U2, O'Jays headed for Rock Hall of Fame

NEW YORK, Dec. 13 (UPI) -- The O'Jays, U2, Percy Sledge, Buddy Guy and The Pretenders were announced Monday as the 2005 inductees into The Rock 'n' Roll Hall of Fame.

U2 has 14 Grammys, including Album of the Year for "The Joshua Tree" and Record of the Year for "Beautiful Day" and "Walk On." The O'Jays were leaders in rhythem & blues' "Philadelphia sound" with hits such as "Love Train" and "Backstabbers." Sledge sang the classic R&B hit "When a Man Loves a Woman."

The Pretenders, one of the most successful bands of the New Wave era of the late 1970s, had such hits as "Back on the Chain Gang" and "Don't Get Me Wrong." Chicago bluesman Guy has been cited as an influence by such guitar masters as Eric Clapton, Stevie Ray Vaughan, Jeff Beck, Pete Townshend and Keith Richards.

Premier Talent Agency founder Frank Barsalona and Sire Records co-founder Seymour Stein will be inducted in the non-performer category.