The real must-see TV
I'm about four hours into the live telecast of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony and I'm not going to bed.
This is the first time it has been broadcast live in its entirety (with no commercials!), and you have to wonder why it has taken this long. Well, maybe it isn't that hard to figure out. This is one of the more over the top and unpredictable award shows you'll ever see, with bleeped and un-bleeped obscenities and general craziness. Rolling Stone Keith Richards got things off to a rousing start when he came to induct the Ronettes and, with a twinkle in his eye, thanked advances in medical science for allowing him to be there. That was followed by Ronnie Spector's 17 page acceptance speech in which she seemed to thank everyone in creation. And Paul Schaefer came out at the end to read a message from Phil Spector--he of the murder rap--in tribute to the group he created.
Patti Smith, always a favorite of mine, was next. She was touching and tearful and seemed hesitant in her first two songs, a cover of the Rolling Stones 'Gimme Shelter' that's on her new album, and then 'Because the Night.' But she ended with a kick-ass performance of 'Rock and Roll Nigger,' which she said was her late mother's favorite song of her's.
Van Halen was represented by Sammy Hagar and Michael Anthony, Eddie Van Halen having gone off to rehab and David Lee Roth not showing. They were inducted by Velvet Revolver, which performed two of Van Halen's songs before Hagar and Anthony and Paul Schaefer came out to do the third in what seemed an impromptu decision.
Gotta run. R.E.M. is coming on. Eddie Vedder of Pearl Jam is doing the induction.