-That beginning montage was really something. What an honor to be inducted into this particular Hall of Fame.
-Very cool watching ZZ Top induct blues legend Freddy King and watching his daughter (they are twins) accept the honor on his behalf.
-Johnny Cougar inducting Donovan was hilarious – Mellencamp is as charismatic as he is a badass and Donovan is outside of his mind.
-Loved seeing the old footage of the Beastie Boys – innovation, guts and some serious charisma doesn’t even scratch the service.
-“There is no adequate measure of the impact the Beastie Boys had on Public Enemy in our formative years.” – Chuck D
-Apparently the Beasties played LL Cool J’s demo for Rick Rubin back in the day, thus jumpstarting the career he has today.
-“Sabatoge” was the perfect union of rock and rap and they never let us down.” –LL Cool J
-I love that the Beasties credited both their families and New York City as their inspiration.
-The letter from the now late MCA was tough to hear now that he’s gone – equally a fighter and a class act Adam Yauch has left a huge hole in the music business. We’re still feeling the loss.
-Black Thought, Kid Rock and Travie (backed by the incomparable Roots) dressed in old school green Adidas track suits and paid tribute to a group that they not only grew up listening to but worshipping at the same time. What’s a bigger word than wow?
-Where the hell was Rod Stewart when the Faces were getting inducted? Some reports say he had the flu – whatever. (This isn’t the first time Stewart has made me roll my eyes. When he performed at a music convention I went to with my mother he came on stage, sang three songs and left. Never said a word to the audience – not even “Hi” or “Thank you.” Lame).
-Luckily Ron Wood’s amazing guitar playing saved the performance – so awesome.
-So cool seeing bands like the Comets finally get their due. They were thrilled.
-Does Billy Joe Armstrong age? I found Green Day a strange choice to induct Guns N Roses into the Hall of Fame and I for the most part I didn’t really like Armstrong’s speech.
-Although I am glad Armstrong mentioned that Appetite for Destruction is the best debut album in the history of rock and roll. (I’ve said it once and I’ll say it again: To all the haters – think about that stat before you talk shit about Guns).
-Armstrong on Axl: “One of the best front men to ever touch a microphone.” Glad he was mentioned – his name garnered cheers and boos which was unexpected. But I guess when it comes to Guns one should always expect the unexpected.
-Two memorable quotes from Guns bassist Duff McKagan:
“We created brutality and beauty”
“It doesn’t matter whose here it’s about the music that band created.”
-Myles Kennedy can hang and did a great job but he is no Axl Rose.
-Slash is a force. End of story.
-Apparently all musicians have history – Red Hot Chili Peppers’ Flea knew Guns N Roses’ Steven Adler and Slash when he was 13 years old.
-Flea and Anthony Kiedis have known each other 35 years – wow. The two of them along with Chad Smith on drums sound the same today and they did years ago. They put on quite a show.
-Even if the last time you played with the band was 20 years ago, you are still inducted with the group.
-Some parents are just as much a part of bands’ histories as the members who make up the band. In some cases if it wasn’t for them these bands would not exist and the cool thing is that their kids recognize that.
-Flea is animal.
-George Clinton and Rick Rubin are living legends.
-Never thought I’d see Billy Joe Armstrong, Ronnie Wood, Flea and Slash all jamming together to a Stevie Wonder song but I’m glad I did!
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