Two bands that have stretched the boundaries of classic rock since their 1984 debuts -- Bon Jovi and the Red Hot Chili Peppers -- square off in the first round of this month's 100 percent fan-voted Ultimate Classic Rock Hall of Fame competition.

Every month, our readers will decide which of eight legendary artists or bands will be honored for their contributions to the genre.

Sonically, this particular battle’s contestants are pretty far apart. Bon Jovi were among the leaders of the "hair metal" movement, adding keyboards and pop smarts to their Bruce Springsteen-inspired blue-collar tales to create anthems like 'You Give Love a Bad Name,' 'Livin' on a Prayer' and 'Wanted Dead or Alive.'

Instead of pop, the Red Hot Chili Peppers blended a heavy dose of funk into their brand of rock 'n' roll, aided immeasurably by the skill of their founding bass player Flea. After arriving on the national scene with a cover of Stevie Wonder's 'Higher Ground,' the group made a huge leap in both songwriting and commercial success with their surprisingly diverse 1991 masterpiece 'Blood Sugar Sex Magik,' and continue to explore a more sophisticated blend of introspective alt-rock to this day.

So who gets to move onto the finals -- Bon Jovi or the Red Hot Chili Peppers? It’s your call. You can vote once a day between now and Monday, Nov. 17, at 11:59PM ET. This month’s winner will be announced on Dec. 2. Be sure to read our official rules.