Guns N' Roses, The Cure, Joan Jett among new Rock Hall hopefuls

Guns N' Roses, Heart, The Cure and Joan Jett & the Blackhearts are among the first-time nominees for induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

Among the other first-time nominees to surface are The Small Faces/Faces, The Spinners, Rufus with Chaka Khan, Freddie King and Eric B. & Rakim.

Previous nominees again vying for induction in the next Rock Hall class include Beastie Boys, the Red Hot Chili Peppers, Donna Summer, Donovan, Laura Nyro and War.

"The 2012 nominees embody the broad scope of what 'rock and roll' means," Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Foundation President and CEO Joel Peresman said in a press release. "From vocal groups to hip-hop, from singer/songwriters to hard rocking artists, this group represents the spirit of what we celebrate at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame."

Acts gain eligibility for induction to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame at least 25 years after their first commercial release. This year's cutoff was 1986, giving Guns N' Roses and Eric B. & Rakim eligibility for the first time.

Of this year's 15 nominees, five will be inducted into the Rock Hall on April 14 in Cleveland, home of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum. Next year will mark just the third time in 27 years that the induction ceremony takes place in Cleveland.

Tickets to the 2012 ceremony will be sold to the public, with individual tickets hitting the market in December. Tables and VIP packages are on sale now; details are posted at the Rock Hall website.

The Alice Cooper Band, Neil Diamond, Dr. John, Darlene Love, Tom Waits and Leon Russell entered the Rock Hall earlier this year. Electra Records founder Jac Holtzman and Specialty Records founder Art Rupe were also inducted.