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U2, O'Jays, the Pretenders Inducted Into Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame
03/15/2005 2:00 PM, Yahoo! Music
LAUNCH Radio Networks
On Monday (March 14) at the Waldorf Astoria Hotel in New York City, the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame held its twentieth annual induction ceremony. The Class Of 2005 featured U2, the Pretenders, Buddy Guy, the O'Jays, and Percy Sledge, as well as touring business architect Frank Barsalona and Sire Records head Seymour Stein as non-performers. An edited version of the ceremony will air on VH1 on Saturday (March 19) at 9 p.m. ET.
There was also a surprise. To mark the twentieth anniversary of the induction ceremonies, a special film package containing highlights from over the years was assembled, then Eric Clapton and Robbie Robertson joined Bo Diddley on his signature song "Bo Diddley" and Jerry Lee Lewis on "Whole Lotta Shakin' Goin' On."
Bruce Springsteen repaid an old debt when he inducted U2, since Bono had done the honors for him a few years ago. Springsteen joked about how Bono is seemingly everywhere and doing everything. "Bono! Where do I begin?" Springsteen said. "Jeans designer! Soon-to-be World Bank operator! Just plain operator! Seller of the Brooklyn Bridge! Oh no, he played under the Brooklyn Bridge. Soon-to-be mastermind of the BonoBurger franchise, where more than one billion stories will be told by a crazy Irishman."
Guitarist The Edge said that rock-and-roll is a great and magical thing: "The reason we're all here tonight is that in spite of all the cliches, which do exist, rock and roll, when it is great it is amazing. It changes your life, it changed our lives. Witness for instance tonight the O'Jays, Percy Sledge, Bo Diddley, Eric Clapton, Buddy Guy, B.B. King, the Pretenders... I mean, amazing, really magic stuff."
U2 then did four songs--"Until The End Of The World," which saw Bono walking through the audience and spraying them and his bandmates with champagne; "Pride (In The Name Of Love)," which Bono closed with a bit of Springsteen's "Promised Land"; Bono then called Springsteen out, and they shared vocals on "I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For"; and they closed their set (and the evening) with "Vertigo."
Neil Young inducted the Pretenders. He said: "This is one of the greatest rock-and-roll bands that ever lived. They went through all of the heartache that rock-and-roll is built on. They lost two key members, and they never gave up. They kept going, and they, nothing would stop them. And, and Chrissie is, she's a rock-and-roll woman, she's got it in her heart. She's gonna be rockin' 'til she drops, and I love her."
On accepting her trophy, Chrissie Hynde said the award was really for original members James Honeyman-Scott and Pete Farndon, both of whom are dead: "I know the Pretenders have looked like a tribute band for the last 20 years, and actually they are a tribute, tribute band. And, and we're paying tribute tonight to James Honeyman-Scott and Pete Farndon, without whom we wouldn't be here."
After a rough start, during which drummer Martin Chambers couldn't seem to get ready, the Pretenders played three songs--"Message Of Love," "My City Was Gone" with Neil Young on guitar, and "Precious."
Eric Clapton and B.B. King inducted their old friend Buddy Guy. Clapton said he was glad to pay tribute to someone who means so much to him: "It's a great honor and a privilege to be able to induct this distinguished gentleman into the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame. A man who means so much to me personally, and who as a musician has given so much to us all. It also provides me with a perfect opportunity to say 'Thank You' for all the inspiration he's given me over the years, his style of playing and singing, and his love and concern for the welfare of the blues has been a great example for me and countless others who have the good fortune to share this road."
Clapton and King then joined Guy for a version of Willie Dixon's "Let Me Love You Baby."
Rod Stewart gave a brief but very colorful induction speech for Percy Sledge: "I can't imagine what I could say to tell you anything more about the brilliant Percy Sledge other than what you've just seen. 'When A Man Loves A Woman' is one of the best performances I've ever heard and I'm sure you've ever heard. And he sings that song with great gusto. Is anything possible when that man sings? It certainly is. I'm honored and humbled to have the great pleasure to induct the amazing Percy Sledge into the Rock And Roll Hall Of Flame -- 'Flame?' What the f--k am I talking about? Percy, come up here, mate! He's wearin' a great suit, Percy Sledge!"
Sledge told a story about growing up in Alabama: "You know, little guy, born in a little town, called Leighton, Alabama, way back in the year 1940, 10 years old, singin' my songs in the fields, pickin' and choppin' cotton. And my bossman tells me one day, he said 'Perce,' he said, 'that voice that you're using now, coming out of your throat, the whole is gonna hear one day.'"
Sledge then sang his classic hit, "When A Man Loves A Woman."
The O'Jays were inducted by pop star Justin Timberlake. Lead singer Eddie Levert thanked two of the architects of the O'Jays sound, then expressed his gratitude at being in the Rock Hall: "I want to thank Mr. Gamble and Mr. Huff. I also want to thank all the people that have been put in here before we got in. To even be in the same breath with people like B.B. King, with people like U2, the Beatles. You know, this is a great honor, and hey, look -- you're with the best, hey, now I'm one of 'em! Thank you very much!"
The O'Jays performed a medley of three of their biggest hits -- "Backstabbers," "For The Love Of Money," and "Love Train."
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