The nominees for 2010's Rock and Roll Hall of Fame class have been announced, and as always there are a few surprises. Among straight-up rock bands, the Red Hot Chili Peppers, Kiss, Genesis, the Stooges and the Hollies are on the ballot. The rest of the list spans genres, with LL Cool J, Donna Summer, ABBA, Jimmy Cliff, Darlene Love, Laura Nyro and the Chantels.

The Chilis and LL Cool J are both nominated in their first year of eligibility, which comes 25 years after an artist releases their first single or album. Despite a 35-year career, this is the first nomination for Kiss, whose members and devoted fans have been impatiently awaiting this moment. According to Rolling Stone, Gene Simmons, in his usual candor, said last year, "There are disco bands, rap bands, Yiddish folk song bands in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, but not Kiss. I believe we have more gold records in America than any other group, but it's OK."

If elected, LL Cool J will be the third hip-hop act in the Hall, joining Grandmaster Flash and the Furious Five and Run-DMC (he's the fourth if you count the Beastie Boys, who were inducted in 2007). This is the eighth nomination for Iggy Pop and the Stooges, who performed at the ceremony in 2008 in place of Madonna, who was upset that her fellow Detroit natives had yet to be inducted.

The official results of the ballot, decided by 500 voters, will be released in January. The Hall will celebrate its 25th anniversary with a special two-night concert at Madison Square Garden on Oct. 29 and 30. The lineups for the concerts includes Bruce Springsteen, U2, Metallica, Simon and Garfunkel, Eric Clapton, Aretha Franklin and Crosby, Stills and Nash.