Live from the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction ceremony: Tom Waits, Dr. John, Darlene Love, Alice Cooper and Neil Diamond celebrate in New York

 

Now into its second quarter-century, its rebellious youth largely a memory and its adolescence rapidly receding into the past, the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame's annual induction ceremony canonized Neil Diamond, the Alice Cooper band, Tom Waits, Dr. John and Darlene Love as its newest performer honorees on Monday night at the Waldorf Astoria in Manhattan.

All five had long been eligible under the hall's requirement that acts only become candidates 25 years after the release of their first recording, making this something of a catch-up year for those like Cooper, Diamond and Love, all of whom sold millions of records in their prime, or in the cases of Waits and Dr. John, artists whose critically admired work hadn't been accompanied by the kind of commercial success that might have helped usher them into the hall earlier. Fellow pianist Leon Russell was inducted in the "sideman" category.

The performers quickly made up for lost time, though. Upon being inducted by his shock-rock disciple Rob Zombie, Cooper and his band mates opened with a string of their hook-filled '70s hits accompanied by a choir of ghoulishly outfitted and makeup-laden kids from the Ronald McDonald house of New York. It was an aptly dramatic moment from an artist whose onstage theatrics have often overshadowed his hits — teenage classics like “School's Out” and “Eighteen.”

In typical fashion, as mature and respectable as the hall of fame has grown over time, singer and frontman Vincent Furnier, a.k.a. Cooper, made his acceptance speech with his neck and shoulders draped with a yellow boa — the snake, not the scarf. Then he saluted his wife on their 35th wedding anniversary.

Bette Midler referenced her own status among the overlooked when inducting Love. “I'm so happy to be here,” she told the black-tie audience of several hundred that also included Bruce Springsteen, Neil Young, Bob Geldof and Robbie Robertson among its rock star elite. “Now when you Google ‘Bette Midler' and ‘Rock and Roll Hall of Fame,' at least something will come up.”

Midler said that Love's voice on such Phil Spector-produced hits as “He's a Rebel” had “changed the world. Now girls all wanted the rebel guy.... She picked us up by the scruff of our necks and shook the starch out of us.” Midler later joined the jam session for a rousing version of “He's a Rebel.”

Near tears, Love noted that she will turn 70 later this year, and thanked Spector “for recognizing my talent and making me the main voice in his Wall of Sound.” Her speech elicited a standing ovation. Later, she sang “Zip-A-Dee-Doo-Dah” with Springsteen playing a lowdown solo on a Telecaster.

Los Angeles figured prominently in this year's class. Art Rupe, founder of L.A.-based Specialty Records, which was home to Little Richard and, for a time, Sam Cooke, was entered into the hall as a recipient of the Ahmet Ertegun Award, given to noteworthy record executives. Also inducted as a non-performer was Jac Holzman, founder of Elektra Records, which, early in its life, released classic L.A. records by bands the Doors and Love, among many others. Dr. John, Darlene Love, Waits and the Alice Cooper band also were in L.A. at pivotal points in their careers.

Perhaps not surprisingly, however, it was the New Orleanian who first turned heads. Even before he came onstage following his induction by John Legend, R&B-funk-meister Mac Rebennack, a.k.a. Dr. John, stood out in his neon purple attire amid a sea of penguin-suited men and evening-gown-bedecked women. Rebennack is best known for his virtuoso piano version of “Iko Iko” and his own classics “I Walk on Gilded Splinters” and “Right Place Wrong Time,” which he played Monday with full-force backing from the 20-piece, Paul Shaffer-led big band and chorus. John Legend joined for a piano fest on “Such a Night.” Dr. John has been a crucial figure in the pantheon of New Orleans rock, funk and R&B for 50 years. But he, too, has held more of a cult following rather than the kind of broad-based popularity that has worked in favor of so many inductees over the years.

Conversely, Neil Diamond came onstage snapping digital photos of the crowd before him, capturing a moment that he perhaps thought might never arrive for the opposite reason. Despite his widely respected skills as a songwriter and his long history as an entertainer known for appealing to Middle America, he'd previously been passed over at least in part because of those mainstream tendencies.

“Why so long?” wondered Paul Simon while saluting Diamond, before answering his own question. “I have a theory. Six words: ‘You Don't Bring Me Flowers Anymore.' Beautiful love song. Recorded with Barbra Streisand, one of the great voices of our time. But Barbra Streisand, rock and roll? I don't think they even allow that kind of DNA near this place.”

For his part, Waits, whose work over the last four decades he has described as composed of “brawlers, bawlers and bastards,” pondered the usefulness of his award. Upon learning of his nomination in December, Waits had released a typically humorous statement: “I never really cared about the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame … but now I am surprised to discover how much I DO care.”

On Monday night, after a loopily poetic introduction from fellow musical iconoclast Neil Young (who later joined Waits for a rendition of the latter's “Get Behind the Mule”), the newly enshrined Waits identified one potential reason for his excitement. Holding the statuette, he noted that it was “really heavy. I'm wondering if there's a keychain version I can keep on me so some day a guy will say ‘Pete, take the cuffs off — he's a hall of famer.'”

- Randy Lewis, reporting from New York City

Top photo: Inductee Tom Waits and Neil Young perform onstage at the 26th annual Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony at The Waldorf=Astoria on March 14, 2011 in New York City. Credit: Michael Loccisano/Getty Images.

Middle photo: Singer Alice Cooper performs after being inducted during the 2011 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction ceremony at the Waldorf Astoria Hotel in New York March 14, 2011. Credit: Reatures/Lucas Jackson

Bottom photo: Singer Neil Diamond takes a photo from the stage of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction ceremony. Credit: Reuter/Lucas Jackson

Comments

[Rockin'Robert]

Okay...on to next year inductees...Donovan and Arthur Lee and Love! Oh, and maybe Dave Gold and (the late Stan Ross) of Gold Star Recording Studios. All worthy choices!

[Rockin'Robert]

Oops..pardon my previous typos...where was I? Oh yeah...Donovan(long overdue), Arthur Lee's band LOVE('Forever Changes' alone should warrant induction). And, The founding owners of Gold Star Recording Studios, Dave Gold and (the late) Stan Ross. No question! All are worthy!

[buger]

These are all great stars in their own right, but when will they induct Wolfman Jack? If any one deserves to be there its Wolfman Jack. A lot of people wouldn't be in the Hall of Fame if Wolfman hadn't played their records in the first place.

[Jensen Lee]

What a finale: “Stagger Lee” by Lloyd Price. “Stagger Lee” almost never made it to the top of the charts. Buried as a B-side, Lloyd Price insisted “You Need Love” was destined to be a hit and resisted attempts to promote “Stagger Lee.”

On my Rockaeology blog at http://bit.ly/eeMpoe I tell the true story of the murder of Billy Lyons by “Stag” Lee Shelton in 1895 and how Lloyd Price transformed a folk song into a million seller.

[Dancing Scorpion]

A museum for fossils, historical artifacts of the music business. I hope someone's making a buck there promoting the world of 4-minute ditties by more than one untalented musician hustler and their minions.

[mrsnak]

Shame for deleting Jac Holzman's award mention from the print version of the LATimes.
Founder of one of the most iconic record companies ever.

[sue]

next year: donovan. seriously, how good is the r & r hall of fame if they have so far "forgotten" about donovan? donovan is a poet. look it up, john lennon said that. r& r hall of fame fail.

[Jimmy Rabbitt]

The Rock & Roll Hall of Fame is a joke. It is not about rock and roll, it's same strange politically correct mix of pop, rap, R&B, & rock. The rules should have been a lot stricter, like you actually had to do rock and roll. Tom Waits is wonderful, I first bought his albums in the mid 1970's, a truly unique character. Not-rock and roll. Sorry, rock and roll is a dying form anyway, let's artists that rock. Just a short list of artists not in the HOF Yes, Sir Douglas Quintent, Chicago,Warren Zevon,,Arthur Lee, Rush, Judas Priest, Iron Maiden, Motorhead, ELO, ELP, Thin Lizzy, Bad Company, King Crimson, New York Dolls, Moody Blues, Styx, Journey, Bon Jovi, Motley Crue, Billy Idol, Def Leppard, Scorpions, Rainbow, Blue Oyster Cult, Canned Heat, Three Dog Knight, The Guess Who, Bachmann-Turner Overdrive, Bryan Adams, Billy Squier, Heart, Joan Jett, Pat Benetar, Donovan, and what about The Monkees? Jann Wenner you little twit.

[Tom Johnston]

R * U * S * H

[Ivan]

And once again, no Randy Bachman. One of the most important individuals in the history of Rock, from Shakin All Over through American Woman and all the BTO stuff as player, singer, writer and producer for countless big names. Hundreds of obscure individuals in the Hall, yet due to cronyism and corporate politics someone on the scale of Bachman, nada!
The authors of articles such as this need to shake their heads, wake up and recognize all the foo-flaw is not about the real culture of Rock and Roll but just the glam.
My musical roots are in fifties and sixties Rock and as a patron and player for over fifty years I find the Hall is just a slap in the face and full of injustice and greed.

[Robert Dorff]

Gratifying to see TOM WAITS honored. I've been a fan since the seventies. Particularly liked SAN DIEGO SERENADE which I think is the most poetic love song ever written. Congratulations.

[Tmiller]

Tom Waits is legit.

[Leemary]

Tom Waits is my hero.

[Shevalsheshe]

Next year should include Nile Rodgers of Chic. His songs have made millions: produced for Madonna, Duran Duran, David Bowie, Diana Ross, Grace Jones, Prince, Luther Vandross; conductor of movie soundtracks, guitarist in his own write, writer, etc. He is now recovering from cancer. His work in the music industry has not been acknowledged like it should have been.

[Doug Leftwich]

The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame is a good old boys club, headed by a meglomaniac with an agenda, and is plagued by poor decision making since its inception. We all have our opinions who should be Hall-bound but as long as the powers that be continue to keep the doors closed on worthy candidates we can all forget about it. It is doubtful KISS will ever get in and forget about the Monkees. Although I'm not a fan of KISS they should be in because of their influence on young people all over the world to pick up a guitar and rock, not to mention being an inspiration to many future glam rockers. The Monkees may have been pre-fabricated but they developed their own identity and became a self-contained band that sold millions of records and are a huge part of the '60s music culture. The list goes on..By the way is Glen Campbell in the Hall as a sideman? His guitar playing and background harmonies can be heard on virtually hundreds of songs in the early to mid '60s. And he was a Beach Boy in late '64 and through much of '65!

[Marc Alvarez]

If Alice Cooper is in, KISS should be right there, followed by RUSH, Motley Crue...Also, what about music fans like myself who would like to see bands like The Smiths, New Order, or Joy Division, and English bands alike..good to see Neil Diamond in there...bout time..one of our greates song writers..

[rocknmovies]

Darlene Love and Tom Waits inducted: great and deserved. Nice to see a pic of Waits and Springsteen shaking hands. I remember Springsteen saying he should have written "Jersey Girl", one of the best Springsteen songs not written by Bruce, along with Bob Seger's "Mainstreet".

Now how about Roxy Music being inducted? Way long overdue. And Mott the Hoople? Is it because they are not American but English?

[vegasgirl]

One can argue every year about who deserves to be in. IMHO, all those inducted this year deserved it.
Someone like Madonna? Not so much.

[Carlylee]

The accolades for Darlene Love are sooooo long overdue. This great talent was
never given the recognition she deserved from the onset, when the Wall of Sound and others in that genre, were making big monies when Roll N Roll was at its
pinnacle. However,her voice was not to be denied. I saw Ronni Spector on a
PBS retro show,there just is no comparison to Darlene"s rich and unique voice
Sadly, she was not in the spotlight then, but thankfully, she'll get the reward
she so rightly deserves now.

[Danny Mac]

I read this article on the 14th and found no mention of The Master of Space and Time. Not one word about Leon. Then to cover up this major mistake a story on the 17th not in print well a late Thanks but...Late like Leon's induction into the Hall..long overdue!!