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12:35p - HotTopic: Hall, Rock, Fame
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It was a moment unlike anything the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame had ever seen: midway through a snarling performance of “I Wanna Be Your Dog” a shirtless Iggy Pop commanded the black tie audience to storm the stage. “Come on!” Iggy ordered, “Let’s get the Upper East Side up here!” With that, Pearl Jam’s Eddie Vedder and Jeff Ament, Green Day’s Mike Dirnt and a handful of others ran on the stage like excited schoolchildren and bounced around as Billie Joe Armstrong and Iggy closed out the song. It was a triumphant moment for Iggy and the Stooges — the punk pioneers had been eligible for the Hall for 16 years before receiving the honor. “Roll over Woodstock,” Iggy said accepting the award. “We won!”
Relive the landmark 25th Rock Hall induction in photos.
The night began with Phish’s note-perfect rendition of the 1972 Genesis prog classic “Watcher of fhe Skies.” As Page McConnell played the opening keyboard parts, a geyser of steam erupted from the stage that nearly engulfed bassist Mike Gordon, Spinal Tap-style. The song — which opened nearly all of Genesis’ early 1970s gigs — slowly built to an intense climax as Trey Anastasio expertly recreated Steve Hackett’s original guitar moments. Afterwards, Anastasio gave a stirring speech about the band.
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“It’s impossible for me to overstate the impact this band had on me as a young musician and I’m forever in your debt,” he said. “When I hear Radiohead’s Kid A, with its odd time signatures and spacious visual arrangements, I hear Genesis, and I hear them in the sonic islands My Bloody Valentine plays between their songs.” Phil Collins, who has long been a dartboard for rock critics, seemed very moved by the praise. “Thank you, Trey,” he said, “That was a really convincing argument.” Guitarist Mike Rutherford spoke about Peter Gabriel’s absence. “He has a very legitimate and genuine excuse,” he said, referring to Gabriel’s explanation for skipping the event. “He’s starting a tour in Europe soon.”
Watch the Rock Hall’s greatest moments.
Next up was Green Day’s Armstrong to induct the Stooges. “They symbolize the destruction of flower power and the creation of raw power,” he said, before rattling off about 30 punk and new wave bands who owe their existence to the Stooges, ending with his own. “I think it’s Fitzgerald who said there’s no second acts in American life,” said a very choked up Iggy. “This particular group of friends had the luxury of a second act, so thanks.” As guitarist James Williamson gave his acceptance speech, Iggy began peeling off his jacket and shirt to prepare for their performance. They kicked off with “Search and Destroy,” marking the first time that Williamson and Iggy have played together on American soil since 1974 (Williamson reunited with the group late last year). There wasn’t even a hint of rust, though “I Wanna Be Your Dog” will never sound quite the same without late guitarist Ron Asheton.
The E Street Band’s Steven Van Zandt inducted the Hollies, though he didn’t even mention their name until nearly 10 minutes into his speech, opting to pontificate on the glory of 1960s rock music and how it will be studied for decades to come. “We didn’t have big ideas at the beginning,” Van Zandt dead-panned. “Mainly we just wanted to get laid.” Graham Nash was clearly ecstatic that his original group was finally being recognized (this is his second trip to the Rock Hall — he was first inducted with Crosby, Stills and Nash in 1997). “What a trip this has been — amazing!” he said. “It’s a good day for England.” Nash and original Hollies vocalist Allan Clarke performed beautiful renditions of 1966’s “Bus Stop” and “1967’s Carrie Anne” with Maroon 5’s Adam Levine helping out on the high notes. Train’s Pat Monahan came out to sing “Long Cool Woman,” but midway through later-day Hollies vocalist Terry Sylvester ran onstage, whispered something in his ear and literally took the mike out of his hands. He sang half a verse before a highly irritated Clarke came over and got the mike back to Monahan. The whole thing happened very quickly and few people even seemed aware they had just seen a decades-old Hollies feud flare up.
See photos of all of the Rock Hall’s inductees.
In his induction speech for Jimmy Cliff, Wyclef Jean talked about growing up in a household where non-Christian music wasn’t allowed. “I loved Jimmy Cliff so much I would take Jimmy Cliff songs and sing them with Christian words,” Jean said. “There are two people in my entire lifetime that brings a certain level to the entire Caribbean people, and we look up to them. One is Bob Marley and the other is Jimmy Cliff.” Wearing a Jamaican flag scarf and a bright silver jacket, the 61-year-old reggae pioneer sent shockwaves through the ballroom when he sang the opening lines of “You Can If You Really Want.” His voice sounded more powerful than ever, and it sent the entire place to their feet — including longtime Cliff fan Bruce Springsteen, who sat in the middle of the ballroom next to Jackson Browne and never made it onstage. “Many Rivers to Cross” was even more stunning, leading many in the room to hope the exposure of te event helps Cliff stage a comeback.
Nobody expected Abba to reform for the night, but former married couple Benny Anderson and Anni-Frid Lyngstad still flew in to accept the award from the Bee Gees’ Barry and Robin Gibb. “We haven’t performed since 1982,” Lyngstad said. “We won’t reunite again. It’s too late for that.” Anderson did agree to play the piano with Paul Shaffer and the CBS Orchestra while Faith Hill delivered a powerful performance of Abba’s 1980 smash “The Winner Takes It All.” The group’s massive fanbase has been praying for a reunion for 30 years, but that was as close as they’ll ever come.
Earlier in the night David Geffen received the Ahmet Ertegun Lifetime Achievement Award. “I’m a little nervous,” Geffen said after Jackson Browne presented him with the honor. “I never dreamed I’d be inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Here’s why: I have no talent.”
The night wrapped up with Carole King inducting her fellow Brill Building songwriters Barry Mann, Cynthia Weil, Ellie Greenwich, Jeff Barry, Mort Shuman and Otis Blackwell alongside “Shake, Rattle and Roll” writer Jesse Stone. Their music was performed by an all-star group of artists, beginning with Chris Issak’s take on “Don’t Be Cruel.” Ronnie Spector revived her signature tune “Be My Baby” to honor Greenwich/Barry, and Eric Burdon transformed into his younger Animals self when he started belting out “We Gotta Get Out Of This Place.” Newcomer Fefe Dobson channeled Tina Turner with a sizzling “River Deep Mountain High,” while Peter Wolf managed to match her energy with a cover of Jesse Stone’s “Money Honey” that had all the industry big-wigs dancing.
The evening wrapped with all the Brill Building performers singing a sloppy but fun “Shake Rattle and Roll.” Many have argued it’s the first rock & roll song, so it was a fitting way to wrap up the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame’s landmark 25th induction ceremony.
More on the Hall of Fame’s Class of 2010:
• Q&A: The Stooges’ Iggy Pop
• Q&A: Genesis’ Mike Rutherford and Tony Banks
• Q&A: ABBA’s Benny Andersson
• Q&A: The Hollies’ Graham Nash
• Photos: Jimmy Cliff
Get all of Rolling Stone’s Rock and Roll Hall of Fame coverage.
NEW YORK, March 16 (UPI) -- Genesis, Iggy Pop and the Stooges, and ABBA were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame at a ceremony in New York Monday night.
The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame held a ceremony at New York’s Waldorf Astoria Hotel on Monday, March 15, to inductÊ Jimmy Cliff, Genesis, The Stooges, The Hollies and Swedish pop group ABBA into the class of 2010.Ê The event aired live on Fuse TV network.
Phish opened the show by paying tribute to Genesis with their rendition of “Watcher of the Skies” – see video below.Ê Genesis members Phil Collins, Anthony Phillips, Mike Rutherford and Steve Hackett took the stage.Ê Missing from the group was Peter Gabriel.
Phish musician Trey Anastasio said of Genesis, “Every musical rule and boundary was questioned and broken.Ê It’s impossible to overstate what impact this band and musical philosophy had on me as a young musician.Ê I’m forever in their debt.”
Green Day singer Billie Joe Armstrong was on hand for the induction of punk band The Stooges.Ê Members Iggy Pop, Scott Asheton and James Williamson took the stage, and paid tribute to deceased bandmates Ron Asheton and Dave Alexander.
Iggy said: “I think it’s Fitzgerald who said there are no second acts in American life…this particular group of friends had the luxury of a second act, so thanks.”
On hand to accept the award for the Swedish pop group ABBA were Anni-Frid Lyngstad and Benny Andersson. Country singer Faith Hill performed their hit “The Winner Takes It All, with accompaniment by Andersson on piano.
The Hollies were inducted by E Street Band member Steven Van Zandt.Ê During the group’s acceptance speeches, Graham Nash exclaimed, “What a trip this has been — amazing.”
Reggae icon Jimmy Cliff was inducted by Wyclef Jean. Cliff said, “Reggae music is a music that was not conceived by the United States like most of the music forms that we know…so to be standing here with you today…is a great honor.”
Check out our Rock and Roll Hall of Fame 2010 gallery and video below:
Photos:Ê WENN
8:13a - 
British rockers Genesis, The Stooges and ABBA have been inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as the class of 2010. Ê The ceremony at New York's Waldorf Astoria Hotel on Monday night opened...
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Proof that the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, in its 25th induction ceremony, has started to lose a thread to the classic music that built the place is seen in the fact that it was the induction of the songwriters, once a lowly award gave early in the night, became the climactic award at the event.
In the salute to early rockn 'n' roll songwriters who populated the Brill Building from the late Ellie Greenwich and the merely airline bumped Jeff Barry, to the very present Barry Mann and Cynthia Weil, to the offspring of Otis Blackwell and widow of Mort Schulman led to a splendid array of their finest songs, as performed by a variety of singers.
First Rob Thomas wasn't half bad in his stark performance of Doc Pomus' and Schuman's "Save the Last Dance for Me," accompanied by acoustic guitar. Then it was Ronnie Spector doing her "Be My Baby" by Greenwich and Barry after an intro of their "I Can Hear Music," also originally done by the Ronettes. (her only mistake came at the end, saying "I love you, Ellen DeGeneres! I mean Ellen and Jeff Barry!").
To have Eric Burdon himself on hand to sing the Animals hit "We Gotta Get Out of This Place," from Mann & Weill was a treat. It was followed by a reverent and twangy "Don't Be Cruel," honoring the songwriter Blackwell.
Peter Wolf laid on the mojo for a version of Clyde McPhatter's "Money Honey." Capping it all was an eye-opening version of Greenwich & Barry's "River Deep, Mountain High" by Canadian belter Fefe Dobson that was so good it makes you want to go out and buy all her music.
That they all gathered for an ensemble version of "Shake, Rattle and Roll" was testimony to the power of both early rock 'n' roll even as it paled badly to the kind of all-star jams that used to end these events.
Still, it was good that Fuse showed the thing in its entirety, altering it only in stretching it out maybe by an hour to insert commercials. There's always a musical lesson to be learned at the event, a poignant moment or two, and a few of those transcendent moments of music appreciation that cuts through the tuxedos and fuss of the Waldorf Astoria to the real importance of the music being honored.
And sometimes group reunite for the first time in decades for the occasion. That didn't happen for Abba, who were inducted by Barry and Robin Gibb, and supported in the ballroom audience by Meryl Streep, who appeared in the movie musical that featured their music, "Mama Mia!" Only Anni-frid and Barry showed up (the two others were busy). And it was only Barry who played keyboards to a rendition of "Winner Takes It all" (which I'm sure had nothing to do with who was receiving the award for the group and who wasn't), that was sung quite convincingly by Faith Hill.
Jimmy Cliff got inducted and played three of his classic tunes, sounding so good it made you wonder where he's been all these years.
Other inductees had their music played by others - Phish stood in for Genesis, concentrating on their earlier progressive rock stuff - or augmented: members of Maroon 7 helped with the harmonies of the aging Hollies; Green Day was on hand to back Iggy Pop, whose band the Stooges were finally inducted. But he was fully the focus as he brought "Search and Destroy" and "I Wanna Be Your Dog" to the posh party, shirtless.
The whole event will be rebroadcast on Fuse Sunday at 5 p.m.
A WHA Hall of Fame? Puhlease, spare us the details.
Turns out the details are rather fascinating.
What if we told you a film documentary...
Genesis has the invisible touch. Not so much Iggy Pop and the Stooges.
After being inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame at the Waldorf Astoria in New York tonight, Iggy stayed...
Tonight at New York’s Waldorf Astoria, the Stooges, Genesis and Abba will join the esteemed Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, along with the Hollies and Jimmy Cliff. Green Day’s Billie Joe Armstrong, Phish’s Trey Anastasio, the E Street Band’s Steven Van Zandt and Wyclef Jean will induct the honorees, and Chris Isaak, Faith Hill, Ronnie Spector and members of Maroon 5 are scheduled to take the stage to cap with the ceremony with live performances. As RS reported, Peter Gabriel will not attend the ceremony, preventing a full Genesis reunion; similarly, half of Abba will not be in attendance.
Stay tuned for a full report from the scene, plus photos from tonight’s big event and the scoop on what went down behind the scenes. And watch the show live on Fuse, starting tonight at 8:30 p.m.
Read Rolling Stone’s full story on the inductees here:
• The Stooges, Genesis, ABBA Lead the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame’s Class of 2010
Plus, check out our special Q&As and photos of the honored artists:
• Q&A: The Stooges’ Iggy Pop
• Q&A: Genesis’ Mike Rutherford and Tony Banks
• Q&A: ABBA’s Benny Andersson
• Q&A: The Hollies’ Graham Nash
• Photos: Jimmy Cliff
Get all of Rolling Stone’s Rock and Roll Hall of Fame coverage here.