After induction, Miller slams Rock Hall

After induction, Miller slams Rock Hall

Steve Miller had just performed at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame ceremony, but he wasn’t finished.

In fact, he was just getting started. The new inductee ripped the rock hall in a backstage interview, calling the evening a “lazy” night with “a bunch of fat cats” that was tantamount to a bad reality show.

“I don’t know why I was nominated for this because I said this for 30 years,” the 72-year-old musician said in the interview. “I don’t get along with the people running it. When I found out about it, I felt like I was in a [expletive] reality TV show.”

The rock hall issued a statement Saturday in response to Miller’s comments. “Rock and roll can ignite many opinions,” it said. “It’s what makes it so great. The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame was honored to induct Steve Miller last night.”

In the interview, Miller explained that he only appeared at the ceremony for the sake of his fans.

HBO will air highlights of the show April 30.

Club hosts birthday tribute for Jerry Lewis

NEW YORK

At the Friars Club tribute for Jerry Lewis’ 90th birthday, many of the jokes were not about Jerry Lewis.

There were R-rated wisecracks Friday night about Donald Trump, Monica Lewinsky, doctors, sex and growing old from speakers including Richard Belzer, Freddie Roman and Max Alexander. When the subject did turn to Lewis, the kidding around turned to praise as Lewis was honored as a comic master and inspiration.

About 200 people squeezed into the first-floor dining room for the 90-minute event. Lewis, whose birthday was last month, sat to the side, where he laughed and cried.

The Friars Club has long been like a second home for Lewis, whose name appears on the front of the building.

The tribute touched upon many of the highlights of Lewis’ long and singular career, from his partnership with Dean Martin to such movies as “The Nutty Professor” and his stage performance in “Damn Yankees.” A compilation of pre-taped greetings included Steven Spielberg, Al Pacino and Don Rickles, who urged Lewis “to go to bed early.”

Associated Press