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May 31, 2014 By Hays Davis Web Exclusive

If you have an interest in watching the 2014 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony, chances are you have an opinion about its nominees, whether your interest is mild or passionately pointed. This year’s event is as likely as any over the years to stir conversation about who made it to the hallowed Hall before whom, or why they got the nod to start with, along with the matter of how rock and roll is rather loosely defined. While there’s no surprise in seeing Lou Reed in the opening montage of previous Hall induction footage, it’s eyebrow-raising that his quote was chosen, considering the debated manner and question of some artists’ inclusion: “I’d like to thank all the people who worked so hard to get us in.”

“There have been many great songs which have had really appalling lyrics, but there have been no great songs which have had appalling music,” states Peter Gabriel, following Coldplay’s Chris Martin’s cheeky introduction in which he reads from “the book of Genesis.” Gabriel, inducted as a solo artist after having already been honored as a member of Genesis, offers a stirring, if subdued, opening to the proceedings with performances of “Washing of the Water” and “In Your Eyes.”

Seeing the star power of Carrie Underwood, Stevie Nicks, Bonnie Raitt, Sheryl Crow, and Emmylou Harris as they sing the songs of the absent Linda Ronstadt (who is unable to travel due to issues with Parkinson’s disease) tends to underscore how unlikely it seems that influential indie artists such as Minutemen or Black Flag will one day rub shoulders onstage with such popular figures, regardless of the value of their contributions. And there’s little doubt that the induction of pop stars Hall and Oates has already prompted considerable hand-wringing among those with personal lists of rockers worthy of consideration, though The Roots’ Questlove works to make a convincing case for the Philly duo with his speech.

It’s actually a bit jarring to suddenly hear rock music as the introductory Kiss montage begins, during which a recorded Gene Simmons notes, “Everybody needs heroes in their lives, if it’s either Superman, Santa Claus, or Kiss.” Tom Morello inducts Kiss and seems genuinely excited about it, referring to them as his favorite as a kid. His enthusiastic tales of fandom, related on behalf of countless others from the Kiss Army, practically qualifies the band’s induction alone, and his speech is an entertaining highlight of the night.

Simmons offers a somewhat subdued speech that seems to underscore his pleasure in being inducted. After referencing the other members present he takes a moment to acknowledge other current and former (some deceased) band members, pointing toward the band’s issues regarding the Hall’s choice to induct only the original Kiss quartet. Singer/guitarist Paul Stanley takes it a step further, referring to Kiss’s induction as a special night for the band, though particularly special for their fans as vindication, and he raises questions about the Hall’s nomination process. Kiss, by the way, does not perform.

Cat Stevens is known for the enduring singles and albums he recorded as a singer/songwriter during the ‘70s, and even if his music didn’t usually involved cranked guitars, his career choices marked him as possibly the most rock-and-roll figure of the night. Known these days as Yusuf Islam, Cat Stevens is one of the few to walk away before his fame had faded, auctioning his guitars in 1979 for charity and directing his energies outside of music following his conversion to Islam.

In his intro, Art Garfunkel jokes that he and Paul Simon had to split up and get “Bridge Over Troubled Water” out of the way so Stevens’ Tea for the Tillerman album could be a hit. “All the girls I took out were Cat Stevens fans. He was a sexy guy. Sensitivity with a bass voice. I shoulda thought of that.” A cheerful Stevens/Islam, after pointing out that “I never thought I’d be on the same stage as Kiss—let’s be honest,” sings “Father and Son” and “Wild World” before a choir joins him for “Peace Train.”

The E Street Band’s induction opens with a performance, including Bruce Springsteen, of “The E Street Shuffle.” Early members David Sancious (keyboards) and drummer Vini Lopez are present, with Lopez doubling up with longtime/current drummer Max Weinberg. Springsteen’s induction speech, and excerpts of those from the band, is interspersed with moments from their performance of “Kitty’s Back,” helping to prevent the televised event from becoming talk-heavy.

With “I told a story with the E Street Band that was, and is, bigger than I ever could have told on my own,” The Boss sums up the importance of their contribution. He provides moving reminiscences about how each member of the band became a part, and also speaks bluntly about how Steven Van Zandt had pressed long ago for E Street’s Hall of Fame inclusion at the time of Springsteen’s induction. In closing an emotional speech, he offers what has to be the most solemn delivery to date of his oft-delivered live intro: “The heart-stopping, pants-dropping, earth-shocking, booty-shaking, earth-quaking, Viagara-taking, history-making, legendary E Street Band.”

With the induction of Nirvana, the ceremony closes with the night’s most dynamic performances. It’s touching to see a quick shot of Krist Novoselic and Dave Grohl sitting together in the audience during Michael Stipe’s induction speech, in a rare moment where they once again represent Nirvana. Grohl, later at the mic, points out that he was the fifth drummer of Nirvana but “the luckiest person in the world,” and gives credit by name to each of the others. Courtney Love, Kurt Cobain’s widow joins Cobain’s mother and sisters onstage, and all strive with the bassist and drummer to make Cobain a presence that evening as they speak.

Where it would have certainly been understandable for there not to have been a Nirvana performance, it was an inspired idea to have a group of women artists to step in for Kurt Cobain. One would have to imagine that the frontman would have loved the thought of Joan Jett, Sonic Youth’s Kim Gordon, St. Vincent, and Lorde bringing something unique to renditions of “Smells Like Teen Spirit,” “Aneurysm,” “Lithium,” and “All Apologies.” (www.hbo.com)

Author rating: 7/10