I got sent to Cleveland for work and ended up attending the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony for a stacked class that included Tina Turner, The Foo Fighters, and Jay Z. I had never been to an event like this and figured it was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. My wife made last-minute plans to join me, and the October 30 event exceeded expectations. You’ll be able to see it on HBO when it debuts November 20.
Here were some of my favorite moments from the star-studded concert:
Stars Come Out for Carole King Tribute
Taylor Swift opened the show from the the Rocket Mortgage Field with a beautiful tribute to Carole King performing the singer-songwriter’s hit “Will You Love Me Tomorrow?”
“I was raised by two of her biggest fans, who taught me the basic truths of life as they saw it: that you should treat people the way you want to be treated, that you must believe that you can achieve whatever you want to in life, and that Carole King is the greatest songwriter of all time,” Swift said during a speech after the performance.
Jennifer Hudson followed that up with an impactful performance of “Natural Woman.”
LL Cool J’s epic Performance
In my opinion, LL Cool J had the standout performance of the night with two surprises that everyone was talking about the next morning.
The rapper and actor was joined on stage by Jennifer Lopez and Eminem during a medley that included “Go Cut Creator Go,” “Going Back to Cali,” and “Mama Said Knock You Out.”
Surprise Appearance by Eminem
As noted above, the surprise appearance from Eminem was a huge shocker for the sold-out crowd!
Eminem walked on stage and did a rap battle-style performance of LL Cool J’s “Rock the Bells.” You have to think it’s only a matter of time before Marshall Mathers gets his own spot in the HOF.
The Foo Fighters Jammin’ with Paul McCartney
After the Foo Fighters were inducted into the Hall of Fame, they returned to the stage to jam with the man who presented them: Paul McCartney.
As you’ll see in the clip, the group did a show-closing cover of the Beatles’ “Get Back.”
The Go-Go’s Make History
Fifteen years after becoming eligible for induction, rock’s most successful all-female group finally took their spot in the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame.
It was The Go-Go’s first time to appear on the ballot. They performed a medley of their biggest hits and used the opportunity to call for more women in the world of rock.
“There would not be less of us if more of us were visible,” said the band’s bassist Kathy Valentine.
Austin Kellerman 