Former Guns N' Roses guitarist Slash was recently asked about the possibility of a future GNR reunion at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

Speaking of Guns N' Roses, Slash admits he has no contact with Axl Rose, nor has he heard material from the long-awaited "Chinese Democracy." But any silence between the camps is bound to end come 2012, when the influential hard rock act becomes eligible for induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

Slash, McKagan and drummer Matt Sorum experienced firsthand what could be in store based on the drama that ensued last year around Van Halen's induction into the Rock Hall. With Eddie Van Halen in rehab and David Lee Roth refusing to attend after a set list squabble, Velvet Revolver ended up jamming with Michael Anthony and Sammy Hagar.

"I never even thought about it until we had to do that," Slash says. "Somebody asked me, 'Do you think you guys will be able to show up for the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame (induction ceremony) in five years?' I was like, 'Oh, I guess we're eligible.' It never dawned on me before then. If this comes up, I'd hope we'd be mature enough to get up and do that, but I have no idea."

When asked what his gut feeling is about Rose and the other original members coming together, Slash says, "My gut doesn't count because it's not just about me. It's about everybody. And if it was easy to predict, we probably wouldn't have had so many hassles in the first place."

History has shown that volatile bands don't instantly start loving each other again just because of a Hall of Fame induction (Van Halen, CCR, Blondie, etc.). So you can bet that when GNR gets honored, it will be worth watching.

Check out scans of the full invitation here.

The Shortlist Organization announced today the 2007 finalists for the Shortlist Music Prize:

• Arcade Fire -- Neon Bible
• Burial -- Untrue
• Feist -- The Reminder
• Justice -- †
• LCD Soundsystem -- Sound of Silver
• M.I.A. -- Kala
• Spoon -- Ga Ga Ga Ga Ga
• Stars -- In our Bedroom After The War
• Wilco -- Sky Blue Sky
• Working for a Nuclear Free City -- Businessmen & Ghosts

The Shortlist Music Prize (fair warning: it's an awful website) is where "the worlds most creative recording artists honor their peers," so it is a good (but not perfect) indicator of what current artists are listening to, and could therefore be a measuring stick for future Rock and Roll Hall of Famers. Something to keep an eye on in the years to come if they can get the right "Listmakers" (i.e. no more radio DJ's).

Leonard Cohen announced today that he will embark on his first tour in 15 years beginning in May. This comes on the heels of his induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, which will occur on March 10th. Since Cohen is preparing for an extensive tour, it would seem likely that he will perform some songs during the induction ceremony.

The current issue of Rolling Stone has the reaction from the 2008 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame class about their induction:

• Madonna: "I was fortunate to have inducted my idol, David Bowie, so to be included alongside him is an honor."
• John Mellencamp: "I don't really need verification, but this certainly does do that. After thirty-three years, it's nice."
• Leonard Cohen: No comment.
• The Dave Clark Five [Dave Clark]: "It would have been nice to have gotten in around the time the Beatles did, but it's wonderful now."
• The Ventures [Don Wilson]: "It's a long time coming. For years it's bothered me that we haven't gotten in. I hate the word 'posthumously.'"

The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Foundation hasn't yet announced who will be the presenters at this year's awards ceremony, and word probably won't come down until a week before the March 10th show. Will Bowie get to return the favor for Madonna? The Lovin' Spoonful for Mellencamp? The O'Jays for Gamble and Huff? Any predictions? Leave them in the comments.

It was reported this week that Britain may be getting a Rock and Roll Hall of Fame of its own, housed at the O2 arena (aka the Millennium Dome) as a part of a larger pop music exhibit.

Dubbed “Popworld”, the new exhibition will combine state-of-the-art technology and rare memorabilia from the likes of David Bowie and Arctic Monkeys to trace the evolution of popular music from the end of the second world war to the present day.

Visitors will be able to download classic tracks such as John Lennon’s Imagine on to their iPods or mobile phones as they tour the site and even record their own songs in a mini-studio.

The attraction could also include the country’s first permanent Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, to which new artists will be inducted each year.

Instead of having their names or handprints etched into the wall or floor, as with the Hollywood Walk of Fame, legends such as the Who and Led Zeppelin may be brought to life at the touch of a button through the use of holograms.

Do you hear that Cleveland? They're going to have holograms!

It is unclear whether the UK Rock Hall intends to honor British artists exclusively or if it will be similar to the US version, which is multi-national. It also doesn't seem to be affiliated with the UK Music Hall of Fame (although that wouldn't be such a bad idea), which actually may already be defunct after a short three year run of inductions that ended in 2006.

Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Nominating Committee member Joe Levy has left his position as executive editor of Rolling Stone to become editor-in-chief of Blender.

Whether or not Levy remains on the Rock Hall Nominating Committee after leaving Jann Wenner's nest remains to be seen.

Fox News entertainment/gossip columnist, Roger Friedman has been one of the biggest thorns in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame's side. Here is his recent take on the 2008 Inductees:

The Dave Clark Five finally made it into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Thursday morning, one year after their real induction was stolen from them. Other inductees are Madonna, Leonard Cohen, the Ventures and, at long last, John Mellencamp. The latter nominee has been pushed and pushed by Jann Wenner year after year. It’s probably best just to get it over with.

Passed over were ridiculous nominees such as Donna Summer and Afrika Bambaattaa.

Madonna, who has nothing to do with rock, got in, however. For VH-1, which produces the show for TV, she’s the only drawing card on that bill. I’m sure the channel is already making desperate calls to Justin Timberlake and Amy Winehouse to see if they can sing (or if they know) a Cohen song.

To offset the usual lack of R&B inductees (meaning no black people), the Hall is giving a special award to Kenny Gamble and Leon Huff of Philadelphia International Records for not paying royalties to their artists for many years. Check out rulings against them concerning the O’Jays (http://www.paed.uscourts.gov/documents/opinions/05D1141P.pdf) and Billy Paul, all of whom have been reported previously. Maybe previous inductees the O’Jays will perform "For the Love of Money."

But Gamble & Huff have been coming to the dinner for years and paying for their tickets, so their time has come. Still not in, and never will be: Billy Preston, Chubby Checker, Hall & Oates, Chicago, The Moody Blues, Todd Rundgren, Mary Wells, a dozen or so DJs who made rock 'n' roll history, Linda Ronstadt, Carly Simon, Bad Company and so on and so forth…

Gamble & Huff are being inducted this year as "Non-Performers," a category where the 600+ member Voting Committee has no say in the selection. It's unclear who chooses the recipients in the Early Influence, Non-Performer, Sideman, and Lifetime Achievement categories. If anyone has any information on this, let us know.