The 2024 Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony was held at Rocket Mortgage Fieldhouse in Cleveland, OH on October 19, 2024. This was the 5th ceremony we’ve attended in Cleveland (2012, 2015, 2018, 2021, 2024) in addition to 5 in Brooklyn (2014, 2016, 2017, 2019, 2023) and 2 in Los Angeles (2013, 2022). We have now seen 124 bands/performers/people inducted into the Hall of Fame, This was a very unique ceremony due to the sheer number of inductees as well as the uneven pacing that took what had the potential to be one of the best ceremonies I’ve seen down a few notches.
Similar to last year, the induction was streamed live on Disney+, so many of you have already seen the event. Prior to the live stream starting, Rock Hall President Greg Harris and Chairman of the Rock Hall Foundation John Sykes gave opening comments. Both gentlemen stuck to the Hall’s script of the past few years that the meaning of “Rock & Roll” has changed. Harris said how the term encompasses “all styles” of music while Sykes used the Hall’s favorite buzzword “attitude” to remind you that rock & roll is essentially whatever they decide it is.
The actual show began with music, Dua Lipa launching into “Believe” by Cher. Lipa was good, not outstanding, but the crowd erupted when Cher herself came out halfway through the song to join Lipa. Zendaya took the stage as the song ended to deliver the induction speech. Zendaya did an admirable job, she definitely came across as a fan, which is always good in an induction speech, the historical video followed. Cher took the stage once more, this time with just her band, featuring Joel Hoekstra of Whitesnake and Trans-Siberian Orchestra on guitar, for a fun, energetic version of “If I Could Turn Back Time”. Cher headed to the podium after her second song for her acceptance speech. It was a very good speech consisting of stories throughout her career, including the “accidental” invention of Auto-Tune.
Alexis Korner received the Musical Influence Award, the first special award of the night. A video was played showing Korner’s importance in the British blues movement of the 1960s. There was no speech or performance.
Chuck D of Public Enemy was up next to induct Kool & the Gang. The sound wasn’t great during Cher’s induction, and the mic was just as bad as Chuck D spoke. It was nearly impossible to hear at some points during the night. Chuck’s speech was a bit of a letdown. He usually gives a very good speech at these events, but this felt a little rambling and not personal. After the video, the band played their set. The current lineup of the band, featuring Robert “Kool” Bell, was joined by classic-era singer James “J.T.” Taylor for the first time in 24 years. A medley featuring “Hollywood Swinging/Get Down On It/Ladies Night/Jungle Boogie/Celebration” had the crowd dancing. The band sounded fantastic and it was great to see Bell and Taylor together after so long. Kool gave a nice speech thanking the “Magnificent Seven” original members of the band, all were inducted and all have passed away. J.T. gave a very emotional speech, asking the crowd to stand and cheer as he also read the names of those in the band who had passed away.
The legendary Dionne Warwick was next to be inducted with a Musical Excellence Award. Teyanna Taylor was chosen to give the speech inducting Warwick. Taylor will be playing Warwick in an upcoming biopic. Her speech was not much more than reciting a Wikipedia page. A performer of Dionne Warwick’s stature deserved better, in my opinion. Annie Lennox was featured prominently in her video, she would have been a perfect choice. Jennifer Hudson began “I’ll Never Love This Way Again” but sounded a little off. She was soon joined by Warwick herself who sounded perfect. You could barely hear Warwick’s speech due to the horrific microphone sound in the venue. A few in the crowd thought it would be helpful to scream loudly that they couldn’t hear as she tried to speak, it certainly wasn’t helpful. Warwick took the stage on her own for a beautiful version of the Burt Bacharach-penned “Walk on By”.
Tom Morello was next up to induct the MC5. Morello has such a great understanding of history and really framed why the MC5 is deserving of their Musical Excellence Award. After their video, Morello mentioned how all members of the band had passed away This moment was a perfect illustration of one of the major problems with the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. The MC5 were inducted for a body of work created between 1964 and 1972. It may not have been the most successful body of work but it was massively influential. The band had been nominated six times as a performer before being given the Musical Excellence Award. Two members of the band, drummer Dennis Thompson and guitarist/singer Wayne Kramer passed away in 2024. Why did the band have to wait until all members were dead before finally receiving this honor that we all knew was coming? The same could be said for Kool & the Gang. If they were honored years ago, some of the members may have been alive to enjoy it. The Hall always says deserving bands will eventually get in, but what good is it when they can’t be there to accept their induction?
Foreigner is another example of this problem. Sammy Hagar pointed out in his fantastic induction speech how Foreigner is more than qualified for their induction. Hagar’s speech had everything you want, a strong personal connection with and love for the artist being inducted. A pretty stellar tribute to the band came after the video package. It was a tribute because founder Mick Jones was too ill to attend. Inducted members Lou Gramm, Al Greenwood, and Rick Wills were in attendance. I saw the classic-era members perform an amazing set as recently as 2018. If the Hall put the band in years ago when eligible, all of these men would have been healthy enough to perform their own songs. The tribute performance began with Demi Lovato, Slash, Chad Smith, and the current Foreigner touring band, featuring Jeff Pilson and Kelly Hanson, tearing through “Feels Like The First Time”. Hagar and Hanson shared the mic for “Hot Blooded” before the big conclusion of “I Want To Know What Love Is” featuring Kelly Clarkson, Gramm, Greenwood, Wills, and a choir. Gramm didn’t sound great and seemed to snub 20-year band member Jeff Pilson as they walked off stage. For speeches, Lou was fairly dry and did the usual thanks. Interestingly, he mentioned the 37-year history of the band, seeming to omit the years without him. Rick and Al were very gracious, thanking the fans, Mick, and the current lineup.
A video package for Musical Excellence award recipient and Motown songwriter Norman Whitfield followed Foreigner.
A definite highlight of the night was Roger Daltry of The Who inducting his friend Peter Frampton. This is the type of speech every inductee deserves: a friend who tells stories and reminds us all of the inductee’s massive talent. Frampton took the stage, playing seated, after his video package. He began with “Baby (Something’s Happening)”. Frampton’s playing and vocals sounded amazing. He was joined by Keith Urban, also seated for a blistering “Do You Feel Like We Do”. The two traded guitar licks and Frampton couldn’t keep the smile from his face. His acceptance speech was genuine and thankful. Peter Frampton was a true highlight of the evening.
Musical Influence Award winner Big Momma Thornton had her video induction after Frampton.
In an unusual but cool move, soon-to-be-inducted Dave Matthews came out to present Jimmy Buffett with his Musical Excellence Award. Matthews played a beautiful version of “A Pirate Looks At 40” prior to Buffett’s video package.
Motown executive Suzanne DePasse received her Ahmet Ertegun next. Her video package was narrated by Barry Gordy and DePasse was on hand to accept her award. This is where the pacing of the night, which, up to now, was perfect, began to fall off the rails. DePasse gave a great speech but it began to go on for much too long. All speeches had been relatively brief so a non-performer giving a long speech began to take some energy from the room.
Dave Chappell took the podium next to induct A Tribe Called Quest. Chappell commented on the horrible in-house sound before getting on track with a really good, very personal speech inducting his friends. While Jarobi was brief, Q-Tip gave an overly long, rambling speech that seemed to go on forever. Between DePasse and Q-Tip it was close to an hour without music. The speech finally ended with Chappell helping him off the stage. While the style of music isn’t my thing, I can appreciate the massive collection of hip-hop talent that joined together on stage. Neither member of ATCQ performed, but The Roots and De La Soul led the group with appearances by Queen Latifah, Common, Black Thought, Posdnous, and Busta Rhymes to perform “Can I Kick It”, “Check The Rhime”, “Bonita Applebum”, and “Scenario”.
A video advertising the new 1984 music exhibit at the Rock Hall followed the performance.
Method Man and Dr. Dre came out to induct Mary J. Blige. Dre is usually pretty good at his induction speeches, and a video package for Mary followed. Blige performed a medley of “My Life” (with Lucky Daye), “Love No Limit” (With Ella Mai), “Be Happy” and “Family Affair”. I’m not a Mary J fan, but can appreciate an amazing singer. To me, her performance fell flat. She seemed off and it lacked the big vocal punch I was expecting. Her speech, much like ATCQ, was very long and somewhat rambling. The night would have been much better if these two acts were not back-to-back as they were the only ones to really blow the time limit on their speeches.
The annual In Memorium segment followed Blige. It was nice to see recognition for Firehouse’s CJ Snare and Great White vocalist Jack Russell.
Jack Black came up to induct Ozzy with a great speech. It was personal and really showed why this induction should have happened years ago. Ozzy spoke after the video package from his tricked-out wheelchair. Again, if the Hall did the right thing and inducted him years ago he would have been in much better health. His speech was brief and thankful, you could see how moved he was. Ozzy thanked Randy Rhodes but did not mention any of the other musicians who shaped his solo career. The performance was nothing short of fantastic! Ozzy, from his chair, gave the “All Aboard” yell as “Crazy Train” featuring Robert Trujillo, Chad Smith, Andrew Watt, Adam Wakeman, Wolf Van Halen, and Maynard James Keenan kicked in. Jelly Roll and Zakk Wylde came out for “Mama I’m Coming Home”, and finally Billy Idol and Steve Stevens joined for an absolutely killer “No More Tears”.
The audience caught its breath during the video package, which gave John Mayall his Musical Influence Award.
Julia Roberts came up to induct the Dave Matthews Band. I’m usually not a fan of actors giving induction speeches but hers was very entertaining and personal, she has a strong connection to the band. The band took the stage after the video package to perform “Ants Marching”, “Crash Into Me”, “So Much To Say”, and “Too Much”. Dave gave the acceptance speech and was very good. While the band’s music just doesn’t click with me, I like Dave and he always gives a great speech. He mentioned ex-member Boyd Tinsley and thanked each member of his band.
When the DMB speech ended, I wondered what was next. In the old days there would be a full jam but that hasn’t happened in years. Dave went to the mic and mentioned it was the 40th anniversary of Talking Heads Stop Making Sense, so his band played “Burning Down The House” to end the night. It would have been amazing to have some of the other musicians join them.
Overall, this was a very good induction and a welcome return to Cleveland. If not for the pacing issues with the few long, rambling speeches it would have been a great ceremony. This year felt like a “clean-up” year where so many artists that should have been in already were brought in now. Unfortunately, many of them were unable to experience it. Iron Maiden is a band that should have been inducted years ago, now original singer Paul Di’Anno has passed, and will not see them finally make it at some point. I hope the Rock Hall realizes this and starts letting bands in when eligible rather than making them wait for some ridiculous amount of time.
