R.E.M., Patti Smith, Van Halen among new Rock Hall nominees

The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame has announced its nine nominees for induction in 2007. From the press release:

The nine nominees for 2007 induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame are: Chic, The Dave Clark Five, Grandmaster Flash and the Furious Five, R.E.M., The Ronettes, Patti Smith, The Stooges, Joe Tex, and Van Halen.

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This is the first year that R.E.M. and Smith are eligible, so they might end up taking a backseat to their elders, as only seven of the nominees actually get inducted (remember, the Rock Hall is basically the Grammys for music nerds). Read up on the rules here, because it's too early for us to explain them to you.