Willie Nelson, Missy Elliott and more will be inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame
The 2023 Rock & Roll Hall of Fame inductees include Willie Nelson, Missy Elliott, Sheryl Crow, George Michael and Rage Against the Machine.
Ariana Triggs, USA TODAY
BROOKLYN, New York – Sheryl Crow showed off her versatility, Missy Elliott literally lit up the stage and Rage Against the Machine – or rather Tom Morello – broke out with the message to “cause a lot of trouble.”
The spirit of music – not just rock, but pop, rap, R&B and country – took over Brooklyn’s Barclays Center on Friday as the 2023 Rock & Roll Hall of Fame induction ceremony took place after a detour to Los Angeles last year East Coast returned.
For the first time in its 38-year history, the four-and-a-half hour production full of performances and speeches was streamed live on Disney+ (now available on-demand). A condensed three-hour edition will air on ABC on January 1 (8 p.m. EST).
In addition to Crow, Elliott and Rage Against the Machine, this year’s diverse newcomers included Willie Nelson, The Spinners, Kate Bush and George Michael, the winner of the fan vote with more than a million votes.
The Musical Influence Award included tributes from DJ Kool Herc – whom inducer LL Cool J praised as “one of the founding fathers of hip-hop” – and Link Wray, whose legacy was honored with a surprise performance of “Rumble” by Led Zeppelin icon Jimmy Page. “
Chaka Khan (shining through a medley including “I Feel For You” with Common and “Sweet Thing” with HER), veteran musician/producer/songwriter Al Kooper and Elton John’s lyrical consigliere Bernie Taupin were selected for the Musical Excellence Award, during “Soul Train” legend Don Cornelius was honored with the Ahmet Ertegun Award.
Here are some standout moments from the show.
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Sheryl Crow sings with Stevie Nicks, Olivia Rodrigo and Peter Frampton
Call it a show of generational respect. Crow opened the ceremony with “If It Makes You Happy,” its woozy shuffle complemented by her fiercely strummed guitar. But standing next to her was budding star Rodrigo, cocky and sweet as she mimicked Crow’s rendition of “Then why the hell are you so sad?” lyrical. But then one of Crow’s heroes, Stevie Nicks, appeared in shimmering black to sing a duet with a prissy reading of “Strong Enough,” and the performance culminated in the addition of another Crow favorite, Peter Frampton, to the stage sat and took off a crackling guitar solo during “Everyday Is a Winding Road.”
Andrew Ridgeley introduces George Michael: “His grace gave hope”
While the lineup of singers honoring Michael’s memory – Miguel (“Careless Whisper”), Adam Levine (“Faith”) and Carrie Underwood (“One More Try”) was, let’s just say, curious, Andrew Ridgeley proved to be the ideal one Choice for induction is the man he still calls “Yog.”
Looking dapper in his plum suit, Ridgeley recalled his and Michael’s extreme success with Wham! (“the realization of everything I aspired to be”), Michael’s extensive and diverse list of collaborators (including Paul McCartney, Whitney Houston, Aretha Franklin and Tony Bennett), and their lifelong friendship.
Ridgeley praised Michael, who died in 2016, for his songwriting skills, smooth voice and music that could make listeners “jump with joy” or “cry with pain.”
“His pain healed ours and his grace gave hope,” Ridgeley said in the evening’s most elegant speech.
New edition in honor of the weirdos with dancing and singing
None of The Spinners were present to accept their award, but that didn’t dampen the appreciation from New Edition, whose sound carries plenty of Spinners DNA.
Dressed in matching burgundy crushed velvet jackets and fedoras, the group, including Bobby Brown, danced through coordinated dance moves and fuzzy harmonies to soul classics “I’ll Be Around,” “Could It Be I’m Falling In Love” and “The Rubberband.” Man” and transformed the stage into a set from “Soul Train” for the latter.
Willie Nelson performs with Chris Stapleton, Dave Matthews and Sheryl Crow
After a charming, humorous speech from Nelson’s Farm Aid friend Matthews (“Did you know Willie likes to smoke weed?” he mused), which touched on the country legend’s 72 albums, his philanthropy and his love of golf , 90-year-old Nelson appeared on stage, sitting with his guitar.
“Thank you for appreciating my music,” he said, then joked, “I haven’t even died yet and I’m being recorded.”
An awestruck Stapleton played and sang alongside Nelson on “Whiskey River,” Crow returned with a honeyed voice for “Crazy,” and Matthews joined the party for a lively rendition of “On the Road Again.”
Elton John calls Bernie Taupin “a wizard of cinema in words”
Yes, it was exciting to hear John play a solo piano version of “Tiny Dancer,” but even more captivating was his extended speech about the man he calls his best friend and brother, and the kismet that sometimes leads to that Paths merge.
“We reached heights we never thought possible and there was never an argument,” John said, adding with a grin: “He was disgusted by my behavior – that’s a given.”
John revealed that he and his longtime lyricist have just completed an album in Los Angeles – 56 years after they began their partnership – that is “full of youth and vitality.”
However, he saved his most praiseful words for Taupin until the end: “He is a magician of cinema in words.”
Missy Elliott lit up the stage and made history
The first female rapper to be inducted into the Rock Hall delivered the most incendiary performance of the show and a fitting conclusion considering there was no all-star finale like in years past.
A crowd of dancers wearing neon masks flooded the stage for “Get Ur Freak On,” with Elliott appearing among them, resplendent in a gold sequin tracksuit and hat.
The full production — frantic lights, clouds of smoke — included her dancers in yellow jackets for “The Rain (Supa Dupa Fly)” and lining up for coordinated footwork for “Pass That Dutch.”
Elliott, clearly enjoying her time on stage, sashayed through the crowd before rejoining her dance team for “Lose Control.” As Elliott finished her performance, her host, Queen Latifah, stood at the edge of the stage, skipping and bowing to her friend, one of hip-hop’s most innovative artists.
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