On Saturday, October 19, the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony took place in Cleveland, Ohio as bands and artists were inducted to the hall. Despite the name, the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame has expanded their lens to incorporate any genre of music. While the rock stars like Ozzy Osbourne and Foreigner were here and accounted for, the induction included legends from hip-hop, funk, pop, and more.
One of the most notable performers to be inducted was Cher. A pop icon amongst the greatest, Cher is just now being recognized by the hall despite having a number-one hit in each of the last seven decades. She joked that it was easier to get divorced twice than it was to get into the hall. Her induction was done by Zendaya, and Cher performed some of her hits alongside Dua Lipa, showcasing the ability for one of pop’s longest-standing icons to still draw admiration and respect from the hottest young talent.
Speaking of once-in-a-generation voices, Mary J Blige’s induction was handled by Method Man and Dr. Dre. Considering the former has a few songs with Blige and the latter had Blige as a part of his Super Bowl Halftime Performance, they both had plenty of first-hand experience of Blige’s greatness. Blige has remained active and releasing music up until the present day, so while not surprising, it was still remarkable to watch her tear through the hits.
Funk icons Kool & The Gang were paid their respects by Chuck D. This pairing made perfect sense, as Kool & The Gang are not only legendary for their contributions to funk, but as one of the most sampled groups for early rappers. Kool & The Gang’s leader, Robert “Kool” Bell and James “JT” Taylor are unfortunately the last surviving members of the band, and they tore through their iconic hits.
Ironically, Kool & The Gang was the only group inducted by a rapper, as A Tribe Called Quest’s speech was given by Dave Chappelle. Chappelle had a lot of time to get to know Tribe over the years and was invited to the group to be with them on SNL when they performed in 2016, a moment he claims brought him back into TV after “12 years in the cold”. Tribe’s performance included performances from all-time hip-hop greats, like Queen Latifa, Busta Rhymes, Common, and De La Soul.
Another musician and actor duo was Jack Black inducting Ozzy Osbourne. Black has made his love for Ozzy clear multiple times, by singing Ozzy or Black Sabbath on talk shows and taking clear musical influence with his band Tenacious D. Ozzy’s 2024 induction marks his second induction to the Rock Hall, the first of which was as a member of Black Sabbath in 2006. While Ozzy didn’t perform, he had plenty of rock and metal legends to honor him as he sat on his bat-themed throne. This included current and former Ozzy backing musicians such as Zakk Wylde (Black Label Society & Pantera) and Rob Trujillo (Metallica) alongside legends such as Maynard James Keenan (Tool) and Billy Idol.
In terms of all-star rock tributes, Ozzy wasn’t the only one, as Foreigner was celebrated by the likes of Kelly Clarkson, Demi Lovato, and Slash, who took turns performing classics like, “Cold as Ice,” “Feels Like The First Time,” and “I Want to Know What Love is.” The band was inducted by fellow classic rock icon, Sammy Hagar of Van Halen fame.
Dionne Warwick’s long overdue induction was handled by Teyana Taylor, who is slated to portray the singer in an upcoming biopic, and gave her flowers to the legend she calls her “alter ego”. Rage Against the Machine guitarist Tom Morello gave a speech to induct rock pioneers the MC5, who laid the foundations for punk rock back in the late 60’s and early 70’s. The legendary Dave Matthews Band closed out the night, being inducted Hollywood icon Julia Roberts, playing a set of their most iconic hits, and closing with a cover of Talking Heads’ “Burning Down The House.”
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