The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction ceremony for 2012 was held in Cleveland last night (once every three years, otherwise in NYC). Two people were booed. One was Guns and Roses singer Axl Rose who had declined to be inducted but was anyway because the whole band was inducted, not any single member. Billie Joe Armstrong from Green Day was doing the induction speech and defended him, “Shut the fuck up, he was the best singer to ever hold a microphone. Singers are often misunderstood, I know... but he is crazy.’”. The other Boo-ee was when the Hall of Fame President was thanking the corporate and civic support that made the event possible and mentioned Governor Kasich. Steady and loud Boos rang out and quelled only when he emphatically said, “People you are not listening, I am thanking people for support of holding the event in Cleveland.”
You can watch an abbreviated version of the ceremony on HBO in May but that will focus on the performances and of necessity cut many of the speeches, induction and acceptance, that made the event last 5 ½ hours. But a number of acceptance speeches gave the back stories to the formation, life, and sometimes death of the bands as well as the deaths of some band members from an inductee group of musicians including some of the best rockers and some of the most famous hard drug users of the last few decades of rock. Opened by Green Day’s incendiary performance, Billie Joe exhorted the record executives and rock stars on the ground floor tables to “Stand the fuck up. This is Rock and Roll.” It took a while but even the tuxedoed and gowned group started to rock as the night and booze rolled on. The fans in the upper levels, mostly in jeans and Ts (Slogan, Tie-dye, and glitter) or regular shirts for the guys and a little more up-scale for the ladies, were rocking from minute #1.
Evidence that the Hall of Fame is evolving was the induction of members of the groups that made so many of the previous inductees look and sound good. Smokey Robinson had the induction speech and made the point that these were not back-up bands, but that the front singer and the musicians together were the bands, and in his case he was clearly happy that the Miracles were honored along with The Crickets (Buddy Holly), The Flames (James Brown), The Comets (Bill Haley) and others. They also honored, for the first time, Recording Engineers who are essential for the sometimes unique sounds of bands. They may be technicians to some but musicians and anybody who has taped bands in concert realize the magic, talent, and skill required to make recorded music sound like it does in person.
Probably the majority of the 5 & 1/2 hours was a combination of induction and acceptance speeches. You might think boring but the stories told were often priceless and often unknown to most people. For instance LL Cool J inducting The Beastie Boys said he would not be where he was if the Beastie Boys hadn’t played a tape of his performance in their NYU dorm room for Rick Rubin (who has worked with just about everyone since the 80s). Or GNRs second drummer (Sorum) who said he was asked to be their drummer because their first drummer (Adler) was doing too much drugs. He said his response was “In Guns and Roses, how the fuck is that possible?”
Bette Midler gave an impassioned induction speech for Lauro Nyro crediting some of the inspiration for her songs as response to the shape of NYC in the 70s and 80s. She said “NYC was worse than Cleveland ever was. You can’t imagine what a pit it was.” Interesting that The Beastie Boys gave the same props as being responsible for their music, particularly the numerous music styles they were exposed to in NYC.
The funniest induction of the night was a decidedly disheveled John Mellencamp inducting his friend Donavan Leitch. As John says he learned so much and copied so much from Donavan that while others may say they were inspired by their influences he was satisfied with saying he just “stole his shit”. Grinding his cigarette out on the stage, tossing his chewing gum to one side, and spitting, led my companion to say I hope he doesn’t have to piss. Donavan is still as ethereal as ever but the comparison between his blown up photos on stage back drop of a 17 YO lad to his current face just reminds us all of what life brings.
Anthony Kedis of Red Hot Chili Peppers still looks like he is 30 but really is 50. Chris Rock’s induction speech (with fewer F-Bombs than most of the night’s acceptance speeches) referred to the Pepper’s at least shirtless performances by recounting the first time he saw them was accidentally when he was in high school and got into the wrong night club. He had never seen any other white bands in person before and he wondered if maybe they all performed wearing only socks on their dicks. But that wouldn’t happen tonight because tonight they have black ties on their dicks.
Watch the HBO cut in May to see some burning music, a lot performed by the originals, the truly originals.