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John Mulaney: Why the Rock Hall Induction is ‘The Only Truly Fun Award Show’

Author Erica Banas // Rock Music Reporter

Almost every year in the lead up to the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame induction ceremony, there’s some crazy drama afoot. This might be part of the reason why comedian John Mulaney said it’s “the only truly fun award show.”

In a February 2018 appearance on Late Night with Seth Meyers, Mulaney explained that the Rock Hall induction is the award show he’d most like to host. Why?  He said, “Think of it like a wedding if every speech was given by the bride’s ex-boyfriend. Every band comes in with some old grievance, and all their speeches are filled with bile from 30 years before.”

Sure, Mulaney is being a little hyperbolic, but there have been some very uncomfortable speeches and moments in the past at the Rock Hall induction ceremony, so he kind of has a point. (Scroll down after the video for proof if you don’t believe us.)

He makes a couple of other funny, valid points, but we won’t spoil those for you.  Enjoy!

Rock Hall Induction Ceremony: 8 Biggest Drama Moments

The Rock & Roll Hall of Fame induction ceremony is always a bit of a crapshoot. Some years, everything goes off without a hitch. Other years, though, it all hits the fan, and it is drama with a capital “D.”

It’s rather funny when things go off the rails, because the Rock Hall induction ceremony honorees have all been announced. Comedian John Mulaney referred to the Rock Hall induction ceremony as “the only truly fun award show.”

In a February 2018 appearance on Late Night with Seth Meyers, Mulaney explained that the Rock Hall induction is the award show he’d most like to host. Why?  He said, “Think of it like a wedding if every speech was given by the bride’s ex-boyfriend. Every band comes in with some old grievance, and all their speeches are filled with bile from 30 years before.”

Sure, Mulaney is being a little hyperbolic, but there have been some very uncomfortable speeches and moments in the past at the Rock Hall induction ceremony, so he kind of has a point.

With that in mind, here are eight of the biggest drama moments in Rock Hall induction history.

But First, What to Expect at the 2024 Rock Hall Induction Ceremony

The 2024 Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony will take place on Saturday, October 19 at the Rocket Mortgage Fieldhouse in Cleveland, Ohio. As previously reported, the 2024 ceremony will live stream on Disney+. An edited special will air on ABC at a later date, which will be available on Hulu the next day.

This year features a diverse slate of performers being inducted. They include Mary J. Blige, Cher, Dave Matthews Band, Foreigner, Peter Frampton, Kool & The Gang, Ozzy Osbourne, and A Tribe Called Quest. Other artists being honored with the Musical Excellence Award and the Musical Influence Award include Jimmy Buffett, MC5, Dionne Warwick, Norman Whitfield, Alexis Korner, John Mayall, and Big Mama Thornton.

So far, the breakdown of presenters and additional performers is proving that 2024 induction ceremony is setting itself up to be a banner year. Here’s a breakdown of the guest lineup:

  • Ozzy Osbourne will be honored with an all-star tribute that includes Billy Idol, Jelly Roll, Chad Smith, Wolfgang Van Halen, Zakk Wylde, Maynard James Keenan, Robert Trujillo, Steve Stevens and Andrew Watt. Jack Black will be doing the honors of inducting Ozzy at the Rock Hall ceremony.
  • Julia Roberts will be doing the honors of inducting Dave Matthews Band. The Academy Award-winning actress starred in the band’s music video for “Dreamgirl.”
  • Foreigner will be honored by an all-star tribute band featuring Slash, Sammy Hagar, Chad Smith and Demi Lovato. (Foreigner is also set to perform).
  • Jimmy Buffett will also receive the all-star tribute with a performance by James Taylor, Kenny Chesney and Mac McAnally.
  • Inductee Peter Frampton will be inducted by Keith Urban and Roger Daltrey. (Frampton has been confirmed to perform.)
  • Chuck D will do the honors of inducting Kool & the Gang.
  • Inductee Mary J. Blige will be performing at the ceremony. Honoring Blige and helping induct her into the Rock Hall are Method Man, Dr. Dre, Ella Mai and Lucky Daye.
  • Busta Rhymes will be performing at the Rock Hall ceremony in honor of inductees A Tribe Called Quest.

  • KISS

    Good lord…who could forget this one?! KISS’ induction was long overdue, but they certainly made up for the late honor with a whole boatload of drama. From controversy around only the original four members being inducted to whether or not the band would perform to the all-out war of words in the press, it’s amazing the band were inducted without a hitch.

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Uht7socDdFs

  • Blondie

    This one was awkward. When Blondie was inducted in 2006, past group members Frank Infante, Jimmy Destri, Nigel Harrison and Gary Valentine were invited to attend the ceremony, but Debbie Harry, Chris Stein and Clem Burke wouldn’t let them perform. During the band’s acceptance speeches, all the performance controversy came to a head thanks to Infante’s time at the mic.

  • Creedence Clearwater Revival

    Another awkward moment! CCR was part of the 1993 induction class, and when it came time to perform, John Fogerty refused to so with former bandmates Doug Clifford and Stu Cook. Per Fogerty’s book Fortunate Son:  My Life, My Music, he said it was due to Clifford and Cook’s roll in an ongoing dispute with their record label.

  • Steve Miller

    Many artists take issue with the Rock Hall in how they operate the induction ceremony, but no other artist has taken the system to task quite like Steve Miller in 2016.  With the exception of how he spoke to a publicist who was only trying to do her job, this might be one of the most rock and roll moments in Rock Hall induction history.

  • Sex Pistols

    The Sex Pistols were a no-show when they were inducted into the Rock Hall in 2006, but they did send a letter, which was read by Rolling Stone founder/Rock Hall co-founder Jann Wenner. (Spoiler:  The letter’s badass.)

  • Van Halen

    What a mess this induction was!  VH was inducted in 2007, and around that time, the following things happened:  Michael Anthony was fired and replaced with Eddie Van Halen’s son, Wolfgang; EVH was receiving treatment for alcohol/drug addiction; and David Lee Roth was rejoining the band for a reunion tour. Long story short: The only members to attend the induction was Anthony and Sammy Hagar. Velvet Revolver ended up performing in tribute to VH, with Anthony and Hagar performing “Why Can’t This Be Love” with the house band.

  • Chicago

    After Chicago was announced as part of the 2016 Rock Hall induction class, an epic back-and-forth began regarding whether or not Peter Cetera would actually attend and perform at the induction ceremony.  In the end, Cetera opted to sit out the ceremony, which surely disappointed many of Chicago’s fans who hoped to see the founding singer/bassist reunite with the band since quitting back in 1985.

  • Guns N’ Roses

    In hindsight, GN’R’s Rock Hall induction in 2012 is now even more awkward since Axl Rose, Slash and Duff McKagan reunited for the “Not In This Lifetime…” tour.  At the time, Rose declined the ceremony invite and wrote a letter stating, “Let sleeping dogs lie or lying dogs sleep or whatever. Time to move on. People get divorced. Life doesn’t owe you your own personal happy ending especially at another’s, or in this case several others’, expense.”  Guitarist Izzy Stradlin also sat out the ceremony but considering his reclusive ways, that wasn’t terribly shocking.

Erica Banas is a news blogger who's been covering the rock/classic rock world since 2014. The coolest event she's ever covered in person was the 2021 Rock & Roll Hall of Fame induction ceremony. (Sir Paul McCartney inducting Foo Fighters? C'mon now!) She's also well-versed in etiquette and extraordinarily nice. #TransRightsAreHumanRights

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Author Erica Banas // Rock Music Reporter
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