2012 Rock and Roll Hall OF Fame Induction Ceremony

As I walk the four blocks from the parking garage to Public Auditorium in Cleveland for the 2012 Rock and Roll Hall OF Fame Induction Ceremony I can feel an electricity in the air.  People are mulling around hoping to catch a glimpse of someone famous.  As I arrive at the front entrance there is a red carpet laid out for the rich and famous that is surrounded by fans and paparazzi.  This is not an every night event like it is in New York, this is a special night in Cleveland.  The floor of the auditorium is for the hoi ploi of society, the record executives, recording artists, politicians and movie stars.  The music fans sit in the balcony that wraps completely around the top of the auditorium. 

Little did anyone know as the show began that this night would turn into a marathon of music and speeches.  The show started at 8:00 PM Saturday and finished around 1:30 AM Sunday.  The curtain is pulled back and right off the bat the audience is punched in the face by Green Day playing their expletive filled song "Letter Bomb".  I'm no prude but I think "F" bombs should flow naturally and not feel so forced.

Of course there are a few opening speeches.  During the speeches the blue collar fans boo the mention of Governor  Kasich.  Jan Wenner also gets booed.  Mr. Wenner has expressed in the past how he feels Cleveland isn't deserving of the Rock Hall or the Induction Ceremonies.  Mr Wiener as I like to call him feels that only New York should host the Ceremonies because there is nothing to do in Cleveland.  Jan join Axl and stay at home we don't want you in Cleveland.

Dusty Hill and Billy Gibbons induct Freddie King into the Rock Hall.  They give a very nice speech and tell how they used to play with and warm up for Freddie King.  Dusty, Billy, Derek Trucks and Joe Bonamassa take the stage together and do an instrumental jam of Freddie King's "Hide Away" before launching into "Going Down".  Joe and Billy trade off vocals while all three guitarists trade off leads.  Of course Dusty keeps the the back rhythm flowing.  This is one of the highlights of the evening for me.

John Mellencamp inducts Donovan.  I guess there is another Donovan out and about because John actually called Donovan by his full name Donovan Leitch.  Growing up my whole life I knew there is only one Donovan, no last name needed.  Donovan gave a funny acceptance speech and recited a poem that he had composed for his inauguration.  Donovan on acoustic guitar with Will Lee on upright Bass perform "Catch The Wind".  Donovan then goes electric for "Sunshine Superman" and "Season of the Witch" sharing vocals with John Mellencamp.

Bette Midler gives a heartfelt induction speech for Laura Nyro.  Laura's son accepts the award and also gives a very loving acceptance speech.  Sara Barielles performed Laura Nyro's "Stoney End".  Sara not only had the dark hair and skin that reminded you of Laura but she had the range in her voice that made you think that Laura had come back to life.  I gave it a WOW moment.  I was hoping to hear Bette sing but that didn't happen.

Carol King the close friend of Don Kirshner welcomed him into the Hall of Fame.  Carol made us feel like we knew Mr. Kirshner a little better by the time she was through.  If you grew up in the 70's you knew Don Kirshner was a GREAT man that brought music into our homes with his Rock Concert series.  Darlene Love performed a very lovely rendition of Carol King's "Will You Love Me Tomorrow".

During a video montage of all of the music people who passed away this year Ledisi sang the Etta James hit "At Last".  Many in the crowd along with me were asking "who is she"?  Who she is is a Jazz singer with a beautiful voice.  Stevie Van Zandt even screwed up her name when he announced Ledisi. 

Little Steven inducted the Small Faces/Faces into the Rock Hall.  The mates gave a quirky speech and then got to playing some music.  Rod Stewart was sick and could not attend gala under doctors orders.  I thought of the Jeff Beck quote "I hate lead singers" at this time.  Mick Hucknall from Simply Red sat in on vocals and did a splendid job.  The band seemed to be having a great time as they ripped through "All Or Nothing", "Ooh La La" and "Stay With Me".

Smokey Robinson explained how even though there are lead singers such as James Brown, Buddy Holly, Gene Vincent, Hank Ballard and Smokey himself, they would be nothing without the rest of the band.  Finally after being overlooked for years the Rock Hall got it right and granted entrance into the Hall of Fame for the back up groups of the Blue Caps, The Comets, The Crickets, The Famous Flames, The Midnighters and the Miracles. 

Can I take a time out here and have a little rant.  Let me just say RAP AIN'T ROCK.  If Jan Wenner wants The Beastie Boys, Grand Master Flash and Run DMC in a museum then let him open, in New York City, a Hip Hop Hall Of Fame.  The long winded Heavy D did not use the term Rock and Roll once in his Beastie Boy's induction speech and neither did LL Cool J.  They call their form of art Hip Hop or Rap not Rock and Roll.  There are allot of bands who actually play Rock and Roll that are not in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame that deserve to be there before anymore Rap stars get in.  Rush, Yes, The Nice, King Crimson, Joe Walsh as a solo artist, J Geils, T Rex and Todd Rundgren just to name a few.  Hell Nashville wouldn't recognize Willie Nelson and Waylon Jennings because they weren't country enough. They were closer to their gendra of music then Rap is to Rock.  Rap or Hip Hop is a whole separate classification of music.  Lets not water down the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame by claiming Rap and Hip Hop belong here. 

LL Cool J and Chuck D inducted the Beastie Boys in a long winded speech.  The Roots, Kid Rock and Travie McCoy with Quest Love on drums rapped out a medley of Beastie Boys hits.  There was a certain "Idiot Element" that was present in the audience that could have cared less about the Rock and Rollers who were being inducted.  They talked loudly, texted, stood up at inappropriate times blocking everyone elses view who was sitting behind them and were generally rude.  Now they were jumping up and down and swinging there fists wildly in the air.  I guess this is what they were here for.

Green Day inducted Guns and Roses into the Hall of Fame.  Billie Joe Armstrong introduced the dysfunctional Guns and Roses minus Axl Rose.  Steven Adler the original drummer seemed ecstatic to be on stage.  I felt happy for him.  Matt Sorum the new drummer made the comment about Steven that Steven deserved an award for being kicked out of Guns and Roses for doing drugs.  That is quite an accomplishment.  GNR with Matt on drums and Billie Joe dancing around the stage and Myles Kennedy from Slash's band on vocals performed "Mr. Brownstone".  Steven Adler gets behind the drum kit for "Sweet Child O Mine" and "Paradise City".

Robbie Robertson who inducted three Recording Engineers into the Hall Of Fame first gave a shout out to Levon Helm.  Maybe because of the bad blood between Axl and his band, made Robbie a little introspective?  The three engineers were Cosimo Matassa, Glyn Johns and Tom Dowd.  Cosimo Matassa's grandson accepted the award with Cosimo proudly watching from a wheelchair.  Tom Dowd's daughter also did a fine job of accepting posthumously Tom's award.  Glyn Johns accepted his own award.

Chris Rock comes out and entertains the crowd while inducting The Red Hot Chili Peppers.  The Chili Peppers Perform "By The Way", "The Adventures Of Rain And Dance Maggie" and "Give It Away".  They had Irons and Martinez on Drums.

The Encore is all of the Chili Peppers plus Ron Wood, Slash, Billie Joe Armstrong on guitars, Kenny Jones from the Faces on drums and Tre Cool and George Clinton on comic relief.  They perform a very bad rendition of Stevie Wonder's "Higher Ground". 

The Marathon is over but I must say over all a great show.  I must commend the sound engineers.  The sound in the large hall was impeccable.  I can't wait for three more years to pass for the reverie and pomp to return to Cleveland.  Rock on.