Timeline: The Best Rock Hall Speeches
By Dave Swanson - Summit FM Contributor
Once again, it's that time of year. Crazy people get all dressed up, make their presence known, babble some nonsense, and show off in front of their peers. No, not Halloween; I'm talking about the Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame induction Ceremony.
Every year around this time, the powers that be sweep in the latest class of inductees for inclusion into those hallowed halls of rockdom. Then there's a day off; then the arguing about who should or shouldn't be in gets back on track the day after. It's as cyclical as the seasons. The nominees are announced in the spring. People argue. Those nominees are whittled down to the 'select few' for induction. People argue. Managers and band members organize themselves, and a big television special is created! Well, something like that, anyway.
Like any awards ceremony, it's all about the pomp, the circumstance, the fashion, and the sincerity worn proudly by many artists as they are inducted. Many acts are truly honored by the event, while others take a more deserved stance. They get up there and tell their tale, say thank you, smile, and wave, and they're gone. It always seems the elder statesmen accepting are often the most genuine in that it really does mean a lot to them to be acknowledged. Wonderful, I say! On the flip side, there are those who take this moment to air dirty laundry and complain.
There are other speeches and select moments, however, that rise above the occasion to make a truly entertaining moment that adds to their legacy. Or, in the case of Mike Love's infamous speech upon the Beach Boys induction, subtracts from that legacy as Love repeatedly called out members of the Beatles, Billy Joel, Springsteen, and others, daring them to get on stage with him and the Beach Boys. The other members were left a bit confused by all this, and Elton John (who had inducted them) took the mic and said, "Thank f--k he didn't mention me!" We love you, Elton!
John Fogerty was so dead set on his stance as the only significant member of Creedence Clearwater Revival that he not only refused to let the band play with him but tried to stop them from being able to take the mic to say their round of thank yous. In the end, they didn't play, but they did speak, something that was known as the "Forgerty clause," where all are allowed to have their moment. The performances are still an issue for former and current band members and band leaders. When Blondie was inducted, former members Frank Infante, Gary Valentine, and Nigel Harrison complained on stage about not being allowed to play. This led Debbie Harry to inform them her band was about to play, to which Infante said, "I thought Blondie was being inducted." Oh, kids.
Two of the classier moments in this realm came when Elvis Costello and the Attractions were inducted. Bassist Bruce Thomas had long been out of Costello's circle after writing an autobiography that spoke some unkind words about the man. Water under the bridge, Costello acknowledged that though he and Bruce hadn't always gotten along, he was a crucial part of the Attractions and welcomed him, though he didn't play with Elvis and the Imposters (essentially the Attractions without Thomas). Are you keeping track at home?!
Another adult moment came when Cheap Trick were inducted. Though drummer Bun E. Carlos hadn't been a member of the band for several years (long story) they not only let him accept the honor alongside them, but let him play as well, allowing fans to see the original band one more time! That speaks volumes of the pettiness so often fueling this nonsense.
Like I said, many acceptance speeches are essentially cut-and-paste sentiments with a slightly different angle, which is fine, but it's the other ones, good or bad, that make the light shine brighter.
Here then, is a list of the best Rock Hall acceptance speeches.
1988 - Beach Boys
Dennis Wilson was long gone, but Carl and Brian were still on board, each giving a sincere tip of the hat to family, fellow musicians, friends, industry people, and so on. Then Mike Love took the stage. Mike, or as some call him, Satan, had a big chip on his shoulder and just started calling out seemingly anyone he could think of. He complained that Dianna Ross couldn't make time to be there or that Paul McCartney refused to take part due to some lawsuit with Yoko at the time, challenging "the mop tops" to battle it out with the Beach Boys on stage. Huh? Also, wondering if Billy Joel could still "tickle those ivories" good enough to be onstage with Love and Co. He found time to give a shout-out to Muhammed Ali (?) and was gone.
2011 - Neil Diamond
Yes, Neil Diamond deserves to be in the Rock Hall! Following an induction by longtime friend Paul Simon, Diamond took the stage, seemingly a bit disoriented as he explained he had just flown in from Australia to be there. He had no rehearsed speech or crib notes; he just spoke from the heart, regularly addressing the fans in the 'cheap seats,' referring to them as "these are my people" and then criticizing the amount of money the Rock Hall charges the inductees for seats at the tables, thousands of dollars by the way. At one point, he recalled the criticism he received for recording a duet with Barbara Streisand, saying, "I don't give a shit, and you know what, "She doesn't give a shit either." His attitude was genuinely more 'rock and roll' than most, and though he truly seemed happy to be inducted, he seemingly would have been just as happy to stay home.
2013 - Rush
For die-hard Rush fans, it was no surprise our heroes had not been praised by Rock Hall. The most terminally unhip of all rock bands, critics hated them. Many listeners never made it past stage one (the vocals of Geddy Lee), let alone stage two (the lyrics) but Rush was a band truly on their own path, and by their induction in 2013, they had finally started to become accepted, which seems strange to say seeing as how they had sold millions of records. Bassist Lee, a most mellow character, gave his two cents, followed by drummer/lyricist Neil Peart, who, no surprise, took a bit more structured path for his speech. Then, it was guitarist Alex Lifeson's turn. His entire thank you speech consisted of nothing but the phrase "blah blah blah" as he acted out the story of their long journey to the stage that night. It's was brilliant as everyone knew what he was getting at, so why not have some fun with it. And for as cynical as it might seem, it was equally as sincere.
2008 - Leonard Cohen
As to whether Leonard Cohen was "rock and roll" or not is a moot point. He wrote so many great songs, he was right there with Joni Mitchell, Dylan, Phil Ochs and other in the stellar songwriter brigade. More of a balladeer, obviously, his music and songs were able to transcend genre. Just ask Nick Cave, Jesus and Mary Chain, and the countless others who have recorded his songs over the years. Cohen gave one of the cleverest speeches of all by simply reciting the lyrics to his song 'Tower Of Song.' Such genius lines as "I said to Hank Williams, how lonely does it get? Hank Williams hasn't answered yet, but I hear him coughing all night long, a hundred floors above me in the Tower of Song." One of Cohen's finest works, it was a perfect way to say what needed to be said.
2017 - Rick Wakeman - Yes
Hands down, the best Rock Hall speech came from none other than Yes keyboardist Rick Wakeman. For those who think of 'prog rock' as being humorless, stiff, and pretentious, you've never met Mr. Wakeman, have you? Wakeman stepped up to the mic after the other members had their moment and immediately became a standup comedian. Now, the truth is, he has done this as a sidebar gig for many years and is quite adept at it, old-school style. So, when it came time for a speech, he told a fellow band member what he wanted to do. They egged him on, which was perfect and caused more puzzled looks in the crowd than one could count. His timing as a musician is spot on, and that matched his comic timing to the last note while, at the same time, deflating the self-aggrandizing tendencies that so often can be involved. Bravo, Mr. Wakeman.