Although Dave Matthews Band won the fan vote for this year's Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame induction class, the top five was rounded out by Pat Benatar, The Doobie Brothers, Soundgarden and Judas Priest.
Fans were able to cast their vote at the museum in Cleveland and on its website. They could also vote on Google by searching “Rock Hall Fan Vote” or any nominee name plus “vote” through January 10th. Fans could vote for up to five nominees every day.
As of midnight in January 10th, Dave Matthews Band had received 1,005,657 votes, while Pat Benatar had 882,207, the Doobies had accrued 784,729, Soundgarden earned 722,931 and Priest clocked 675,434. Of the other hard rock nominees, Thin Lizzy placed eighth, Motorhead came in ninth and Nine Inch Nails was in the 11th spot.
The top five artists selected by the public comprise a “fan ballot” that will be tallied and factored in, along with the other ballots sent to approximately 1,000 artists, historians and members of the music industry.
Judas Priest thanked its fans for helping get the band on the “fan ballot,” writing on social media, “A huge metal thank you to our Priest family for voting & defending Judas Priest in the fan vote for RRHoF 2020 — we made and stayed in the top five fan votes through your love and support. Whatever the outcome we are blessed having the best metal fans in the world of heavy metal!”
The top vote-getters will be announced on Wednesday, January 15th and inducted on May 2nd at Cleveland's Public Hall. To be eligible for this year's ballot, each nominee's first single or album had to be released in 1994 or earlier.