Here you go Northeast Ohio, it’s time to show the world why Cleveland is the Rock Hall City.

By John Benson | April 2, 2009 at 12:00a.m.

After years of whining about the fact the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum’s annual induction ceremony takes place in New York City, the high-profile and star-studded affair is back in Cleveland for the first time since 1997. The fun takes place Saturday at Public Hall with an appropriate list of 2009 inductees that — just like Cleveland, once thought of as the “Mistake by the Lake” — either fought for credibility before receiving mainstream acceptance or are unsung heroes finally receiving their due.

METALLICA

The biggest name associated with the Rock Hall class of 2009 is invariably Metallica, which can be characterized as a niche-defining act similar to that of hard rock’s Black Sabbath and Southern rock’s Lynyrd Skynyrd. The San Francisco act’s early sound proved to be the archetype of the thrash metal scene, while it later successfully crossed over into mainstream hard rock.

However, unlike the aforementioned classic rock bands, who inexplicably remained eligible for more than a decade before voters cast them in, Metallica is justifiably a second-year-ballot inductee (Rock Hall eligibility begins 25 years after first release), with its 1983 debut, “Kill ’Em All.”

Furthermore, the band’s existence has been pure rock ’n’ roll, featuring both tragedy and drama. Though it lost original bassist Cliff Burton in a 1986 tour bus crash in Europe, the group’s history is filled with the legendary dismissal of Dave Mustaine, who later formed Megadeth, the resignation of Burton’s replacement Jason Newsted and even the surreal insider documentary “Some Kind of Monster.” It was the latter that left fans truly wondering whether the group would — or should — continue on.

For some, that answer came last year when Metallica released its first critical and fan-acclaimed album in more than a decade, “Death Magnetic.” In the end, Metallica could steal the title of greatest American hard rock band from Aerosmith.

JEFF BECK

For any fan of Jeff Beck, dismay and confusion are common feelings associated with the somewhat forgotten artist, who is revered as one of the three noted guitarists (Eric Clapton and Jimmy Page are the others) of The Yardbirds. The Grammy Award winner may not have enjoyed the arena rock success of his peers, but you better believe his talents were never questioned by fellow Rock Hall inductees. Beck’s career has included mostly instrumental efforts veering into various genres (blues-rock, heavy metal, jazz fusion), as well as guest appearances with everyone from Stevie Wonder and Buddy Guy to Tina Turner and Mick Jagger. There’s also his mesmerizing guitar sound on Rod Stewart’s cover of Curtis Mayfield’s “People Get Ready.”

RUN-D.M.C.

Anyone who has ever worn a pair of Adidas will probably always think of hip-hop act Run-D.M.C., which penned the street classic “My Adidas,” as well as popular singles “King of Rock,” “You Be Illin’,” “It’s Tricky” and “Mary, Mary.” The trio – Joseph “DJ Run” Simmons, Darryl “D.M.C.” McDaniels and Jason “Jam-Master Jay” Mizell (deceased) – is considered to be one of, if not the, most influential groups in hip-hop.

In terms of the development and mainstream accessibility of hip-hop music in the mid-SSRq80s, Run-D.M.C. broke it open with its cross-genre cover of Aerosmith’s “Walk this Way.” Specifically, think about the rock’n’rap genre, which flourished in the SSRq90s. For that you have Run-D.M.C. to thank. The Hollis, Queens threesome is also a first-ballot inductee, having released its self-titled debut in 1984.

BOBBY WOMACK

It’s quite apropos that native Clevelander Bobby Womack, noted for co-writing The Rolling Stones’ first UK No. 1 hit, “It’s All Over Now,” finally receives his due the year his hometown hosts the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Induction ceremony. An R&B and soul singer since the early SSRq60s who also dabbled in funk and blues, Womack began his career as lead singer of his family musical group The Valentinos, later was Sam Cooke’s backing guitarist and enjoyed his own success with hit singles “Lookin’ For a Love,” “That’s The Way I Feel About Cha,” “Woman’s Gotta Have It,” “Harry Hippie,” “Across 110th Street” and “If You Think You’re Lonely Now.”

LITTLE ANTHONY & THE IMPERIALS

With a career defined largely by its 1958 hit single “Tears on My Pillow,” Little Anthony & The Imperials is an R&B/doo-wop vocal group that enjoyed other hits such as “I’m On the Outside (Looking In)” and “Goin’ Out of My Head.” Through numerous lineups over the years, the act remains active today.

Sold out

Though the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction ceremony taking place at 8 p.m. Saturday at Public Hall is sold out, fans wanting to enjoy the experience in style can watch a three-hour-plus simulcast of the event taking place at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum. The show will be broadcast on a 12-foot screen on the museum’s main stage, with large screens placed throughout the venue. Tickets are $5 and are now on sale at all Ticketmaster locations.