The 29th Annual Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductions

The 29th Annual Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction ceremony got off to a quiet start, as Peter Asher (Peter & Gordon, producer for Linda Ronstadt, James Taylor) gave stirring tributes to Andrew Loog Oldham, original manager of The Rolling Stones, and the late Brian Epstein, original manager of The Beatles.  Oldham boycotted, saying he is unhappy with the way the ceremonies have evolved over the years.  He got his start working in Epstein’s office, then stepped out on his own to jumpstart the Stones’ career.  Both bands eventually signed with American Allen Klein, and both bands eventually spent years in court suing Klein over his business practices.
Asher was followed by Coldplay’s Chris Martin, inducting Peter Gabriel.  The former lead singer of Genesis was inducted with that band in 2010 (and was a no-show that year).  Martin read from The Book of Genesis, substituting the names of Phil Collins and Gabriel, who played several hits, including “In Your Eyes.”  He gave a somber speech thanking the people he’s worked with over the years.
KISS were inducted by Rage Against the Machine guitarist Tom Morello, who recalled them as the headliners at his first concert, with the warning “Partial view of KISS” on the ticket.  Morello thought it was a philosophical preview, but it really just meant that his view of the band was obstructed.  Still, Morello says his life changed that night.  He told reporters that adding KISS (and 2013 inductees, Rush) to the Rock Hall gives it more legitimacy in the eyes of hard rock and metal fans.
KISS’s original lineup was inducted: Ace Frehley and Peter Criss (who both left in the early 1980s), plus frontmen Gene Simmons and Paul Stanley.  The latter two declined to play at the ceremony since the invitation was not extended to current members, Tommy Thayer and Eric Singer.  But the four founders gave loving tributes to eachother and other members of the band, past and present (such as Eric Carr, Bruce Kulick and Vinnie Vincent).  Except for a late 1990s reunion, the founding members have rarely played together.  Backstage, Frehley joked “give us a second… we only do this every 15 years.”
Next up was Cat Stevens, now known as Yusuf Islam after converting to Islam and abandoning pop music in the late 1970s.  His travel papers were held up until earlier this week, possibly because names similar to his have been on no-fly lists since 9/11.  Looking like a hip professor, he told the crowd to “keep the peace” after a rousing rendition of “Peace Train.”  Fellow inductee Art Garfunkel gave the speech introducing Stevens, saying “If Paul [Simon] and I hadn’t broken up in 1970, there’d be no room on the charts for Cat Stevens.  He owes us!”  Stevens has been eligible since the early 1990s.
Linda Ronstadt’s recently announced battled with Parkinson’s Disease prevented her from coming to the induction.  (Friend and Eagles’ member Glenn Frey inducted Ronstadt, saying she is unable to either sit, stand or lay down for extended periods).  In tribute, Carrie Underwood, Emmylou Harris, Stevie Nicks, Bonnie Raitt and Sheryl Crow performed a trio of Ronstadt’s 1970s hits, including “It’s So Easy,” which itself is a Buddy Holly song from the 1950s.
The E Street Band then commanded the stage for over an hour, with Bruce Springsteen giving a loving tribute to his backing band of friends: Steven Van Zandt, Roy Bittan, Garry Tallent, Nils Lofgren, Patti Scialfa (Mrs. Springsteen), Max Weinberg, Vini Lopez and David Sancious.  Deceased member Danny Federici was represented by his children.  One of the highlights of the evening was Clarence Clemons’ widow playing a voice mail from “The Big Man,” which she had saved.  It was just him singing for 30 seconds.  The band played “The E Street Shuffle,” “The River” and had extended solos on “Kitty’s Back,” which had some brief tempo problems due to two drummers (Lopez and his successor, Weinberg).
After a brief “In Memoriam” video (which featured huge applause for Pete Seeger, Phil Everly, the Doors’ Ray Manzarek and Lou Reed), The Roots’ Questlove inducted Hall & Oates by jokingly referencing the band’s androgynous look: “You make beautiful women.”
The Philly duo then took the stage, joking “you’re luck there’s only two of us” (after the E Street Band’s many speeches).  Hall also advocated for other Philadelphia acts to be inducted, including Patti Labelle, Todd Rundgren (who produced H&O's third album, "War Babies"), producer Thom Bell, Harold Melvin and the Bluenotes and Chubby Checker.  They then played their first hit, “She’s Gone,” stopping after a few bars to ask for a better sound mix.  Once they re-started, they brought the crowd to its feet, especially with the closer, “You Make My Dreams Come True.”
Finally, '90s grunge pioneers, Nirvana, were inducted by R.E.M.’s Michael Stipe.  Dave Grohl and Krist Novoselic, drummer and bassist for the band, gave somber speeches, remembering frontman Kurt Cobain, who committed suicide 20 years ago this month.  Chad Channing, who drummed on the band’s first album, was controversially not inducted, but was recognized by Grohl from the stage.  Kurt Cobain’s widow, Courtney Love, and his mother, Wendy O’Connor, gave short, sweet speeches, with O’Connor saying, “He would have pretended not to be proud of this.  But he would have been.  I miss him so much.  He was an angel.”  Love hugged Novoselic and Grohl, despite years of court battles between the two sides.  The band then welcomed Joan Jett and launched into “Smells Like Teen Spirit,” followed by “Aneurysm” with Sonic Youth’s Kim Gordon, “Lithium” with St. Vincent and “All Apologies” with Lorde.