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GNR, Chili Peppers, Beastie Boys lead 2012 class Welcome to the Rock Hall
By John Benson
Hey Cleveland, do you know where you are? You’re in the jungle, baby.
The eyes of the world once again will be fixed on Northeast Ohio as the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum hosts its 27th annual induction ceremony Saturday at Public Hall.
Rock Hall voters didn’t disappoint with their Class of 2012 boasting controversy, theatrics and drama. Specifically, the mid-80s MTV generation is well represented with the big three — Guns N’ Roses, Red Hot Chili Peppers and Beastie Boys — turning the Rock Hall City into Paradise City and giving away, giving away, giving away what’cha, what’cha, what fans want. Yeah, um, sorry about that.
In any normal year, the Red Hot Chili Peppers, who are famously remembered for their promotional shot in their birthday suits with one strategically-placed sock, would be front and center. However, this year that honor goes to Guns N’ Roses, the hard-rocking, hard partying act that in the late ’80s to mid-90s was the biggest rock band in the world — with hit singles “Sweet Child O’ Mine,” “Paradise City,” “Welcome to The Jungle” and “November Rain” — before drugs and egos broke up the act with original members leaving or being kicked out.
Anticipation is running high that singer Axl Rose, who still tours under the Guns N’ Roses name, will reunite with his former bandmates — guitarists Slash and Izzy Stradlin, bassist Duff McKagan and drummers Steven Adler and Matt Sorum — in the jungle. So far this has not been confirmed. The band will be inducted by Green Day.
Then there’s the Peppers, whose early funk sounds evolved into archetypical ’90s alternative rock — “Give it Away,” “Under the Bridge” and “Scar Tissue” — with singer Anthony Kiedis, bassist extraordinaire Flea and drummer Chad Smith remaining relevant and successful with a rotating cast of guitarists. Comedian Chris Rock inducts the band.
It’s only apropos that rounding out this year’s high-profile inductions of bands from the ’80s, the decade in which hip-hop became mainstream, is rap act The Beastie Boys. Early on, Michael “Mike D” Diamond, Adam “MCA” Yauch and Adam “Ad-Rock” Horovitz were perceived as one-hit wonders with the trendy “(You Gotta) Fight For Your Right (To Party!).” By the end of the ’80s, the New York City trio had mad respect among hip-hop peers after its groundbreaking sophomore effort “Paul’s Boutique.”
Oddly enough, though the outfit is known for radio songs “Sabotage,” “So What’cha Want” and “Intergalactic,” the reality is “(You Gotta) Fight For Your Right (To Party!),” along with Run-DMC’s cover of Aerosmith’s “Walk This Way,” helped start the rap n’ rock genre.
Other artists gaining entrance in the Rock Hall this year include ’60s flower power singer Donovan (inducted by John Mellencamp), the influential Laura Nyro (inducted by Bette Midler) and early Rod Stewart and Jeff Beck act The Small Faces/Faces (Stevie Van Zandt), which featured original members Ronnie Lane, Ian McLagan, Kenney Jones and Steve Marriott.
Along with ’50s vocal group The Midnighters, Smokey Robinson will be inducting this year’s class of back-up bands galore from influential early rock ’n’ roll artists. This includes Buddy Holly’s The Crickets, James Brown’s The Famous Flames, Bill Hailey’s The Comets, Gene Vincent’s The Blue Caps and Robinson’s The Miracles.
The induction event also features the Early Influence of blues artist Freddie King (inducted by ZZ Top), with the Sideman category including television host Don Kirshner (inducted by Carole King), legendary New Orleans engineer Cosimo Matassa, engineer-producer Tom Dowd and engineer-producer Glyn Johns. The last three will be inducted by Robbie Robertson.
Looking ahead, the list of artists gaining eligibility — a quarter of a century after the release of their first recording — grows in 2013 to include Nirvana, The Offspring, Keith Richards, Tracy Chapman, Traveling Wilburys, Brian Wilson, Morrissey and Living Colour. Then there are fan favorite holdovers such as Kiss, Soundgarden, Bon Jovi, Rush and Cheap Trick.
Invariably, something to look forward to is a Rock Hall Induction Ceremony where Gene Simmons, Courtney Love and Keith Richards have an open mic, cocktail in hand and an axe to grind.