03-16-2005, 01:17 PM
U2 , Pretenders, O'Jays, Percy Sledge, Buddy Guy inducted to the HOF 2005
AP
Wednesday, March 16, 2005
NEW YORK (AP) - Minutes after being officially bumped up to legendary status after a raucous, sentimental induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, U2 headed to the media room to answer questions about their momentous honour.
But perhaps only a rock band fronted by Bono would first be asked about everything but music.
"Bono! ... What about the Nobel Peace Prize?" one reporter called out, asking whether his mission to eradicate third-world debt would get him the honour.
"Rock star is already having the cream of the cake," Bono replied.
Another wondered whether he would assume the presidency of the World Bank, as the latest Bono-leading-the-free-world rumour would suggest.
Over U2's 30-year journey from the streets of Dublin, Ireland, to becoming the world's most important rock band, there have been times when Bono's charisma, his charitable efforts - and now a fashion line - have eclipsed his collaborators and lifelong friends guitarist The Edge, bassist Adam Clayton and drummer Larry Mullen Jr.
But on Monday evening, their rock peers recognised the collaborative achievements of perhaps the most ground-breaking rock group in the past two decades.
"Uno, dos, tres, catorce," said Bruce Springsteen, quoting the Spanish countdown in U2's recent hit, Vertigo, as he inducted the band into the rock hall with a loving, humorous tribute.
"The translation is one, two, three, fourteen. That is the correct math for rock 'n' roll. The whole had better equal a lot more than the sum of its parts - or else you're just rubbing two sticks together."
On a night when The Pretenders, The O'Jays, Percy Sledge and blues legend Buddy Guy received keys to rock's exclusive club, U2 was clearly the star attraction.
"They are the keepers of some of the most beautiful sonic orchestration in rock and roll," Springsteen said.
Though they weren't inducted until after midnight, the ballroom was still packed. And when they performed some of their biggest hits, including I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For with an assist from Springsteen - everyone, from celebrities such as Catherine Zeta-Jones to grizzled industry folk, jumped out of their seats to cheer them on.
Highlights of the induction ceremony will air Saturday on VH1. Hall of fame members are permanently enshrined in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in Cleveland. Musicians, industry professionals and journalists vote on the inductees.
U2's induction was hardly the evening's only highlight.
The O'Jays are best known for their work with Philadelphia soul producers Kenny Gamble and Leon Huff, but the gospel-styled singers are actually from Canton, Ohio. Their hits include Back Stabbers, Love Train and For the Love of Money.
After film clips showed them in wild tuxedos during the 1970s, the quartet wore simple black suits to perform a medley including each of those songs.
They were inducted by Justin Timberlake. "Anyone who's ever written, produced or performed something soulful stands in the shadows of these giants," he said.
If nothing else, Sledge's voice has been the backdrop to countless romantic encounters. The Southern soul singer is best known for When a Man Loves a Woman.
Rod Stewart called it "one of the best performances I've ever heard and I'm sure you've ever heard."
The Pretenders came from the same rock generation as U2. Chrissie Hynde was a tough but tender role model for women, singing Brass in Pocket, Precious and Back on the Chain Gang.
The band formed after Hynde, an American, moved to London to be part of the city's fertile music scene. She's soldiered on, with drummer Martin Chambers, after guitarists James Honeyman-Scott and Pete Farndon died as drug casualties.
"They went through all the heartache that rock 'n' roll is built on - they lost two band members and they never gave up," said Neil Young, who inducted the band and sat in for a ferocious performance of My City Was Gone.
Brings back memories when you could understand the words and the performers didnt have the benifit of studio enhanz ment and* lips synching*
AP
Wednesday, March 16, 2005
NEW YORK (AP) - Minutes after being officially bumped up to legendary status after a raucous, sentimental induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, U2 headed to the media room to answer questions about their momentous honour.
But perhaps only a rock band fronted by Bono would first be asked about everything but music.
"Bono! ... What about the Nobel Peace Prize?" one reporter called out, asking whether his mission to eradicate third-world debt would get him the honour.
"Rock star is already having the cream of the cake," Bono replied.
Another wondered whether he would assume the presidency of the World Bank, as the latest Bono-leading-the-free-world rumour would suggest.
Over U2's 30-year journey from the streets of Dublin, Ireland, to becoming the world's most important rock band, there have been times when Bono's charisma, his charitable efforts - and now a fashion line - have eclipsed his collaborators and lifelong friends guitarist The Edge, bassist Adam Clayton and drummer Larry Mullen Jr.
But on Monday evening, their rock peers recognised the collaborative achievements of perhaps the most ground-breaking rock group in the past two decades.
"Uno, dos, tres, catorce," said Bruce Springsteen, quoting the Spanish countdown in U2's recent hit, Vertigo, as he inducted the band into the rock hall with a loving, humorous tribute.
"The translation is one, two, three, fourteen. That is the correct math for rock 'n' roll. The whole had better equal a lot more than the sum of its parts - or else you're just rubbing two sticks together."
On a night when The Pretenders, The O'Jays, Percy Sledge and blues legend Buddy Guy received keys to rock's exclusive club, U2 was clearly the star attraction.
"They are the keepers of some of the most beautiful sonic orchestration in rock and roll," Springsteen said.
Though they weren't inducted until after midnight, the ballroom was still packed. And when they performed some of their biggest hits, including I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For with an assist from Springsteen - everyone, from celebrities such as Catherine Zeta-Jones to grizzled industry folk, jumped out of their seats to cheer them on.
Highlights of the induction ceremony will air Saturday on VH1. Hall of fame members are permanently enshrined in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in Cleveland. Musicians, industry professionals and journalists vote on the inductees.
U2's induction was hardly the evening's only highlight.
The O'Jays are best known for their work with Philadelphia soul producers Kenny Gamble and Leon Huff, but the gospel-styled singers are actually from Canton, Ohio. Their hits include Back Stabbers, Love Train and For the Love of Money.
After film clips showed them in wild tuxedos during the 1970s, the quartet wore simple black suits to perform a medley including each of those songs.
They were inducted by Justin Timberlake. "Anyone who's ever written, produced or performed something soulful stands in the shadows of these giants," he said.
If nothing else, Sledge's voice has been the backdrop to countless romantic encounters. The Southern soul singer is best known for When a Man Loves a Woman.
Rod Stewart called it "one of the best performances I've ever heard and I'm sure you've ever heard."
The Pretenders came from the same rock generation as U2. Chrissie Hynde was a tough but tender role model for women, singing Brass in Pocket, Precious and Back on the Chain Gang.
The band formed after Hynde, an American, moved to London to be part of the city's fertile music scene. She's soldiered on, with drummer Martin Chambers, after guitarists James Honeyman-Scott and Pete Farndon died as drug casualties.
"They went through all the heartache that rock 'n' roll is built on - they lost two band members and they never gave up," said Neil Young, who inducted the band and sat in for a ferocious performance of My City Was Gone.
Brings back memories when you could understand the words and the performers didnt have the benifit of studio enhanz ment and* lips synching*