The Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame Induction Ceremony – set to take place at Los Angeles’ Nokia Theatre L.A. LIVE on April 18 – has just added a lot of star power to its lineup, with Usher, director Spike Lee, Carole King, John Fogerty, Jackson Browne, Pearl Jam‘s Mike McCready, Alice In Chains‘ Jerry Cantrell and Harry Belafonte just added to the program.
As previously announced, this year’s inductees include Rush, Public Enemy, Heart, Donna Summer, Randy Newman and Albert King, with Quincy Jones and Lou Adler both receiving the Ahmet Ertegun Award for Lifetime Achievement.
Here’s how the show breaks down so far:
Rush will be presented by Foo Fighters’ Dave Grohl and Taylor Hawkins. As both guys are drummers, there’s a chance for a skull-rattling Neil Peart/Grohl/Hawkins drum jam (Rush has confirmed that they will perform at the show). However, Rush isn’t a band that generally welcomes guests on stage. On the other hand, Geddy Lee and Alex Lifeson joined the Foos onstage for a jam of their instrumental classic “YYZ” at a 2008 Toronto concert.
Spike Lee and Harry Belafonte will present Public Enemy. P.E. and Lee have a long history, dating back to the group recording their classic “Fight The Power” for Lee’s 1989 Do The Right Thing. Public Enemy have been confirmed as performers, and Rolling Stone confirms that their founding DJ, Terminator X, will attend the ceremony, though it remains to be seen if he will perform.
Seattle’s Heart will be honored by some of their hometown’s rock royalty: Soundgarden‘s Chris Cornell will present them, while Pearl Jam guitarist Mike McCready and Alice in Chains singer/guitarist Jerry Cantrell will perform with them. With the presence of former Nirvana drummer Grohl, all of Seattle’s “Big Four” bands will be represented at the ceremony. Nancy Wilson recently told Seattle’s Jack-FM that the original members of Heart will be inducted, and that she and Ann will perform with their former bandmates, though she is quick to note that the reunion with will start and end that night.
Christina Aguilera and Jennifer Hudson will perform a diva-rific tribute to Donna Summer.
Don Henley will present Randy Newman, while Jackson Browne and former CCR leader John Fogerty will perform with Newman.
Usher will perform a tribute to Quincy Jones, who, among his many achievements, produced Michael Jackson‘s Off The Wall, Thriller and Bad, three albums that clearly made an impression on the R&B star.
Cheech & Chong will present Lou Adler, and Carole King will perform a tribute to him. Adler produced recordings for both acts, in addiction to Sam Cooke and The Mamas & The Papas. He was also the owner of L.A.’s Roxy Theatre, co-producer of the Monterey Pop Festival, and produced the 1975 cult classic The Rocky Horror Picture Show.
John Mayer and Gary Clark Jr. will perform a tribute to the late blues legend Albert King.
The induction ceremony will air on HBO on May 18 at 9 p.m. ET.
