An encore post re-celebrating this year’s Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony and Concert that took place in early November in Los Angeles. A three-hour broadcast airs tonight at 8pm est / 7pm cst on ABC in the US and is on Hulu the next day.

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As has become a recent tradition for us, we pulled up stakes over the previous weekend and headed west to attend the 40th Annual Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony, held this year at the Peacock Theater in downtown Los Angeles.

The Peacock is the smallest of the Rock Hall Ceremony’s three rotating venues (Rocket Mortgage Arena in Cleveland and Barclays Center in Brooklyn) with a mere 7,100 seats, compared to almost three times that capacity at the two arenas.

Despite its size, the theater (formerly the Nokia, then the Microsoft) has one of the largest indoor stages (including bleacher fan sections on the direct right and left of the performers) so is ideal for the many award shows it hosts and still looks sparkly new, despite first opening back in 2007.

The Rock & Roll Hall of Fame’s Class of 2025 included Bad Company, Chubby Checker, Joe Cocker, Cyndi Lauper, Outkast, Soundgarden, and The White Stripes, with Salt-N-Pepa and Warren Zevon inducted under the Musical Influence category:

Additionally, producer Thom Bell, keyboardist Nicky Hopkins, and Wrecking Crew bassist Carol Kaye were inducted under the Musical Excellence category and executive Lenny Waronker received the Ahmet Ertegun Award, named for the land legendary Warner/Atlantic Records Chairman.

Presenters, performers, and musical guests included: Beck, Brandi Carlile, David Letterman, Doja Cat, Elton John, Flea, Iggy Pop, J.I.D, Killer Mike, Maxwell, Missy Elliott, Olivia Rodrigo, Questlove, RAYE, Sleepy Brown, Taylor Momsen, Teddy Swims, Twenty One Pilots, Joe Perry, Nathaniel Rateliff, Mick Fleetwood, Nancy Wilson, Jerry Cantrell, Jim Carrey, En Vogue, Donald Glover, Chappell Roan, Janelle Monae, The Killers, and Avril Lavigne.

The four and a half-hour show began on a high note with a salute to the late Sly Stone, who was inducted into the Hall with his band The Family Stone in 1993 and passed away in June.

A stacked lineup of performers including Beck, Questlove, Leon Thomas III, Flea and Stevie Wonder began on an energetic “Dance to the Music,” Maxwell emerged to vocally assist on “Everyday People” and “Thank You (Falettinme Be Mice Elf Agin),” and EGOT winner Jennifer Hudson brought “Higher” to another level.

SLY STONE TRIBUTE

“Dance to the Music” (with Flea on bass and Beck singing some verse vocals)
“Everyday People” (with Maxwell)
“Thank You (Falettinme Be Mice Elf Agin)” (with Maxwell)
“I Want to Take You Higher” (with Jennifer Hudson)

Fleetwood Mac drummer and co-founder Mick Fleetwood reflected on the legacy of Bad Company, one of rock’s earliest super groups and the first band signed to Led Zeppelin’s Swan Song Records. Two of the four members have passed away and singer Paul Rodgers was unfortunately unable to attend due to health reasons (two major and 11 minor strokes in recent years- who knew?!) but he did record a nice video, leaving drummer Simon Kirke to lead an all-star tribute band, which included Todd Ronning and Spike Edney.

BAD COMPANY (inducted by Mick Fleetwood)

“Feel Like Makin’ Love” (with Chris Robinson, Joe Perry, Nancy Wilson)
“Can’t Get Enough” (with Bryan Adams, Joe Perry, Nancy Wilson)

Musical Influence Award winners Salt-N-Pepa were inducted by Missy Elliott, still beaming from the glow of her own 2023 induction. The occasion also served as an opportunity to speak for the other less recognized black women in the music industry that were still struggling for proper respect. S & P and DJ Spinderella were joined by producer Hurby “Luv Bug” Azor in accepting, all so critical to their long-term success and brought the energy level in theater up with their performance, with most in the crowd on their feet and dancing.

SALT N PEPA (inducted by Missy Elliott)

Hits Medley:

“My Mic Sounds Nice” / “Shoop” / “Let’s Talk About Sex”
“Whatta Man” (shortened, with En Vogue)
“Push It” (shortened, with Kid ’n Play)

Former late-night host and comedian David Letterman inducted his friend and guest bandleader Warren Zevon, telling stories of the musician’s lovable grumpiness and status as a musician’s musician, as well as echoed Zevon’s quote to “enjoy every sandwich” which he mentioned when appearing on Letterman’’s show for the last time. Along with Zevon’s musical cohort, the ever-present Waddy Wachtel, The Killers tore through a single-song tribute with guitarist Dave Keuning playing Zevon’s gray guitar that he gifted to Letterman, who had been taking care of the instrument since Zevon’s death from lung cancer in 2003.

WARREN ZEVON (inducted by David Letterman)

“Lawyers, Guns and Money” The Killers with Waddy Wachtel.

For fans of The White Stripes, hopes were dashed for any chance of an onstage reunion, as drummer Meg White chose to not attend, though did add to Jack White’s stirring acceptance speech. White didn’t perform either (boo!) but was nattily dressed in a tie and candy red jacket that identified himself with his former two-piece band.

In his speech, White provided inspiration for the next generation of young musicians, now playing in garages and basements, and listed a few dozen bands from many genres that inspired his sound (and even included Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster, the Cleveland creators of Superman).

Iggy Pop’s induction speech was one that only the legend could give (despite fumbling with his glasses) and Olivia Rodrigo and Feist’s gentle “I Think We’re Gonna Be Friends” from a center b-stage was emotional and then counter-balanced by an impressive “Seven Nation Army” from Twenty-One Pilots, the song now clearly embedded in the cultural zeitgeist and now heard at almost every sporting event.

THE WHITE STRIPES (inducted by Iggy Pop)

“We’re Going to Be Friends” (with Olivia Rodrigo and Feist)
“Seven Nation Army” (with extended bridge and outro by Twenty-One Pilots)

We were thrilled to see both André 3000 and Big Boi together on stage to accept Outkast‘s award after Donald Glover’s speech firmly reminded us of their influence on the hip-hop genre. The pair basically put the whole Southern/ATL scene on the map as its own unique and true sub-genre and was very different from the sounds being heard on either coast at the time.

The stage posse grew to crowd around the podium as Andre reminisced on the duo’s first low-rent studio, The Dungeon, and paid tribute to Organized Noize producer Rico Wade, who passed away last year. The two sadly did not perform together (not even any jazz flute from André, sob!) but Big Boi was more than willing to jump about on stage (yes, along with the ever-present Sleepy Brown), joined by a 13-piece band. Guests included Doja Cat on “Ms. Jackson,” Tyler, the Creator restlessly moving everywhere for a still-poignant “B.O.B (Bombs Over Baghdad)” and KCKS’ native Janelle Monáe keeping energy up during “Hey Ya!”, even going out into the crowd for high-fives and sing-alongs on the chorus.

OUTKAST (inducted by Donald Glover)

“ATLiens” (with JID)
“Ms. Jackson” (with Doja Cat)
“B.O.B.(Bombs Over Baghdad)” (with Tyler, The Creator)
“Hey Ya!” (with Janelle Monáe)
“The Way You Move” (with Sleepy Brown)
“The Whole World” (with Killer Mike)

It may have been an odd choice to have actor and comedian Jim Carrey induct Soundgarden, but he effectively made the case on why it made sense, leaning on his connections with the band over the years. Singer Chris Cornell was very obviously still missed, eight years after his untimely passing, but the mood was also joyful, reuniting and playing with original bassist Hiro Yamamoto for the first time since 1989. Core members drummer Matt Cameron, bassist Ben Shepherd, and guitarist Kim Thayil played together with a very Seattle-centric lineup of guest musicians, and were bookended by Cornell’s eldest daughter, Toni, singing her version of “Fell on Black Days” accompanied by Heart’s Nancy Wilson.

SOUNDGARDEN (inducted by Jim Carrey along with Lily Cornell Silver)

“Rusty Cage” (with Taylor Momsen, Mike McCready)
“Black Hole Sun” (with Brandi Carlile, Jerry Cantrell, Hiro Yamamoto, and Taylor Momsen)
“Fell on Black Days” (with Toni Cornell and Nancy Wilson)

The late Beach Boys leader and songwriter/producer (and 1988 inductee) Brian Wilson was paid tribute to, by none other than Elton John who recalled nervously meeting one of his own idols as a young Englishman during his first visit to L.A.. With an all-star band that included drummer Kenny Aronoff, legendary musician / producer Don Was, and former Heartbreaker Benmont Tench on violin, they paid tribute to Wilson (who also passed away in June) with what many consider the greatest pop song of all-time.

BRIAN WILSON TRIBUTE (by Elton John)

“God Only Knows” (Elton John with Don Was, Benmont Tench and Kenny Aronoff)

Chubby Checker, synonymous with those early rock hits, “The Twist” and “Let’s Twist Again” followed up his previous 2002 protest for perceived lack of proper recognition, by purposefully booking a conflicting gig so as not to be present, but did nicely send a video proclaiming his ultimate appreciation for induction and then broke into his famous hit on stage.

Girls still want to have fun as we found out during Cyndi Lauper’s set, backed by an all-woman band which included Go-Go’s drummer Gina Schock, The Revolution’s Lisa Coleman on keys, and former Smashing Pumpkins/current Garbage touring bassist Ginger Pooley, beginning with a slowed and inspiring “True Colors.”

Cellphone lights were waving everywhere during “Time After Time” with Raye’s vocal help, and the playful energy peaked on an extended all-female “Girls Just Want to Have Fun.”

Chappell Roan’s induction speech following, stumbled slightly out of the gate as she struggled with the teleprompter, but Cyndi accepted in her distinctive accent and spoke off the cuff, weaving in stories and memories of the early days and then pop success. This would lead into an evolving career that included a Broadway smash (Kinky Boots) and her well-known charity work. Lauper thanked almost no one by name in particular, saying if she started, she’d undoubtedly leave too many deserving people out.

CYNDI LAUPER (inducted by Chappell Roan)

“True Colors”
“Time After Time” (with Raye)
“Girls Just Want to Have Fun” (with Avril Lavigne, Salt‐N‐Pepa, and DJ Spinderella)

More than four hours in, the crowd was still feelin’ alright as Sheffield UK native Joe Cocker was finally inducted via a speech from Bryan Adams. The tribute performance used his classic album, “Mad Dogs and Englishmen” as inspiration for a gritty, bluesy mini-set. The superstar collective was anchored by Tedeschi Trucks Band (Susan Tedeschi & Derek Trucks) with Nathaniel Rateliff, Teddy Swims, Cyndi Lauper, The Black Crowes’ Chris Robinson and Bryan Adams, all culminating in a show finale on the mini-jam of “With a Little Help from My Friends” to finish the evening.

JOE COCKER (inducted by Bryan Adams)

The Letter (The Box Tops cover) (with Nathaniel Rateliff)
Feelin’ Alright? (Traffic cover) (with Teddy Swims)
With a Little Help From My Friends (The Beatles cover) (with Bryan Adams, Cyndi Lauper, Nathaniel Rateliff, Chris Robinson, Teddy Swims)