Legends rock their way into the Hall of Fame
The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame returned to its spiritual and literal home Saturday with the induction of the hall’s 30th class: Ringo Starr, Bill Withers, Joan Jett, Stevie Ray Vaughan, Paul Butterfield Blues Band, Green Day, Lou Reed and the “5” Royales. USA TODAY’s Jerry Shriver captured the scene.
They love rock ’n’ roll: Joan Jett and her Blackhearts opened the show at a sold-out Public Hall by tearing through early hits Bad Reputation and
Cherry Bomb (the latter aided by Foo Fighters’ Dave Grohl and original bass player Gary Ryan). She then introduced friend Tommy James to sing psychedelic pop hit Crimson and Clover, a 1968 hit for him that became a 1982 hit for her. Grohl and Miley Cyrus (who would later induct the group) joined in on vocals.
Great Green Day: During his group’s induction speech, Green Day’s Billie Joe Armstrong cited his influences — Elvis, The Who, the Rolling Stones, Kool & the Gang, Def Leppard — adding, “I feel like my record collection is sitting here in this room.” The group showered the collected stars and fans with furiously paced versions of American Idiot,
When I Come Around and Basket Case. Armstrong ’s voice was especially clear and strong and bratty on the latter.
Wither Withers? Speculation was rampant on whether Bill Withers, who hasn’t recorded since the mid-’80s and who has rarely performed in the past 20 years, would sing. The question was answered — partially — after Stevie Wonder’s dignified induction speech. Withers led Wonder to a harpejji and sat next to him silently during a moody and powerful Ain’t No Sunshine. A band filed onstage led by John Legend, whose Use Me was properly dark and funky, and punctuated by jabbing horns. For set closer Lean on Me, Legend took the first verse, Wonder the second, and Legend led Withers to the stage to sing a chorus along with the group.
It didn’t come easy: Ringo Starr was the last of The Beatles to be inducted for his solo work, even though he scored sev- eral of the first post-Beatles solo hits. In the building where the group played in 1964, Paul McCartney presented him, saying, “It’s a great honor to induce him, uh, induct him.” Ringo climbed behind a drum kit and launched into Boys, backed by Green Day, then joined an all-star group for the closing jam. The big finale: Starr’s brother-in-law Joe Walsh kicked off It
Don’t Come Easy, with Ringo adding jaunty vocals and flashing a peace sign, and Starr summoned Sir Paul to join him for With a Little Help From My Friends. But they were the frosting, as most of the night’s inductees and performers also joined in a lusty rendition of the Beatles classic. The supergroup brought down the auditorium with I Wanna Be
Your Man as Wonder, McCartney, Armstrong, Legend, Grohl, Walsh, Cyrus, John Mayer, Peter Wolf, Tom Morello, Zac Brown and anyone else who could carry a tune or a guitar drove it home. Starr’s ocean-wide grin said it all. The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction ceremony airs May 30 (8 ET/PT) on HBO.