The two then shared “Lean on Me,” until Legend went and pulled Withers to the front of the stage to join them.īeck, Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Bill Withers, Seymour Stein hit Rock Hall’s weekend festivities John Legend came out to honor Bill Withers with a performance of “Use Me” backed by Stevie Wonder, who inducted Withers. John Mayer hailed his longtime idol, the late Vaughan, in a heartfelt speech. It was a night for the young to honor the old and perhaps prepare for a later visit. Others receiving Rock Hall honors included Paul Butterfield Blues Band, early soul act The 5 Royales, singer Bill Withers, punk rockers Green Day, Lou Reed, Joan Jett & the Blackhearts and Stevie Ray Vaughan. Starr said in a backstage interview that he couldn’t recall the incident specifically, but admitted that there had been a lot of shows in between. “I got lucky, and it was actually in Cleveland,” he said to enormous applause.įifty-one years earlier, Starr had been in town to play the very same Hall he admitted backstage that he didn’t remember the cops stopping the show during “All My Loving” and making the Beatles return to the dressing room for ten minutes until the fans could be calmed. “I’ve finally been invited, and I love it,” said the 74-year-old drummer. Starr was certainly happy to be there - after a long wait, he’s the final Beatle to be inducted as a solo act. Speaking briefly backstage, Ono expressed feeling that it was wonderful for Starr to be honored, “just sad John and George aren’t here,” referring to her late husband John Lennon and Beatles guitarist and fellow songwriter George Harrison. It’s easy to talk of such spirit when Paul McCartney is there to honor Ringo Starr, and Yoko Ono is on hand as well. So while there were some loud, dirty guitars at the 2015 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction ceremony in Cleveland on Saturday night, there was as much recognition for rock’s antecedents in soul and blues, speaking less to a particular taxonomy than a spirit that’s beyond words.

The key to rock’s longevity is it never defines itself into irrelevance.

Early joan jett