After years of being passed over, Black Sabbath [ tickets ], Lynyrd Skynyrd [ tickets ] and The Sex Pistols [ tickets ] are among the artists set for induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2006, as are Blondie [ tickets ] and Miles Davis [ tickets ].

Despite being widely recognized as pioneers of the heavy-metal genre, Black Sabbath--singer Ozzy Osbourne, guitarist Tony Iommi, bassist Geezer Butler and drummer Bill Ward--had been left in the cold for the past decade. The group's self-titled debut surfaced in 1975.

Six years ago, following Sabbath's third snubbing, Osbourne released a statement in which he told the Rock Hall to "just take our name off the list."

"Save the ink," Osbourne said. "Forget about us. The nomination is meaningless, because it's not voted on by the fans. It's voted on by the 'supposed' elite of the Industry and the Media, who've never bought an album or concert ticket in their lives, so their vote is totally irrelevant to me.

"Let's face it, Black Sabbath have never been media darlings. We're a people's band and that suits us just fine."

Regarded as one of the most innovative artists in jazz history, trumpeter Miles Davis enjoyed a career that spanned from the mid-'40s to his death in 1991. His 1959 masterpiece "Kind of Blue" is one of the most highly acclaimed jazz albums of all time.

Southern rockers Lynyrd Skynyrd rose to fame in the '70s on the strength of hits such as "Freebird" and "Sweet Home Alabama," which highlighted the band's distinctive triple-lead-guitar sound.

Blondie--led by singer Debra Harry--was one of the most successful bands to emerge from the late-'70s New Wave scene. The group's hits include "Call Me," "The Tide is High," "Rapture" and "Heart of Glass."

British punk-rock quartet the Sex Pistols--frontman Johnny Rotten, guitarist Steve Jones, drummer Paul Cook and late bassist Sid Vicious (who replaced original bassist Glen Matlock)--released only one album, 1977's "Never Mind the Bollocks, Here's the Sex Pistols," but it is among rock's most critically acclaimed releases.

The 21st Annual Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony is scheduled to take place March 13 at New York City's Waldorf Astoria Hotel.

A&M Records founders Herb Alpert and Jerry Moss will be inducted for the Lifetime Achievement Award in the Non-Performer category.

Artists become eligible for induction into the Rock Hall's ranks 25 years after the release of their first record. Criteria considered includes "the influence and significance of the artist's contribution to the development and perpetuation of rock and roll," according to the Rock Hall’s official website. The rock and Roll Hall of Fame Foundation's nominating committee, which is "composed of rock and roll historians," selects eligible nominees, and ballots are then sent to "an international voting body of about 700 rock experts."

For the first time in the event's history, the Rock Hall will give members of the general public a chance to score tickets to the induction ceremony via a raffle. More information is available at the Rock Hall's website.