CLEVELAND — Axl Rose wanted no part of it but that did not stop hard rockers Guns N’ Roses being inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in Cleveland Saturday, headlining a class that included the Red Hot Chili Peppers and the Beastie Boys.
Also inducted were Scottish singer Donovan, the late Laura Nyro and British bands the Small Faces and Faces.
Rod Stewart, who was inducted as a solo artist in 1994, earned a second honor in the Hall for his work as a frontman of Faces, but was “devastated” that a bout of the flu prevented him attending.
“Shattered that I’m going to miss my second induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame — and this time alongside my mates,” said Stewart, 67.
In true rebellious rocker fashion, Rose turned down the honor earlier in the week, addressing a letter to the Hall saying that “the Hall Of Fame Induction Ceremony doesn’t appear to be somewhere I’m actually wanted or respected.”
“I won’t be attending The Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame Induction 2012 Ceremony and I respectfully decline my induction as a member of Guns N’ Roses to the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame,” the frontman wrote.
“I strongly request that I not be inducted in absentia and please know that no one is authorized nor may anyone be permitted to accept any induction for me or speak on my behalf.”
John Mellencamp inducted Donovan, the folk icon once labeled the “new Bob Dylan.”
“I wasn’t just listening to Donovan, I was living Donovan,” Mellencamp said, before taking a jab at the Chili Peppers as he described him as “ungimmicked,” the Los Angeles Times reported.
“You know what a gimmick is, right? Like when you wear your hair all puffed up, cuss a lot onstage and maybe come out wearing socks,” Mellencamp said, referencing a Chili Peppers stunt of appearing at a performance with only socks covering their private parts. “I’m just kidding!”
The Beastie Boys — made up of Michael “Mike D” Diamond, Adam “Ad-Rock” Horovitz and Adam “MCA” Yauch — became the third hip-hop act to be inducted, joining Run-D.M.C. and Grandmaster Flash and the Furious Five.