A Dozen Favorite Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Induction / Acceptance Speeches
The year of Covid has robbed us of so many cultural gatherings. This is the one that I look forward to the most every year. The videos below are not testimonials to the artists, but celebrations of the speeches themselves.
THE MAGICAL. Tom Hanks inducting The Dave Clark Five (2008). Seriously, if there is one speech to watch, this is the one. The most original, creative, wonderful tribute. Hanks weaves the story of his early childhood in a post-Kennedy assassination America into this magical tribute to the DC5, the British invasion, and the joy of rock n roll, punctuated by clever references to DC5 lyrics throughout. Trust me. An amazing speech. Watch here.
THE SPIRIT. Joan Jett’s acceptance speech (2015). Setting aside how shamefully long overdue her induction was, Joanie articulated the meaning and spirit of rock and roll better than anyone. And a joyous and rambling shout-out to so many bands and artists that she loved. She’s a treasure. Watch here.
THE HILARIOUS. Bill Withers acceptance speech (2015 too). Who would’ve known? That ultra cool, too smooth, soulful cat of the 1970s? Well, the then 77 year old Withers (who we lost this year), another long overdue selection, was part stand-up comic during this speech. It’s a joy to watch. Watch here.
THE HISTORY LESSON. John Mayer and his guitar inducting the late, great Albert King (2013), one of the legendary Three Kings of blues guitar (along with Freddie and the incomparable B.B.). I never paid much attention to John Mayer before. But bless him for this sonic schooling that everyone should hear. Watch here.
THE UNEXPECTEDLY SWEET AND EMOTIONAL. Patti Smith’s acceptance speech (2007). She lost her husband Fred “Sonic” Smith (of the MC5) several years earlier, and many others close to her. A surprisingly tender, subdued, gracious, sweet, and emotional speech from punk’s poet queen. Especially the story at the end. Watch here.
THE TRUTH. U2’s The Edge and Rage Against the Machine’s Tom Morello inducting The Clash (2003). The most political, progressive, stylistically diverse…well, it was so great to hear The Edge proclaim “without doubt, they are, next to the Stones, the greatest rock and roll band of all time”. And Morello state the obvious: “They had no peers. Because at the center of The Clash hurricane stood one of the greatest hearts and deepest souls of 20th century music. At the center of The Clash stood Joe Strummer”. Also one of the saddest inductions ever, as it came just three months following Strummer’s fatal heart attack at age 50. Watch here.
THE HISTORY LESSON, PART 2. Watch a middle aged LL Cool J and Chuck D induct The Beastie Boys (2012). A wonderful recounting of the early days of hip hop in New York City, the rise of Def Jam records, and a first person narrative of being present at the birth of an art form. That just doesn’t happen often. Watch here.
THE CLASSY AND IMPROMPTU TRIBUTE. The Talking Heads acceptance speech (2002). Tina Weymouth begins the acceptance by thanking Hilly Kristal and inviting him to join them on stage. David Byrne wraps it up, spending his entire time paying tribute to Hilly for creating a venue in New York’s Bowery that welcomed so many bands — with new sounds, new styles, new attitudes — that otherwise didn’t have a home and would never be heard. Hilly only wanted to open a bluegrass bar and club, which he called “Country, Bluegrass and Blues”. But the white awning at the entrance, which would become a musical and cultural touchstone, could only fit CBGB. Watch here.
THE SPIRIT, PART 2. An unlikely runner-up to Joan Jett’s speech for the spirit of rock and roll award: Ice Cube, capping off NWA’s induction (2016). Following an induction speech by Kendrick Lamar, and with Dr. Dre, MC Ren, DJ Yella, and the mother of the late Eazy-E looking on, he asks, “Are we rock and roll? Listen at the 5:40 mark here.
THE VOICE WITHOUT A NAME. Bette Midler inducting Darlene Love (2011). Yes, Bette Midler. Funny speech, as you would expect. But most of all, it just makes you feel good to see Darlene Love finally being acknowledged. And even better to know that this induction may have been the inspiration for the must-see Oscar winning documentary “20 Feet from Stardom”, the amazing tribute to all those background singers who remained (until now) nameless. Watch here.
THE HITS WITHOUT A NAME. Little Steven inducting songwriter/producer Bert Berns (2016). Who? Ever danced to Twist and Shout by the Isley Brothers or The Beatles? Ever belt out Piece of My Heart while you sang along with Janice Joplin? Tapped your feet to Hang on Sloopy? Or I Want Candy? Or Tell Him by the Exciters? Here Comes the Night by Van Morrison? Cry to Me by Solomon Burke? Baby Let Me Take You Home by The Animals. He wrote all of them. He produced Brown Eyed Girl for Van Morrison, Under the Boardwalk for The Drifters, and on and on and on. Watch here. (And see the trailer here for the amazing “Bang! The Bert Berns Story”)
THE TOUR DE FORCE. David Letterman inducting Pearl Jam (2017). Everything you would expect from Letterman and much more. Too much to list, but a shout out to his impassioned love affair with and support of live music. All the more poignant to hear this during Covid as so many artists struggle to survive. Watch here.