Entertainment

Greatest hits

When music legends both young(ish) and very old gather together, you know you’ll be in for a good show.

HBO’s “2012 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony,” airing tomorrow night at 9, is a perfect example of that. Here are five of our favorite inductee tributes and performances from the show:

1.
Beastie Boys medley, performed by Kid Rock, Travie McCoy, the Roots

Decked out in old-school, green Adidas track suits, Rock, McCoy and the Roots put on a rip-roaring, medley of the Beastie Boys’ most recognizable hits “No Sleep Till Brooklyn,” “So What’cha Want,” “Sabotage” and “The New Style.” Beastie collaborator Mix Master Mike represented the group onstage, too. (The Beasties themselves didn’t perform because Adam Yauch, who is battling cancer couldn’t make it to the ceremony.)

2. Freddie King’s “Going Down” performed by ZZ Top, Joe Bonamassa and Derek Trucks

The late blues great known as the “Texas Cannonball” got his due with this fabulous rendition of his hit, which had the guys taking turns singing and wailing on their guitars.

3. Red Hot Chili Peppers medley, performed by RHCP

The final inductees of the night wrapped up the festivities with their hits, “By the Way” and “Give It Away.” They brought the curtain down by inviting Green Day, Slash (inducted that night with Guns N’ Roses), Ronnie Wood (inducted with Small Faces/Faces) and George Clinton on stage for a high-octane jam of Stevie Wonder’s “Higher Ground.”

4. Donovan medley, performed by Donovan and John Mellencamp

The inductee stood in the spotlight, performing his own folk-psychedelic hit, “Sunshine Superman.” Then, Mellencamp — who showed off his own copy of Donovan’s “Fairytale,” bought more than 40 years ago — hopped on stage to help sing Donovan’s other ’60s hit, “Season of the Witch.”

5. Laura Nyro’s “Stoney End,” performed by Sara Bareilles

Bette Midler was moved to tears while inducting Nyro, who died in 1997. Bareilles, seated at a grand piano and backed by an orchestra, sang a wonderfully upbeat rendition of Nyro’s hit.