DEF LEPPARD, and STEVIE NICKS were two of the acts that went into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Friday night. An edited version of the ceremony will air on HBO on the 27th of this month
STEVIE NICKS started the show with four songs. She was joined by DON HENLEY for their hit “Leather and Lace” . . . and HARRY STYLES took the TOM PETTY party in “Stop Draggin‘ My Heart Around”. Stevie is the first woman to be inducted TWICE . . . first with FLEETWOOD MAC, and now as a solo artist. DAVID BYRNE inducted RADIOHEAD, SIMON LEBON and JOHN TAYLOR from Duran Duran inducted ROXY MUSIC, TRENT REZNOR inducted THE CURE, SUSANNA HOFFS from the Bangles inducted THE ZOMBIES. DEF LEPPARD were the last band to be inducted, and QUEEN guitarist BRIAN MAY said, quote, “I regard all these guys as great friends and kind of part of my family; that’s why it’s so important for me to be here. I wouldn’t have let anybody else do this.” Def Leppard singer JOE ELLIOTT spoke for the whole band. He said, quote, “It did seem that every time we made some musical headway, life would knock us back down somewhat . . .” [But] if alcoholism, car crashes and cancer couldn’t kill us, the Nineties had no [effing] chance!” He also mentioned drummer RICK ALLEN staying with the band after losing his left arm . . . which brought the crowd to its feet. After they played “Hysteria”, “Rock of Ages”, “Photograph”, and “Pour Some Sugar on Me”, it was time for the all-star jam. Brian May, Susanna Hoffs, Colin Blunstone and Rod Argent from the Zombies, Steven Van Zandt, and Ian Hunter came out and joined Def Leppard for the Mott the Hoople classic, “All the Young Dudes”.
THE ROLLING STONES have postponed their upcoming North American tour dates. The band says that MICK JAGGER’s doctors have advised him not to tour right now, but there’s no word what’s wrong with him. The Stones say he’s expected to make a complete recovery.
NIKKI SIXX says the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame told him that MOTLEY CRUE is never getting in.
MICHAEL ANTHONY says a reunion with VAN HALEN isn’t happening.
METALLICA will play a second “S&M2” show, because bots scooped up all the tickets from the first one.
Coming in June – Funko Pop! figures of The Police. Meanwhile, STING has an album coming out at the end of May called “My Songs”, with re-imagined versions of tracks from his POLICE and solo days.
BRET MICHAELS says that POISON will return next year with “an incredible tour” and “hopefully” at least one new song.
TONY IOMMI admits that being labeled Satanists helped BLACK SABBATH break through . . . quote, “It created this thing, and people wanted to come and see what we were like. So the image was good and bad, really.”
The DIO hologram really IS going on tour this summer. Here’s a preview:
“Dirt” by ALICE IN CHAINS tops a recent list of the greatest grunge albums of all time. “Nevermind“ by NIRVANA is second, followed by “Ten” by PEARL JAM, then “Superunknown“, from SOUNDGARDEN and at #5, “Vs.“, from PEARL JAM.
ERIC CLAPTON is bringing back his Crossroads Guitar Festival for the first time in six years to benefit his Crossroads Centre. The show will happen in Dallas September 20-21, and CLAPTON has a long list of featured performers including ROBERT CRAY, PETER FRAMPTON, JEFF BECK, BILLY GIBBONS JOE WALSH and more.