Costello, Clash in Rock & Roll Hall of Fame ballot

A.P. WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 11, 2002

NEW YORK: The Clash, Elvis Costello and the Attractions, and The Police are among the first-time nominees on the 2003 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame ballot.

Swedish hit-makers ABBA, disco pioneers Chic and the German electronic music pioneers Kraftwerk are also eligible for the Hall of Fame.

The Sex Pistols return to the ballot after not being voted in last year, meaning the hall could give its first nod to the British punk rock generation after two American acts, the Ramones and Talking Heads, were inducted this year.

Longtime nominees Black Sabbath, whose lead singer Ozzy Osbourne reached a new level of television fame this year, are back on the ballot.

Other nominees include Australian rockers AC/DC, rhythm 'n' blues veterans the Dells, Detroit revolutionary rockers MC5, the Righteous Brothers, the Patti Smith Group, Lynyrd Skynyrd and Steve Winwood.

Artists are eligible to be inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame after at least 25 years have passed since their first record was released. The inductees likely will be announced in December.

The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame is in Cleveland.

Thanks to John Foyle