The 36th Annual Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony took place over the weekend on October 30th at Rocket Mortgage Fieldhouse in Cleveland, Ohio.
The ceremony honored this year’s Inductees: Tina Turner, Carole King, the Go-Go’s, Jay-Z, Foo Fighters, and Todd Rundgren in the Performer category.
There were two conspicuous no-shows at the event, with Todd Rundgren — a longtime critic of the Rock Hall — skipping the induction and choosing to play in nearby Cincinnatti instead while good friend Patti Smith inducted him. Bryan Adams, who was supposed to perform his 1984 duet with Tina Turner at the show, was forced to beg out after testing positive for covid. Country star Keith Urban sat in for the Canadian rocker and duetted with H.E.R. on the Private Dancer favorite.
Paul McCartney inducted Foo Fighters; actress Angela Bassett inducted Tina Turner — who accepted the award via film from Switzerland, with performances by Christina Aguilera, Mickey Guyton, H.E.R., and Keith Urban; Taylor Swift inducted Carole King, with performances by Swift and Jennifer Hudson; Ringo Starr filmed a salute the Beatles and Rolling Stones sideman Billy Preston; Drew Barrymore inducted the Go-Go’s; Dave Chappelle inducted Jay-Z, with filmed comments from President Barack Obama; LL Cool J was inducted by Dr. Dre and performed with Eminem and Jennifer Lopez, Common paid tribute to the late Gil Scott-Heron; Tom Morrello appeared on film to salute Randy Rhodes; Pharell inducted Kraftwork; and Lionel Richie did the honors for Clarence Avant. Brandi Carlile performed the Everly Brothers‘ “All I Have To Do Is Dream” during the filmed “In Memoriam” section.
According to sources, the proposed grand finale to the night was to be all the musicians performing the Rolling Stones‘ “Tumbling Dice” as a tribute to the late-Charlie Watts, but it was cut, according to some, due to time constraints.
KEY MOMENTS FROM THE SPEECHES. . .
Paul McCartney inducting Foo Fighters said “I fell into rock n’ roll, I joined a group. My group was the Beatles. Like I say, the world changed. Dave did a similar kind of thing. He joined a group, Nirvana. We had a great time with our groups, but eventually tragedy happened and my group broke up. Same happened with Dave. His group broke up under tragic circumstances. So the question is, ‘What do you do now?’ We both were presented with that question. In my case, I said, ‘Well, I’ll make an album where I play all the instruments myself.’ So I did that. Dave’s group broke up, what’s he do? He makes an album where he plays all the instruments himself. Do you think this guy’s stalking me?Anyway, so me, I’m gonna name my new group, and I call them Wings. So Dave’s got the same problem, and he’s got to think of a name for the group, so he comes up with ‘Foo Fighters.’ I was just saying to them in the dressing room, ‘Guys, this is it. You’re here in Cleveland, Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. And tonight, you’re gonna be inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame.’ I mean, it’s not just any Hall of Fame — it’s the f***ing Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.”
“I’d like to share this award with a couple bands that I’d like to see get in there someday too: I’d like to see George Michael in there one day. I’d like to see Jane’s Addiction in there; I’d really like that. I’d like to see Soundgarden in there; I’d really like that. So I’ll share this with you guys, but when you guys get it, you’ve got to give me back your bit. And thanks, everyone,” Taylor Hawkins of Foo Fighters said.
Dave Grohl of Foo Fighters said, “I also have to thank my beautiful family who without my beautiful family, I would not be as happy as I am, so I love you guys so much and thank you very much. And I have to thank these people, because we wouldn’t be here tonight if it weren’t for each one of these Foo Fighters. And, we did it.”
Tina Turner, “If they’re still giving me awards at 81, I must have done something right. I’m very happy to have this. As you can surely tell from my beaming smile: I am thrilled to now be officially inducted into the Rock Hall as a solo artist. What an honor! I am grateful to so many people who stood by me on my journey here — especially you, dear fans. Keep on rocking!”
“I was James (Taylor’s) piano player on a college tour when he said, ‘I want to turn the stage over to Carole King.’ And as you saw in the film, I’m thinking, ‘Please, don’t do this.’ But then he listed the songs that Gerry (Goffin) and I had written and said the fateful words: ‘Here’s Carole to perform ‘Up On The Roof.’ At this point, I am used to performing, and when, y’know, that fateful night when the audience began to sing along and I felt them with me — and here we are, 51 years later. . . I keep hearing it, so I guess I’m going to have to try to own it, that today’s female singers and songwriters stand on my shoulders. Let it not be forgotten that they also stand on the shoulders of the first woman to be inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. May she rest in power, Miss Aretha Franklin!” said Carole King.
2021 ROCK HALL INDUCTION PERFORMANCES
The Go-Go’s
“Vacation”
“Our Lips Are Sealed”
“We Got the Beat”
Carole King
“Will You Still Love Me Tomorrow?” – by Taylor Swift
“(You Make Me Feel Like A) Natural Woman” – by Jennifer Hudson
“You’ve Got A Friend – by Carole King
Charlie Patton
“High Water Everywhere” – by Guy Clark Jr.
LL Cool J
“Go Cut Creator Go”
“Going Back To Cali”
“Rock The Bells” – with Eminem
“I’m Bad”
“All I Have” – with Jennifer Lopez
“Mama Said Knock You Out”
Tina Turner
“What’s Love Got To Do With It” – by Mickey Guyton
“It’s Only Love” – by H.E.R. & Keith Urban
“River Deep Mountain High” – by Christina Aguilera
Foo Fighters
“Best Of You”
“My Hero”
“Everlong”
“Get Back” – with Paul McCartney
