2014 Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Inductions on HBO

[jnb9872]

I know there was a thread or two on here before in the past, but the Induction ceremony has been edited down and premiered tonight on HBO. About two hours in, and some truly incredible stuff. Cat Stevens and Peter Gabriel each in fine, fine voice. Remarkable after all these years. Tom Morello and Questlove's impassioned speeches for KISS and Hall & Oates, respectively. But mostly, the Linda Ronstadt tribute knocked me out. Carrie Underwood, Bonnie Raitt, Emmylou Harris, Sheryl Crow and Stevie Nicks combined to create maybe the greatest girl group ever formed in her honor and absence. Still waiting to catch the Nirvana segment which I assume is closing the broadcast, but this has been a great evening of musical television. Then again, I just love this stuff, so I may be biased. But great stuff!

[Jane2]

I'm also watching. Not as good as last year, but pretty good. I'm a rock and roll girl so of course I love it. I just posted on fb that I also love rockers because they wear whatever the fvck they want. The hell with trendy. We're artists!

[madbrian]

For me, the tribute to Ronstadt was thrilling, and by far the highlight of the evening. Morello's speech for Kiss was a distant, but clear, second highlight. When Nirvana said they would joined by female guests, I was hoping for Debbie Harry and/or Patti Smith. Joan Jett was terrific (why isn't she in the R&R HOF?).

[Jane2]

i was a little thrown off by the sonic youth girl. Must have been a generational thing because the "youth"in the audience were out of their minds over her! Or - they were just out of their minds, lol!

[jnb9872]

Yeah, Kim Gordon was easily the most... well let's just say fearless of the quartet of ladies in the Nirvana segment. As a follower of the Hall though, I loved that Nirvana took a stand for lobbying the committee to induct other artists (Joan Jett & Sonic Youth, two very deserving candidates) with their performance slot.

And I thought St. Vincent and Lorde both did a great job in their performances really throwing attention to Cobain's lyrics, which made the segment feel much more poignant and powerful.

Overall, it was an excellent celebration. While I still would have liked to see some nominated acts that didn't make it this year honored (Kraftwerk, N.W.A., Chic, The Replacements, Yes) it was a really killer ballot that only gets harder to crack each year. I'm happy for each honoree and look forward to this event every year. Plus, the (very worthy) inclusions of Tom Morello and Questlove in the nominating committee this year and going forward promises to make their choices more exciting and diverse, which can only be good.

[Jane2]

And then there was Bruce's campaign about being the only band from Philly to be inducted. I didn't think the audience was going along with him on that, though.

[jnb9872]

...Daryl Hall, I think you mean.

[darquegk]

I don't know about Chic, one way or another, but I think Nile Rodgers deserves the nomination more than Chic does. Are they a disco legend? To some extent. But it's Nile Rodgers who has been the unsung hero of the crossover between rock music and dance music for forty years now.

[Jane2]

jnb, yeah you're right. Darryl Hall.

[jnb9872]

There was speculation that Nile's cancer scare would be enough to tip the scales on Chic with a sympathy vote (the way that Donna Summer's death got her in posthumously, or that Linda Ronstadt's announcement of her Parkinson's got her on the ballot and in, or Jon Lord's passing got Deep Purple on the ballot finally...) but they've still yet to get off the ballot and over the hump.