Metallica, Run-D.M.C., Stooges Hoping to Roll to Rock Hall

Nine nominees are announced for potential induction into Rock Hall's class of 2009; final five inductees will be announced in January

Run-D.M.C. is about to find out whether they can walk their way into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

The forefathers of hip-hop are among the nine vintage acts nominated for induction into the Rock Hall's class of 2009, it was announced this morning, joining Metallica, the Stooges, iconic guitarist Jeff Beck, Bobby Womack, War, Wanda Jackson, Little Anthony and the Imperials and Chic on the ballot.

Five of the nine will ultimately be chosen by a group of 500 musicians, journalists and industry professionals, with the enshrinees announced in January and inducted in Cleveland in April.

To be eligible for inclusion in the Rock Hall's 24th annual ceremony, acts must have released their first album or single at least 25 years prior to nomination, meaning this year's contenders each made their professional mark in or before 1983.

The "It's Tricky" artistes Run-D.M.C.—Reverend Run (Joseph Simmons), D.M.C. (Darryl McDaniels) and the late Jam Master Jay (Jason Mizell)—were nominated in this, their first of eligibility. Should they score induction, it would bring the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame's hip-hop count to a grand total of two. So far, Grandmaster Flash and the Furious Five are the only such act to be voted in.

Heavy metal masters Metallica also are up in their first year of eligibility. The Grammy winners, led by Lars Ulrich and James Hetfield, are having a banner month, having just landed their latest album, Death Magnetic, atop the album charts last week.

Beck, meanwhile, is one of the most influential and respected guitarists in rock history and was previously inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as a member of the Yardbirds. This time around, he's nominated for his solo work.

The Stooges are back again after failing to make their cut two years ago. The Iggy Pop-powered group in all their industrial and punk alternative glory, formed back in the late 1960s.

Chic is back on the ballot after a failed bid for induction last year. The oft-sampled disco-dance kings are best known for the megahits "Le Freak" and "Dance, Dance, Dance (Yowsah, Yowsah, Yowsah)."

Doo-woppers extraordinaire Little Anthony and the Imperials formed in the late 1950s and made a splash with "Tears On My Pillow," "Shimmy, Shimmy Ko-Ko-Bop," and "Hurt So Bad." It's their first time as nominees.

R&B legend Womack's career has spanned roughly 55 years, and in addition to being a singer also included stints as a producer and songwriter, notably penning the Rolling Stones' first U.K. hit, "It's All Over Now," and Aretha Franklin's "Chain of Fools."

The Los Angeles-based War, which formed in the late 1960s, is best known for the hits, "Spill the Wine," "Why Can't We Be Friends?" and "Low Rider."

Rounding out the nominees is Jackson, the so-called "First Lady of Rock and Roll" and contemporary of Elvis, who embarked on her first tour with the King back in 1955.

After more than a decade in New York City, the induction ceremony will return to Cleveland for just the second time ever on April 4. For 21 of the past 23 inductions, the ceremony was held in Manhattan, save for a 1993 stint in Los Angeles.

For the first time ever, tickets to the event will be made available to the public.