IF what’s onstage at tonight’s Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction ceremony is half as juicy as the backstage drama, we’re in for a hell of a show.
Many of the inductees, who will be honored at the Waldorf-Astoria, put the sex ‘n’ drugs in rock ‘n’ roll, which should lead to an unpredictable night.
Will ’60s girl group Ronettes, for instance, be able to pull off a crowd-rousing version of “Be My Baby,” considering the trio’s history? Saturday’s rehearsal would have been the first time in 15 years that members Nedra Talley and Ronnie Spector have spoken, Talley told The Post.
Meanwhile, the specter of Phil Spector, who kept Ronnie locked up in his mansion during their destructive marriage, hangs over the proceedings. Will Keith Richards, who is inducting the group, mention Phil’s upcoming trial for murder? Will anyone understand him if he does?
Then there’s the question about whether anyone from inductee Van Halen will even attend. Eddie Van Halen entered rehab last week, and David Lee Roth claims organizers won’t let him sing (Hall of Fame officials said Roth was offered a chance to play with Velvet Underground, which is inducting the group). If Roth does show up, let’s hope the seating chart puts him far away from second Van Halen lead singer Sammy Hagar – actually, let’s hope they’re right next to each other.
There’s some controversy surrounding Grandmaster Flash & the Furious Five – from those who think it has taken too long for the hall to honor rappers, and those who think rap shouldn’t be included at all. More interesting is whether members Melle Mel and Grandmaster Flash will make any reference to their clashes in the past. Jay-Z does the honors for the group that invented scratching, mixing and even coined the term “hip-hop.”
Inductee Patti Smith. Inductor Zach De La Rocha. Here’s a drinking game: Take a shot every time one of them mentions something about the Bush administration, the war or global warming. You should be schnockered by the time Hagar and Roth have resorted to fisticuffs. It’ll also be entertaining to watch Smith and De La Rocha (likely) rail against the greed of the entertainment industry that’s honoring her.
About the only inductee that no one expects any trouble from is R.E.M., but who knows? Maybe Eddie Vedder will yell a string of profanities during the introduction, while Michael Stipe smashes a couple of guitars. Or not.
The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction ceremony airs tonight at 8:30 on VH1 Classic. Look for coverage in tomorrow’s Post.
THE FAB FIVE
Five nominees, five songs to download:
“The Message,” Grandmaster Flash & the Furious Five
“Gloria,” Patti Smith
“Radio Free Europe,” R.E.M.
“Be My Baby,” the Ronettes
“Dance the Night Away,” Van Halen