My Name is Ringo and I Play Drums

It's like my record collection is actually sitting in this room. Billie Joe Armstrong ~ Greenday

I thought it would be hard to make the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction better than 2014 ... not true. Saturday night in Cleveland, I witnessed amazing music, inspirational speeches, hilarious candor, and a love of music that makes every inductee and fan a part of one big family. Here is a recap of the 30th Annual Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Induction from Cleveland.

The evening started with a  rocking beginning when Joan Jett and the Blackhearts took the stage to sing Bad Reputation, Cherry Bomb with Dave Grohl (a sweet payback from her shredding with Nirvana last year), and Crimson and Clover complete with songwriter Tommy James.

And say what you will about Miley Cyrus, she's got spunk and a love and respect for Joan Jett. Her speech was filled with smoking pot in a bathroom paid for my Oprah, an almost international incident, and a true outpouring of respect from one female musician to another.

And a very appreciative Joan choked back tears and gave the first of many moving speeches of the night. I come from a place where rock and roll means something. It means more than music, more than fashion, more than a good pose. It's a language of a subculture that makes eternal teenagers out of all who follow it.

The first of the blues inductions followed with stirring rendition of the Paul Butterfield Blues Band hit Born in Chicago. While members Mike Bloomfield and Paul Butterfield have since passed, their surviving members each talked about being a part of such a unique, multi cultural group that transcended the music bounds. The surviving members, many of us questioning what a band that hasn't played for over 40 years would bring to the stage - but we were all pleasantly blown away.

 

 

 

 

I sometimes think he's on tour and is going to come back soon, he said. Then I remember that I'm never going to be able to see him again. ~Jimmie Vaughan

And finally, the reason why I took a spontaneous pilgrimage to Cleveland: Stevie Ray Vaughan and Double Trouble. John Mayer spoke from the heart about Stevie. He spoke about Stevie the musician:

He was the ultimate guitarist...It’s a rage without the anger; it’s devotional; it’s religious, Mayer said. It was as otherworldly as Hendrix, but where Hendrix was coming down from outer space, Stevie came up from below the ground. He was the ultimate guitar hero, and heroes live forever.

Double Trouble members Chris Layton, Tommy Shannon, and Reese Wynans remembered meeting Stevie and echoed their love for Stevie and his dedication to his craft.

And finally it was big brother Jimmie Vaughan's turn. Hi I'm Jimmie Vaughan and Stevie Ray was my little brother. Jimmie shared the stories of his little brother, sneaking into his room and playing his guitar when he had told him not to. But what Jimmie didn't capture was how much his little brother looked up to him. How proud he was and how he wanted to be like him. What would happen through Stevie's sobriety was the, in Jimmie's words: Every day, I wake up clean and sober and I think of my brother. In the end, little brother taught big brother.


Gary Clark Jr, Doyle Bramhall, Double Trouble and Jimmie Vaughan (c) PCarlson 2015

In a fitting tribute, Doyle Bramhall, Gary Clark, Jr, Double Trouble, and Jimmie Vaughan played Stevie's hits Pride and Joy and Texas Flood, before Jimmie played his own tribute to Stevie, Six Strings Down.

The moment many a fan was waiting for had arrived: Green Day. While, like some, I questioned why they were being inducted so early, it became extremely obvious the influence Green Day has on so many. Punk scene newcomers, Fall Out Boy introduced Green Day:

Billie Joe’s signature snarl and strong, sarcastic lyrics, that eternally youthful voice, those bright, open chord structures. The way a silhouette of him playing guitar would be as recognizable a posture to any punk rock kid as Michael Jordan's mid-air dunk is to sports fans. Mike Dirnt! And those bass lines…up there with the likes of James Jamerson and Jaco Pastorius as one of the most identifiable bass players since the invention of the instrument. Tré Cool…you have a drummer named Tré fucking Cool. That is the coolest thing ever.
 

And even before they played one note from the album we all had to get in 1994, the speeches from aforementioned members relayed to me the same exact sentiment of why we were all in the Cleveland Hall to begin with, concluding with Billie Joe Armstrong's moving speech:  

I'm truly fortunate. You know, I've always loved rock & roll music. I always have. Soon as I opened my eyes and took my first breath, I'm a fan. And that's the one thing that I'm going to close with is that I love rock & roll.

We were then treated with three Green Day classics, American Idiot, When I Come Around, and Basket Case.

Most didn't think they knew who the next inductees were, until they saw Leon Bridges soar into Dedicated to the One I Love and  When a Man Loves a Woman. The 5 Royals were never considered superstars even in the 1950's, but over time, their influence to rhythm and blues cannot be denied.

And for the most moving moment of the night, Patti Smith and Laurie Anderson speaking about legend Lou Reed. It was fittingly poetic in only a way Patti Smith could be when she recalled how she was in Rockaway when she was told her dear friend Lou Reed had died. She talked about Lou's friendship, his own questioning of self, and the value and art he brought into this world:

 

His consciousness infiltrated and illuminated our cultural voice. Lou was a poet, able to fold his poetry within his music in the most poignant and plainspoken manner. Oh, such a perfect day. Sorry. [Crying] Such a perfect day. I’m glad I spent it with you. You made me forget myself. I thought I was someone else. Someone good. You were good, Lou. You are good.

Next, Lou's wife, the artists Laurie Anderson spoke lovingly about Lou her love and Lou the artist. She keeps his spirit alive and his memory will always be close.

Lou really knew the difference between himself as a writer and himself a person and as a rock & roll star. He’d shift between his roles with such skill. He could take his fame off like one of his leather jackets, or, he could just decide to use it. The fame, itself, was heavily important. Lou’s genuinely proud of what he’d done and could really appreciate his own work. And, tonight, he would have been so immensely proud to be a part of this.

 

Karen O and Nick Zinner from the Yeah Yeahs joined by Beck gave us great versions of Satellite of Love and Vicious.

 

 

What would be one of the funniest and semi-historical moments of the night was up next.
Stevie Wonder introduced 1970's star Bill Withers, a man who simply walked away from a career because he felt he deserved better - and he did. The man gave us some of beautiful hits such as Harlem, Ain't No Sunshine, Lovely Day, and Lean on Me. But he had not performed for over 25 years.
His speech was laced with wit, references to the Big Bang Theory, and Judge Judy. Possibly my favorite line of the night came from Withers himself, when referencing many of the sobriety speeches and rehab references that occurred during the night, when he said This has got to be the biggest AA meeting in the Western Hemisphere.

Withers escorted his friend Stevie Wonder to the stage and sat close to him as Wonder sang a powerful Ain't No Sunshine, as we waited to see if Bill would sing. Alas, he sat next to the background singers when John Legend came on stage to sing Use Me. However, we all got our music wishes granted, when three-quarters of the way through Lean on Me, Bill Withers joined John Legend and Stevie Wonder and sang a few words.

And to cap the already spectacular night, we got the Beatles. Paul McCartney spoke highly of the drummer would replaced Pete Best, saying, sharing how he regarded Ringo upon first meeting him, as a grown up musician:

And Ringo was like a professional musician. We were just like, slamming around and doing stuff, but he had a beard — that's professional. He had the suit. Very professional. And he would sit at the bar drinking bourbon and seven. We'd never seen anyone like this. This was like, a grown-up musician.

Thank you. My name is Ringo and I play drums. His speech was filled with memories of joining the band and mention of Paul and George. After playing the Shirelles hit, Boys with Green Day and his hit, It Don't Come Easy,  we got our Beatle reunion and superjam moment when everyone joined Ringo and Paul onstage for With a Little Help From My Friends.

But that wasn't the end. While everyone was walking off stage, Paul grabbed Ringo's hand, and just like they did in 1964, they raised their hands up and bowed deep. We go the infamous Beatle bow and life, for many music fanatics, was complete.

 

Rock and Roll Comes to Brooklyn

Watch out for music. It should come with a health warning. It can be dangerous. It can make you feel so alive, so connected to the people around you, and connected to what you really are inside. And it can make you think that the world should, and could, be a much better place. And just occasionally, it can make you very, very happy. ~ Peter Gabriel

Years ago, I disowned the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame for their disregard of the fans. The real reason was KISS. A band that inspired so many artists that were already in the Hall was denied again and again. Upon hearing the ceremony would be in Brooklyn, I was slightly jealous. When I heard that KISS was finally going to be inducted - there was not stopping me from going.

Do I still have problems with the Hall? YES! They are like people who have money and buy tickets to shows and talk the entire time because they don't care about the music they are seeing. But I hope that this year is a turning point. This year's induction really was about the fans. And not just the in the audience fans; the show allowed the musicians who were fans to induct their influences into the Hall.

For me, this was truly a lifelong dream. I'd always heard about the Induction, watched it on TV, dreamed of being there. I live and breathe music. Music is my life and I could not imagine a day without it. To be in the same room with bands and artists I grew up listening to and were influenced by is a moment of my life I will never forget.

The show itself was so very tightly scripted as there was no waiting between inductions and performances; if there was we would have been there until 5am. The sound at the Barclays is always great and Thursday night was no different. Special shout out to the technicians and crew for a well orchestrated show.

I knew immediately it was a rock and roll party when I heard this announcement: To get everyone into their seats, the bars will close until 7:05. Thank you, please make your way to your seats.

 

Brian Epstein and Andrew Long Oldham, managers for the Beatles and The Rolling Stones respectively were inducted first. "Finally somebody to bring the Beatles and the Stones fans together in glorious harmony, "Asher said to the reporters. "The Hatfield and McCoys of rock and Roll."

Without a pause, Peter Gabriel hit the stage with Digging in the Dirt following his video history. Sad not to hear Mercy Street, as that is my favorite song, but I digress.

 

 

 

Chris Martin of Coldplay inducted Peter.  Chris' speech was simply brilliant: I didn't know how to start, so my mom always told me to look to the Bible. I'd like to start by reading from the Book of Genesis ...And Phil Collins said unto him, 'Who are you oh angel?' And the angel replied 'I am Gabriel. I bring you this good news. I am going solo. Ye, shall be the singer of Genesis.' Chris is a genuine fan of Peter's, confirmed by the story of when he listened to Us on cassette while lost in Paris as a young school kid.

 

There was a general theme of everyone's speeches. Music is happiness, a community, and such a large part of who we are. Peter reflected greatly on what influence music had in his life and on all of us.

 

Then, we got some more music from him.  Washing of the Water was first and Chris Martin joined Peter in singing it. Talk about the ultimate fan dream. What came next was, I think, on everyone's wish list for the night. In Your Eyes with Yousou N’Dour was possibly the most energetic performance of the night and we were only getting started.

 

Kiss
They were the reason I was sitting in the building. This was the band that influenced so many already in the hall. It was beyond time for them to be inducted: 28 Gold records, over 100 million albums sold, and a fan base known simply as the Kiss Army.

Tom Morello of Rage Against the Machine, a super Kiss Army fan, was the perfect choice to induct Kiss. His speech was filled with humble reverence for Kiss. The honor to induct them must have been incredible!

 

What if you had never seen or heard Kiss before? What if you had never heard a note of their music, never viewed a YouTube clip, never seen a reality show featuring any of the members? And what if you wandered into a divey club in your hometown and saw Kiss in all their glory thrashing the place to the ground? One guy belching fire and spraying blood past his gargantuan tongue. A drum riser bursting through the roof. A guitar player so incredible his axe billowed smoke and shot rockets. A frontman flying back and forth across the joint like a superhero Tarzan. All of them in frightening horror movie/comic book superstar,

sexifying kabuki make up. All of them in black and silver warrior bondage gear and 7 inch platform heels. The place blowing up with explosions, screeching with sirens, raining confetti, all to the pounding soundtrack of bareknuckle badass heavy duty liberating rock and roll. What would you say if you saw THAT? You’d say, 'That band’s fucking AWESOME and deserves to be in the Rock and Roll Hall Of Fame!!' That’s what you’d say. ~Tom Morello

For the fans, it was nice that the members played nice. Gene Simmons thanked everyone, including Paul Stanley, calling him the brother I never knew I had. It was Paul Stanley that would openly criticize the Hall, [Fans] don't want to be spoon fed by a handful of people choices. The people pay for the tickets, the people buy albums, the people who nominate don't. Let's not forget that these are the people who make it all possible. We just benefit from it.

 

Cat Stevens

What I like about Cat / Yusuf is that he put fame aside and did what his heart wanted. But, I am selfish and very thankful that he realized how much music and fame was a part of him - and that he could still influence people without sacrificing his principles.

Art Garfunkel was a surprise, but then I realized what great respect he had for his friend Yusuf: The most sincere seeker, a loving man with an ever-expanding embrace, my friend Yusuf Islam, the artist we call Cat Stevens.

 

Warm and happy applause welcomed Yusuf back into the spotlight. He was humble, gracious and surprised that he actually was standing on the same stage that Kiss was just moments earlier. [He] doesn’t drink, doesn’t smoke, doesn’t throw televisions out of hotel rooms and only sleeps with his wife,” Islam said. “I’d say it was a very brave decision — and one which was unexpected and strangely, outrageously rock & roll. Peace. Mid-speech, a man walked to the stage and handed Yusef a glass of water. Making the night even more remarkable, that man was Bill Murray. 

 

The moment many had waited for had arrived. Cat / Yusuf took the stage and we were transported back to the 1970's. His voice had not changed. The tone of the songs no different from what we all remembered. We were treated to Father and Son, Wild World, and Peace Train.

 

Linda Ronstadt

My father loved Linda Ronstadt. My father would have LOVED this performance. Glenn Frey inducted Linda into the Hall as a friend of the legend who was unable to attend due to her ongoing battle with Parkinson's Disease. Linda covered so many genres of music over her career, from country-rock, jazz, and even Spanish. Her influence reached many women who would go on to have very successful careers of their own.

Linda Ronstadt recorded 31 albums. She sold over 100 million records and had a career that spanned five decades. She has been a shining example and a true inspiration to every woman who ever stood in front of a microphone and sang her heart out. And through it all, she remains nothing but authentic. You see, Linda lives in a place where art trumps commerce, where self-exploration trumps self-exploitation, where hard work and integrity trump fame and failure. She never wanted to be a star, she just wanted to make good music. ~Glenn Frey

So how do you honor a woman who has influenced so many other women to get out there and work until their dreams are realized? You invite epic talent in the form of five beautiful women with powerful voices and careers to sing Linda's songs. Carrie Underwood, Emmylou Harris, Bonnie Raitt, Sheryl Crowe, and Stevie Nicks became a super group of female singing legends.

Carrie Underwood: Different Drum
Bonnie Raitt and Emmylou Harris: Blue Bayou
Sheryl Crow: You’re No Good
Stevie Nicks: It’s So Easy
Underwood, Raitt, Harris, Crow, and Nicks: When Will I Be Loved

 






Bruce Springsteen and The E-Street Band

Bruce Springsteen had been inducted into the Hall years
before, something that he and Steven Van Zandt still find it difficult to speak about. But Thursday night, Bruce welcomed his band into the hall. And with age comes wisdom and the ability to acknowledge bumps in the road along the way. What also happens is the realization that without the E Street Band, Bruce Springsteen may have never happened.

So, real bands — real bands are made primarily from the neighborhood. From a real time and real place that exists for a little while, then changes and is gone forever. They’re made from the same circumstances, the same needs, the same hungers, culture. They’re forged in the search of something more pro

mising than what you were born into. These are the elements, the tools, and these are the people who built the place called E Street...But that is the hallmark of a rock and roll band — the narrative you tell together is bigger than anyone could have told on your own. That’s the Rolling Stones; the Sex Pistols; that’s Bob Marley and the Wailers. That’s James Brown and His Famous Flames. That’s Neil Young and Crazy Horse... I told a story with the E Street Band that was and is bigger than anything I could have told on my own.~ Bruce Springsteen

After some long, but very important speeches, Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band hit the stage, with the memories of Clarence Clemmons and Dan Federici very near.

 

We were treated to The E Street Shuffle, The River, and a 16 minute, jam filled Kitty’s Back In Town.

 
 




Hall & Oates
It was nothing but love for Philly when Questlove inducted Hall and Oates. He remembered the first time he heard Hall and Oates - She's Gone in 1974. Questlove was another example of fan inducting the musicians that inspired him.

A very anxious Daryl Hall and thankful John Oates quickly thanked family, friends, and Philly.

And speaking of Philadelphia, you know, I did some research, and did you know that we’re the only homegrown Philadelphia band that’s been put in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame? Now, I’m not saying that because I’m proud of it — I’m saying that because it’s fucked up. What happened to Todd Rundgren? The Stylistics? The Delfonics? Harold Melvin and the Blue Notes? Len Barry? Chubby Checker? How about the biggest single in the history of the world? Chubby Checker. Why isn’t he in? You guys tell me. I’m calling everybody out. That’s all I got to say. I wanna go play. ~Daryl Hall

 

And play they did. She’s Gone, I Can’t Go For That, and You Make My Dreams took us back to the 80's. For me, I Can't Go For That took me back to the days of waiting for Hall and Oates songs on the radio so I could hit record and proceed creating a my magical mixed tape.

 

 

Nirvana
While the other bands and artists inducted are so much a part of my childhood, it was Nirvana that musically told the story of who I was at 13. I was angry, sad, lost, didn't want to wear dresses, and very introspective. Bands like Slaughter and Poison were too happy and dying out. Metallica and the Chili Peppers made do with their new albums, but when we all first saw the video for Smells Like Teen Spirit, nothing would ever be the same. It was okay to be angry, to hate the system, wear Docs, and do anything that went against the grain of popularity. As I look back, kind of like the hipters, grunge killed itself because the outsiders became insiders. Someone like Kurt Cobain could not accept that, but someone like Dave Grohl could.

Michael Stipe, close friend of Kurt and Frances Bean's godfather, gave a very eloquent speech about what Nirvana was - not who they were, but what they were.

Lyrically exposing our frailty, our frustrations, our shortcomings. Singing of retreat and acceptance over triumphs of an outsider community with such immense possibility, stymied or ignored, but not held down or held back by the stupidity and political pettiness of the times. They spoke truth, and a lot of people listened.

They picked up the mantle in that particular battle, but they were singular, and loud, and melodic, and deeply original. And that voice. That voice. Kurt, we miss you. I miss you.

Nirvana defined a moment, a movement for outsiders: for the fags; for the fat girls; for the broken toys; the shy nerds; the Goth kids from Tennessee and Kentucky; for the rockers and the awkward; for the fed-up; the too-smart kids and the bullied. We were a community, a generation — in Nirvana’s case, several generations — in the echo chamber of that collective howl, and Allen Ginsberg would have been very proud, here. ~ Michael Stipe

Dave, Krist, Courtney Love and Kurt's mother took the stage to overwhelming applause. Most of us waited to see what Courtney would do. Dave thanked the drummers who came before him and the punk music that drove him to do what he loved. He also thanked his family and gave advice to those who look up to artists such as himself:

Most of all, I have to thank my family because I was lucky enough to grow up in a musical family and in an environment that encouraged music. Parents that never told me not to listen to fucking Slayer, you know what I mean? I listened to some really, really fucked-up shit! But my parents never told me not to, because I was finding myself. So Mom — thanks. Thanks for letting me drop out of high school [laughs, points at trophy]. Kids, stay in school, don’t do drugs — it’s a bad idea.

I have to thank my beautiful wife, Jordyn, and my two daughters, who I hope grow up to inspire people just like every musician I grew up inspired by. Because I think that’s the deal — you look up to your heroes and you shouldn’t be intimidated by them; you should be inspired by them. Don’t look up at the poster on your wall and think, "Fuck, I can never do that." Look at the poster on your wall and think, "Fuck, I’m going to do that!"

 

Krist Novaselic and Wendy Cobain both reflected on Kurt. Very touching to see how much one man can influence so many.

 

And Courtney threw her speech away and hugged Dave. I hope it was real - for Kurt's sake.

 

And to end the night, a spectacular trip into Nirvana history with four wonderful women fronting Nirvana: Joan Jett (Smells Like Teen Spirit), Sonic Youth's Kim Gordon (Aneurysm), St. Vincent's Annie Clark (Lithium), and Lorde (All Apologies).  All three choices were absolutely perfect, Lorde especially. I truly feel Lorde embodies the same anti-establishment that Kurt did. I also hope that she overcomes the urge to fight it and overcome it gracefully because she does have a great career ahead of her.

 I could not have imagined a more perfect night. I hope that it is only the beginning for the Hall to begin to listen. They need to listen to the Dave Grohl's of the world. He is saving rock and roll, literally and figuratively. He gets it. He was a fan turned musician, but he's still a fan. Those people that Paul Stanley referred to don't get it. They don't know what it's like to pay money for partial view seats, to sit outside a park and listen to the show, to buy bootleg obscure versions of a song you've heard a thousand times-but you just haven't heard that one version.

You know I have my wish list of who I want to see inducted - so here we go: Stevie Ray Vaughan, Alice in Chains (eligible in 2015), TRex, Lou Reed, Warren Zevon, the B-52's, Motely Crue, Dire Straits,  Sugarhill Gang, Deep Purple, Chicago, The Cure, Depeche Mode ... you get it. I believe that the fans and the musicians should get the vote. Kiss, the Stylistics, and Chubby Checker influenced artists. They pioneered their craft. Those are the ones who deserve to be in the Hall.

I feel incredible blessed and fortunate to have been able to attend what felt like a family affair. Music lovers speak the same language, finish each other's sentences, and can understand music as if it is an extension of their own soul. It is a beautiful thing and I cannot agree with Peter Gabriel more: It can make you feel so alive, so connected to the people around you, and connected to what you really are inside.