As someone who has been attending Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductions for over three decades now, I can confidently say that this year’s event was nothing short of exceptional. The energy in the room was electrifying, and the performances were nothing less than extraordinary.
At the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame ceremony, Cher admitted that she previously stated she didn’t care if she got inducted. However, with her role as a pop superstar (pictured above performing “Believe” with Dua Lipa) on Saturday night, it was clear that she was nothing but overjoyed for the event. And who else would have felt anything short of gratefulness for such an occasion?
Each Rock & Roll Hall of Fame induction ceremony carries its unique atmosphere, and during the 2024 event, a prolonged five-and-a-half hour concert at Cleveland’s packed Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse, appreciation was the dominant sentiment shared by presenters, musicians, and inductees.
Apart from a single instance where it wasn’t Cher, there was minimal backstage conflicts or theatrics leading up to, or during, the ceremony, with the focus primarily on the artists and their music. The invited guests and collaborators were harmonious in their pairings, and the presenters – such as actress Julia Roberts (representing Dave Matthews Band), actor-comedian Jack Black (accompanying Ozzy Osbourne), comedian Dave Chappelle (with A Tribe Called Quest), and musicians Chuck D (joining Kool & the Gang), Sammy Hagar (from Foreigner) and Roger Daltrey (associated with Peter Frampton) – all delivered heartfelt, humorous, and passionate speeches.
Despite a generally upbeat atmosphere, Foreigner drummer Dennis Elliott opted not to attend the ceremony beforehand. However, during the band’s induction speech, there was no trace of negativity and Elliott was fondly remembered, as was founding member Mick Jones. Unfortunately, due to health issues, Jones couldn’t make it, but his daughter Annabelle Dexter-Jones stepped in to share a few words on his behalf, mentioning that he was tuning in from home.
At the start of the evening, Cher kicked off the show with a lively vibe, first teaming up with Dua Lipa for “Believe” and later delivering an emphatic solo act of “If I Could Turn Back Time.” Her speech during acceptance was sincere and open, focusing on themes of empowerment and resilience instead of her previously complex emotions regarding the Rock Hall induction. Behind the scenes, she expanded further on her past sentiments, sharing her transformation in perspective.
She affirmed that she didn’t care about getting admitted, then went on to talk about her complex feelings towards induction over time. “I wondered, ‘What on earth do I have to accomplish to join this group?’ It seemed absurd — what are the requirements for belonging? So, I took pride in saying, ‘I don’t want to be a part of it,’ and ‘Please, don’t admit me even after my death.’
Her decision was influenced by several factors. Firstly, the composition of the rest of her class softened her heart, as she respected and admired many of its members. Secondly, a motivational talk from her former boyfriend David Geffen played a significant role. He encouraged her warmly, telling her that this opportunity was great for her and she deserved it. This boosted her confidence, and she felt content with her decision to join, as she wouldn’t have done so if she didn’t genuinely feel happy about it.
Mac McAnally, a member of Coral Reefer Band, who collaborated with Kenny Chesney and James Taylor on a touching rendition of Jimmy Buffett’s “Come Monday”, shared insights about Buffett’s feelings towards his Rock Hall induction. “We had discussions regarding this,” McAnally mentioned backstage, “and it was something he aspired for. He had an unusual attitude towards awards, so it’s ideal that he departed from the world and then received this recognition posthumously, as he never wanted to feel his journey with music was over. He wished to keep creating tunes till the end and then be honored for it. Fortunately, that’s exactly how it unfolded, making it a perfect fit.
McAnally mentioned that he had a guitar belonging to Buffett on stage during the show, stating, “He was with us tonight.” He further expressed, “I believe he’s here too; he’s certainly enjoying this. Jimmy Buffett lived his life to the fullest, and if that isn’t the essence of rock ‘n’ roll, I can’t think of anything else that is.
Upon being inducted, Dionne Warwick responded honestly, saying “You really want the truth? Well, I wondered ‘Why?'” during a brief interview backstage. She clarified that she doesn’t see herself as a rock ‘n’ roll artist and believes her induction is based on her music, not her image. Her feelings are incredibly elated knowing her music was deemed worthy of recognition. It gives her a great sense of satisfaction.
Dionne Warwick, famously known for “Walk On By,” had nothing but praise for Teyana Taylor who inducted her and will play her in an upcoming biopic. Warwick described Taylor as a triple threat – singing, dancing, and acting. She added that Taylor has done extensive research on her life and knows more about her than she does herself. Warwick believes Taylor is perfect for the role.
Behind the scenes, various presenters took advantage of their opportunity to champion lesser-known artists who have been overlooked for induction. Tom Morello, delivering an impassioned speech as he inducted MC5, repeated a frequent assertion – that Iron Maiden deserves recognition in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. (Considering Morello is part of the 2024 nominating committee, his voice carries some weight in getting them on the ballot.)
Method Man, the rapper, was thrilled to induct Mary J. Blige alongside Dr. Dre and advocated for the recognition of new wave icons Adam Ant and Billy Idol during the induction ceremony. He shared, “I got to meet Billy Idol, man,” reminiscing about one of his memorable experiences in Cleveland. “I sang ‘White Wedding’ to him,” he continued, “and he had no idea who I was! Every moment of it was fantastic.” He expressed that he hadn’t known how much he needed Billy Idol in his life. “Even now, he looks incredible! I mean, isn’t he like a century old? This guy looks incredible!
Method Man disclosed that Blige asked him to be the one to induct her. “She personally reached out to me to be here with her tonight,” he stated. “After all, it’s heartening to witness someone endure hardships and misunderstandings throughout most of their career. Being placed in unsuitable situations or being underestimated, yet continuing to flourish shows great humility. To see her standing tall and receiving her recognition is significant. I admire her; I am always cheering for her.
That mix of humor and admiration permeated the night’s speeches. Both the Who’s Roger Daltrey and Peter Frampton traded off hilarious stories about their respective careers as Daltrey inducted the guitar legend. Dave Chappelle quipped, “Thank you for those brief comments,” after a notably elongated acceptance speech from A Tribe Called Quest’s Q-Tip, while Phife Dawg’s father also rattled off a few charming dad jokes that drew big laughs when he had the podium. “Cher — I got you babe,” he said, and then added, “I’m headed to San Jose but I don’t have GPS, so Ms. Warwick, I need your help.”
At the time Kool & the Gang received their award, James “JT” Taylor became emotional as he spoke about his deceased mother and quoted advice from his grandmother: “Mentioning someone’s name with respect brings their spirit close to you.” He requested that the audience rise and display their mobile phones while he named those who contributed to Kool & the Gang’s success, creating a touching moment. Accompanied by The Roots as the backing band, Kool & the Gang delivered one of the night’s most impressive performances, with Taylor performing alongside co-founder Robert “Kool” Bell, who hails from Youngstown.
The Roots added a touch of brilliance to Cher’s performance, while their exceptional tribute set honoring A Tribe Called Quest was a standout. This special event included heavyweights like Queen Latifah, De La Soul, Busta Rhymes, Black Thought, and Common. As we’ve seen in recent years, hip-hop performances at Rock Hall inductions are consistently among the most memorable moments of the night. Moreover, Peter Frampton and Keith Urban collaborated on a rendition of “Do You Feel Like I Do,” which was instantly iconic when, to everyone’s joy, Frampton introduced the talkbox.
Frampton was humble backstage talking about finally being inducted. “I was overwhelmed when I heard that I’d been nominated,” he said. “And then when I realized that I got inducted, it was almost [like] I didn’t know how to deal with it because I didn’t expect this after so long. I kind of like crossed that off my list, because it hadn’t happened when I thought maybe it would have happened. … Basically I got very, very excited — and it scared me in a way because I knew I had to do this.” He laughed. “But it’s so enjoyable and I thank everybody.”
Ozzy Osbourne gracefully accepted his solo artist induction while seated on a fittingly rock n’ roll chair. A procession of music legends then performed a series of songs from his catalog, with particular emphasis on Maynard James Keenan and Wolfgang Van Halen delivering an electrifying rendition of “Crazy Train,” and Billy Idol and Steve Stevens providing a powerful performance of “No More Tears.
The Foreigner show was both energetic and emotional, featuring performances. Slash from Guns N’ Roses played the guitar, while Chad Smith from Red Hot Chili Peppers handled the drums. Demi Lovato belted out “Feels Like the First Time,” followed by Sammy Hagar’s performance of “Hot Blooded.” Later, there was a beautiful duet between Kelly Clarkson and Lou Gramm on “I Want to Know What Love Is.
In 2003, Gram departed the band, but he was still greeted with numerous standing ovations from the audience as he powerfully sang the tune, confirming his reputation as one of rock ‘n’ roll’s top vocalists. On the other hand, Clarkson demonstrated yet again why she’s a remarkable performer, belting out the song forcefully when required and harmonizing beautifully with Gram’s more subtle vocals in other parts.
As a movie critic, I must confess that the sound mix at this event left me somewhat unsatisfied. During the award acceptance speeches, particularly from the inimitable Warwick, her microphone seemed to be set too low, making it challenging to fully appreciate her heartfelt words.
However, by the conclusion of the night, marked by an impressive performance of Dave Matthews Band originals that had the crowd ecstatic each time Dave’s name was uttered, and a fitting cover of Talking Heads’ “Burning Down the House” to bring the show to a close, any minor complaints were overshadowed in what turned out to be one of the most seamless and impressive Rock Hall inductions in recent years.
You can watch the 2024 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony live on Disney+, or catch a special highlight reel of performances and memorable moments on ABC on January 1st at 8:00 PM Eastern/Pacific Time.
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2024-10-21 00:19