on their first year of eligibility – 25 years after their debut release. Frontman Billy Joe Armstrong tells Rolling Stone: “I’m still trying to make sense of this. We’re in incredible company. The Hall Of Fame has always held something special for me because my heroes were in there. This is a time for us to look back with gratitude.”

Jett, who’s been nominated several times before, says: “Its a culmination of all you’ve ever dreamed about as a musician.”

Reed, who was inducted as a member of the Velvet Underground in 1996, is to be posthumously honoured for his solo work. Starr entered as one of the Beatles in 1988 – now he says: “This means recognition to me.”

Vaughan, who died in 1990, scored nearly a third of the votes placed by members of the public, leading Nine Inch Nails, Jett, Reed and Green Day, among others. Around 60 million people took part in the poll.

Not only is one-time online news editor Martin an established rock journalist and drummer, but he’s also penned several books on music history, including SAHB Story: The Tale of the Sensational Alex Harvey Band, a band he once managed, and the best-selling Apollo Memories about the history of the legendary and infamous Glasgow Apollo. Martin has written for Classic Rock and Prog and at one time had written more articles for Louder than anyone else (we think he's second now). He’s appeared on TV and when not delving intro all things music, can be found travelling along the UK’s vast canal network.