The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame [ tickets ] will open its doors this year to nine new inductees, including metal favorites Metallica [ tickets ] and hip-hop pioneers Run-D.M.C. [ tickets ]

Other performers who'll be inducted into the Hall in 2009 are guitar legend Jeff Beck [ tickets ], soul singer Bobby Womack and New York doo-wop group Little Anthony and the Imperials.

Early rock-and-roller Wanda Jackson [ tickets ] will be inducted in the Early Influence category, and Bill Black, Spooner Oldham and DJ Fontana will enter via the Sidemen category.

"This year's class of inductees truly represents what the Hall of Fame is all about," said Rock Hall CEO Joel Peresman in a statement. "From classic artists that began their careers in the '50s and '60s to those that have defined the modern sound of rock and roll. These artists demonstrate the rich diversity of rock and roll itself. We are proud to honor these artists and celebrate their contribution to rock and roll's place in our culture."

Metallica built a fanatical heavy metal following in the early '80s into a worldwide juggernaut, crossing over to grab the attention of traditional rock fans with, as a Rock Hall press release points out, "fast tempos, instrumentals, and aggressive musicianship." The band, which continues to tour successfully today, is considered by many observers to be the most influential and commercially successful of all the original "thrash metal" acts from the '80s; All five of the group's most recent studio albums--from a self-titled 1991 set through last year's "Death Magnetic"--have debuted at No. 1 on The Billboard 200.

Founded in Queens, NY, by Joseph "Reverend Run" Simmons, Darryl "D.M.C" McDaniels, and Jason "Jam-Master Jay" Mizell, Run-D.M.C. also excelled at crossing over genres. The trio bridged the gap between rap and rock with several high-energy anthems, including its 1986 cover of Aerosmith's "Walk This Way," which featured vocals and guitar from Aerosmith's Steven Tyler and Joe Perry.

Bobby Womack's recording career began in the early '60s as the lead singer of his family music group, The Valentinos. His career spanned more than 40 years performing and recording in various styles including R&B, soul, gospel, rock and roll, doo-wop and country, and has included hits both on the performing end and the songwriting end, including penning the Rolling Stones' first No. 1 UK hit, "It's All Over Now."

Jeff Beck gained early fame as one of the three legendary guitarists to record with The Yardbirds (Jimmy Page and Eric Clapton are the other two). Beck is often cited by fellow guitarists as one of the most influential players on the instrument in the rock-and-roll era. Beck has primarily released albums of instrumental music over the years, crossing over from blues and heavy metal to jazz fusion and electronica at various times throughout his long recording career.

New York doo-wop giants Little Anthony & The Imperials were led by high-pitched frontman Jerome Anthony "Little Anthony" Gourdine. The group changed its name to the Imperials in 1957 and scored its first hit in 1958 with "Tears on My Pillow." Shifting to a more soul-influenced sound years later, the group scored a series of hits in 1964, including "I'm On the Outside (Looking In)" and "Goin' Out of My Head."

Artists are eligible for inclusion in the Rock Hall 25 years after releasing their first single or album.

The induction ceremony will take place April 4, with the presentation returning to the Hall's home of Cleveland for the first time since 1997. The ceremony will air live on Fuse TV.