The 2012 class of the Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame was announced today, and it's a pretty rocking bunch! Here's a quick look at the six bands or artists that will be inducted at the April 2012 ceremony in Cleveland, Ohio:

  • Guns N' Roses

    Formed in Hollywood in 1985, Guns N' Roses dragged rock and roll back down to the street and kicked new life into the old machine. Their debut 'Appetite For Destruction' is a hard rock classic and even if that alone was their legacy, it'd be a great one. The band continues to record and tour, with singer Axl Rose as the only original member. Guitarist Slash has become a six string icon and the others have scattered but mostly remained in music. "Will they or won't they?" seems to be the big question about the original lineup at the awards show.

    Ethan Miller, Getty Images
    Ethan Miller, Getty Images
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  • The Faces / The Small Faces

    With this induction we get two great bands for the price of one! The Small Faces formed in London in 1965. Fronted by the powerhouse vocals and guitar of Steve Marriott, they were the premiere Mod band. They moved with the times and created some of the best music of mid 60's England. Songs like 'Itchycoo Park' and 'Tin Soldier' are landmarks! Listen to 'You Need Love' from their debut LP and tell us where Robert Plant got the vocal style for 'Whole Lotta Love'! When Marriott left the band to form Humble Pie, they recruited Rod Stewart and Ron Wood as his replacements, dropped the Small from their name and became one of the greatest bands of the '70's. A rollicking, stomping full out rock and roll monster!

    Keystone, Getty Images
    Keystone, Getty Images
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  • Donovan

    Starting out his musical path as what many called a "pale Bob Dylan imitator," Donovan kept moving and never looked back. He quickly developed his own style and ran with it. From his early folk material like 'Catch The Wind' through the truly groundbreaking 'Sunshine Superman,' one of the very first psychedelic records, Donovan was an innovator. Classics like 'Hurdy Gurdy Man,' 'Wear Your Love Like Heaven' and 'Atlantis' are only a fraction of his legacy. Long overdue induction!

    John Pratt, Getty Images
    John Pratt, Getty Images
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  • The Beastie Boys

    Possibly more than any other rap act, The Beastie Boys embraced rock and roll from the start. They began life as a punk band and morphed into a smart-ass but very clever entity that mixed rap with everything from Led Zeppelin and Black Sabbath samples to genuinely innovative production techniques on groundbreaking records including their unquestioned masterpiece, 'Paul's Boutique'.

    Bryan Bedder, Getty Images
    Bryan Bedder, Getty Images
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  • Red Hot Chili Peppers

    Another Los Angeles band, this one formed in 1983, the Chili Peppers brought the funk full force to the LA punk scene. Over the years, they have been able to transcend their influences and become something truly their own. Their live shows have become legendary and their popularity keeps growing with every album. Close to 30 years on, and despite numerous guitarist changes, they show no signs of slowing down.

    Kevin Winter, Getty Images
    Kevin Winter, Getty Images
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  • Laura Nyro

    Known more for her songs than her performances, Laura Nyro made her mark near the end of the '60s with songs like 'And When I Die', 'Eli's Coming,' 'Stone Soul Picnic' and 'Stoney End.' Granted, these songs were made famous by Blood Sweat and Tears, Three Dog Night, The 5th Dimension and Barbara Streisand, but it was Laura who wrote them. Her album 'Eli and The 13th Confession' was highly influential, greatly impacting the songwriting of artists such as Todd Rundgren.

    Michael Ochs Archives, Getty Images
    Michael Ochs Archives, Getty Images
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