AC/DC Vs. Bad Company – Ultimate Classic Rock Hall of Fame, Round One

The first May Ultimate Classic Rock Hall of Fame battle finds AC/DC and Bad Company fighting for the right to become the next band to win this 100% fan-voted honor.

Every month, our readers will decide which of eight legendary artists or bands will be honored for their contributions to the genre. Lynyrd Skynyrd defeated Aerosmith in the most recent competition, before readers helped us select Heart as the grand champions of the first-ever March Riff Madness poll.

AC/DC's essential formula of hard-rocking fun hasn't changed much since 1975's 'High Voltage,' even if the band itself has: AC/DC managed one of the most remarkable comebacks in rock history when original singer Bon Scott died in 1980, issuing the classic Brian Johnson-fronted 'Back in Black' just months after his passing. More recently, the band has dealt with the illness and hiatus of rhythm guitarist Malcolm Young. Even so, AC/DC has never released an album in U.S. that didn't at least go platinum -- including the latest, 2008's 'Black Ice,' which sold two million copies.

Meanwhile, Bad Company boasted a pair of other frontmen from 1986-1998, but will always be remembered for its initial decade-long run of music with Paul Rodgers, beginning in 1973. With an initial lineup completed by Rodgers' former Free bandmate Simon Kirke, Mott the Hoople's Mick Ralphs and King Crimson's Boz Burrell, Bad Company released a sterling run of five Top 20 songs between 1974-79, all of which have become classic-rock radio staples. Rogers has subsequently reunited with the group several times, beginning in 1998.

So who moves onto the semi-finals? You can vote once a day between now and Sunday, May 11, 2014 at 11:59 PM EST. The next inductee into the Ultimate Classic Rock Hall of Fame will be announced on Monday, June 2. Be sure to read our official rules.