Red Hot Chili Peppers, Guns n' Roses and Beastie Boys To Be Inducted In The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame

Red Hot Chili Peppers, Guns n' Roses and Beastie Boys have been announced as the 2012 inductees into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. The three bands beat out the likes of bands such as The Cure, Heart, Donna Summer, and Joan Jett & The Blackhearts. Also joining them are artists Donovan, Laura Nyro and english group Small Faces.

In addition, blues musician Freddie King will join the hall's roster of early influence honorees, while veteran pop star maker and erstwhile TV impresario Don Kirshner has been chosen as recipient of the Ahmet Ertegun Award, given each year to an influential nonperformer. Producers Tom Dowd and Glyn Johns and pioneering New Orleans engineer and recording studio owner Cosimo Matassa round out the new batch of inductees with awards for musical excellence.

“It's really nice to be part of a community of musicians we respect,” Chili Peppers bassist Michael “Flea” Balzary said from a tour stop in Vienna shortly after getting the news. “I feel very emotional about it, and it makes me reflective about our career. I think back about when we just started out as this little band and we kept it going, pouring our heart and souls into it. Pride isn't the healthiest thing, but I feel proud.”

Congrats to all the bands who will be inducted.