The new nine-DVD set of performances from the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction ceremonies is certainly a head scratcher — just as much as the Hall of Fame itself, I guess.
For one thing, there are no appearances whatsoever by Bob Dylan, the Rolling Stones, The Eagles, The Police, David Bowie, Elton John, or Led Zeppelin. But there are ten — yes, ten — appearances by Bruce Springsteen. He’s sort of the Zelig of Jann Wenner’s invention.
Was there someone named Keith Richards in rock and roll? Paul Simon? Art Garfunkel? Stevie Wonder? Michael Jackson? The Dells? Dion? Bobby “Blue” Bland? Not in this DVD set.
There’s also a real curiosity: Chubby Checker, doing “The Twist.” The Hall of Fame has so far refused to induct Chubby Checker, and he’s insisted on a statue of himself to be erected at the Cleveland Museum. The performance is from 1986, when the Hall of Fame was forming. Chubby probably thought he’d get in right after that. Sorry!
The DVDs are heavy on Springsteen, but also include three performances by The Pretenders, of all things. I love the Pretenders, and was at their induction, but three songs? Huh? At least there’s no Madonna, from her embarrassing induction. But there’s also no Sex Pistols, Talking Heads, or Ramones but Green Day instead doing “Blitzkrieg Bop.”
Eric Clapton checks in four times solo and three more times with Cream. There’s no Led Zeppelin, but Ann and Nancy Wilson — who are aka Heart — play “Battle for Evermore.” Heart is not in the Hall of Fame, but they are now. So too are a bunch of others who happened to assist at performances including Sheryl Crow, Soul Asylum, Jonny Lang (from France), Joan Jett, and four — four — appearances by non-member Eddie Vedder.
On the soul side, Aretha Franklin and Al Green are each included three times, and there’s a one whole disc devoted to classic R&B. But there’s no sign of Ray Charles (except for a Billy Joel tribute), Smokey Robinson, Gladys Knight, the Supremes, Sam Moore, or many other soul stars. On top of that, Isaac Hayes’s name is spelled wrong on the website. (So, too, is Blondie’s, which seems hard to do.)
The soul stars who are on the discs, however, do comprise Little Richard, Chuck Berry, Bo Diddley, Ben E. King, Ruth Brown, the Four Tops, Tina Turner, Percy Sledge, Martha Reeves and the Vandellas, Jerry Butler, the Staples Singers, Booker T and the MGs, The O’Jays, Solomon Burke and Wilson Pickett. The latter clip, of course, includes Bruce Springsteen.
There’s also no appearance by Van Morrison. Maybe that’s the reason he decided not to play at the Rock Hall’s 25th anniversary show next week. Mick Jagger does turn up a couple of times, but none of the other Stones roll with him.
Right now, Time Life is offering the discs for $120. As with all things Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, including next week’s high priced shows, I have no idea where the money goes. To the artists? The museum? Into the ether? We’ll have to wait and see.


October 19th, 2009 at 6:54 pm
Van Morrison has never played HOF
October 19th, 2009 at 9:05 pm
Did you watch the thing? Keith Richards is all over it. Jimmy Page is there too. So are Dylan, Stevie Wonder, Elton John, Dion, Ron Wood … Ray Charles’ acceptance speech is shown, not just the Billy Joel tribute. And is it really surprising that the Sex Pistols aren’t there? When they were inducted, they didn’t attend. Same with Van Morrison – he didn’t attend.
October 22nd, 2009 at 9:16 am
Why exactly was Madonna’s induction embarrassing? Surely not because she’s been the most important and highly regarded female act of the last 25 years? And surely not because the Hall of Fame is not just abour “rock” acts, but any musicla genre.
Madonna should have performed herself, rather than have Iggy Pop perform two of her tracks, that much is true. But, her speech was great and she is peerless in regards to the impact and influence she has had since her debut. I know you aren’t exactly her biggest fan, Roger, and you throw in snide remarks directed at her on a regular basis (while acting as a pseudo publicisit for another of the top-selling female acts of all time, who likely will not be considered for the Hall of Fame when she is eligible), but let’s keep it real some. Madonna and her work have received lots of acclaim (check out http://www.acclaimedmusic.net, for starters), and no one can touch what she has done in challenging gender, religious, sexual and social mores in her work. She stands apart from her lightweight (yet enjoyable in their own right) pop peers.
I’m sure all I’ve said you already know, just reiterating.
October 22nd, 2009 at 10:01 am
“Madonna, from her embarrassing induction” I certainly hope you’re not saying that she should not have been inducted…
October 22nd, 2009 at 10:34 am
The Hollywood Reporter hired Roger Freidman? No wonder everything’s going out of business. Everything but Burger King, since Roger keeps them up and ‘running’.
October 22nd, 2009 at 4:49 pm
Are you jealous because Mariah will never be inducted?
October 24th, 2009 at 8:32 am
Mariah Carey will never be inducted.