METALLICA is among the nine nominees for the 2009 class of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, with the five final inductees set to be announced this month. The Pulse of Radio asked frontman James Hetfield if the band has given any thought to who should induct them at the ceremony if they make the cut. "It's tough," he said. "We haven't really, you know, hit the ultimate person who we'd like to have do it. It's like you want someone who actually you've inspired, and you want someone who's charismatic, who can tell their story, but also you kind of want someone that people actually know who they are. You know, I was thinking, 'Well, why don't we just get, like, the uber-fan, you know, go up there and induct us, you know. How cool would that be?'So we're still going back and forth with all of that."

METALLICA themselves inducted BLACK SABBATH into the Hall in 2006 and performed a medley of classic SABBATH tunes at the ceremony (see video below).

The shortlist of 2009 nominees also includes JEFF BECK, RUN-DMC, THE STOOGES featuring Iggy Pop, CHIC, WANDA JACKSON, WAR, LITTLE ANTHONY AND THE IMPERIALS and BOBBY WOMACK.

Nominees are eligible on the 25th anniversary of their debut release under their official name. METALLICA's debut album, "Kill 'Em All", came out in 1983.

This year's ceremony is set for April 4 at Cleveland's Public Hall, with tickets made available to the public.