At the 23rd annual Rock & Roll Hall of Fame induction ceremony at the Waldorf-Astoria in NYC on Monday, there were big stars (Madonna, Tom Hanks, Billy Joel), maximum-credibility artists (Iggy Pop, Kenny Gamble and Leon Huff, Leonard Cohen), and by our count, three under-50 singers (Ben Harper, Damian Rice, and 49-and-a-half-year-old Joan Jett). So there was, you know, variety. But it may have been a mistake to broadcast, midway through the ceremony, footage of a jam session from 1988’s festivities. Performing "Satisfaction"? Jagger, Richards, Dylan, and Springsteen, as well as Ben E. King, Mary Wilson, John Fogerty, some non-Wilson Beach Boys, and a keytar! Nothing approached that kind of fantasy-camp lineup on Monday. Instead, we got Justin Timberlake, smirking and cracking innuendos like he was a Friar (his cheerleading testimonial seemed ready to burst into "San Dimas High School football rules!" at any moment); Lou Reed comparing a Leonard Cohen novel to Naked Lunch; a Tom Hanks speech so impassioned that he momentarily convinced the audience that the Dave Clark Five was the greatest band of the British Invasion; and, best of all, Iggy and the Stooges turning singles by fellow Detroiter Madonna ("Burning Up" — see embedded video below — and "Ray of Light") into no-wave anthems. ("The Stooges represent everything that’s against what she is," guitarist Ron Asheton told the Detroit Free Press on Monday, but bassist Mike Watt was seen bowing to Ms. Ciccone after the performance.)
Other notable moments, after the jump:
Philly soul-is-newsworthy quip: "There’s a little ‘Me and Mrs. Jones’ going on right here in New York today," Kenny Gamble, presumably referring to Governor Spitzer’s slow-jams jam.
Most disarming remembering of the little people:
Madonna thanked her ballet teacher, Christopher Flynn, and her old boyfriend, Dan Gilroy, with whom she played in the Breakfast Club. (And then on to managers, publicists, and label heads, but still…)
Looking even more uncomfortable than Madonna during Iggy Pop’s performance: Former CBS head Clive Davis, who probably thought he’d seen the last of Iggy after the Stooges were dropped from the label in 1972. (Leon Huff, on the other hand, was one of relatively few to offer the Stooges a standing ovation.)
Best Randy Newman impression: Billy Joel, who then squandered whatever goodwill this earned by (jokingly?) remarking that Farm Aid would be helpful to him and "all the real estate I’ve been buying"
Most cringe-inducing adlib: "My wife was 13 years old when I wrote this song," — John Mellencamp, unwisely deciding to add lyrics to "Small Town"
Clearest sign that the record industry isn’t getting smarter: After John Fogerty noted that while the Ventures "made over 250 records, today I’d be glad to sell 250," Joel congratulated Mellencamp that "the record industry died before you did!" So what was the bulkiest item in the gift bag from the organizers? A 30-pack of blank CDs.
Comments (1-30) of 41 Add your comment
How did we go from the greats performing, to actually inviting Justin Timberlake? I may be the minority, but I cannot stand his smug, pretentious vibe. Sexy? Nah, you never brought it back.
Wow, I would have loved to have seen Mick, Dylan and The Boss perform together in 88!
How could you not mention John Mellencamp’s threat to have his young boxer son show up in New York and beat up the music industry executives that he didn’t like? That was pretty funny…
Madonna rules.
Nothing about the memorable lines of Leonard Cohen or the performance of ‘Hallelujah’ by Rice? I know Madonna is the big “star” but really, Cohen and Rice are actually brilliant musicians, which is what the hall of fame should be about.
Watt has been a Madonna fan for ages: he recorded his own cover of “Burnin’ Up” twenty-some years ago—with Greg Ginn from Black Flag on lead guitar, no less!—on the original Ciccone Youth split single.
Well Cliff, I think that Madonna sucks. Furthermore, even if she didn’t, she doesn’t belong in the ‘Rock & Roll’ Hall of Fame anymore than Glenn Miller or Mozart does. They might as well call it the ‘Pop Music Hall of Fame’
So, will we get a great class for the 2009 Induction Ceremony FINALLY IN CLEVELAND or will it be lame class? Forgive me if I don’t hold my breath on this one.
I have two burning questions!
First, how the hell does MADONNA qualify for the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame??? The last time I listened to my local rock station, I don’t recall hearing Madonna after The Rolling Stones and Pink Floyd!
Second, why has the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame chosen to completely ignore progressive rock bands??? You can’t celebrate legends of rock without honoring bands like YES, EMERSON, LAKE & PALMER and KING CRIMSON!
Meanwhile – Madonna, Britney, Christina…you gals keep on rockin’ (NOT!)!
Come on, for the last time, it’s the Rock and Rll Hall of Fame in name only. Why is it so wrong that Madge made it in? Simon and Garfunkel, Gladys Knight and the Pips, Earth Wind and Fire, James Taylor; you won’t be hearing any of these people on your local ‘rock’ station either, yet they’re in the Hall too.
By the way Sean; I too cringed when John Mellencamp mentioned that his wife was 13 when he first wrote Small Town. I wish Billy Joel would have teased him about the infamous ‘Suckin’ on a Chili Dog/Outside the Taste Freeze line from Jack and Diane. Shakespeare is STILL rolling in his grave, and it’s been over 25 years, lol.
Who cares about Iggy Pop’s lame performance??? Maybe they should’ve included shirts in the goody bags… embed Tom Hanks’ DC5 induction speech instead – far more entertaining – I was literally on my feet clapping when I watched it!
Tom Hanks kicked a-ss. Mike Smith would have been very proud. Had it not been for The DC5 groups like Louis XVI would not exist today.
Iggy was not bad. I think that Madonna kind of knew that she was not rcok so she asked a kick butt rocker to sing for her. PLUS I give her props for mentioning the guys she stayed with when she lived in Queens. If you know your music history, those two brothers formed “The Breakfast Club”. They had a one hit wonder with the song “Right On Track”.
Madonna rules indeed. She is Queen of the universe and Cultural Visionary.
Where was Guy Richie, Madges husband? He wasn’t at her post Oscar party either? Is there trouble in paradise? On a musical note, I have never been a fan of Madonna. I remember her “Like a Virgin” video on MTV, when it still showed videos. She’s definitely an innovator, but I still don’t think she sings that well. I agree with Billy Joel that the record industry is dead!
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