Two events in one: Rock Hall induction show

The annual event provides a who's who of rock royalty

Controversy, glamour, long speeches and big performances.

The Rock & Roll Hall of Fame induction show brings it all together. It’s two events in one — a concert and an awards show.

I visited Brooklyn, New York, for the annual program November 3 at the Barclays Center. For four and a half hours, fans listed to speeches and songs by the likes of Willie Nelson, Elton John, Sheryl Crow and Missy Elliott.

Let’s take a look from my nosebleed seat in the upper deck.

Fans line up outside Brooklyn’s Barclays Center for the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame induction show November 3. (Photo by John Naughton.)

Since its founding in 1983, the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame has been known for controversy. Who belongs in? Who’s been left out? Are country performers eligible or not?

The physical Hall is located in Cleveland (worth a visit for fans). There’s also been an annual show (postponed in 2020 due to COVID-19) that inducts performers and other individuals, all wrapped up in a concert. There are now three host cities for the event: Brooklyn, Cleveland and Los Angeles.

I’ve been to four of these shows now, three of them in Brooklyn and another in Cleveland. It’s a chance for me to hear some artists I haven’t seen, to see some legends inducted, and to witness some unusual sites, like performers singing songs outside their usual catalog of material. As of this writing, there are 378 inductees. The wait list is much longer.

Inductee Missy Elliott performs a show-stopping number with multiple dancers at Brooklyn’s Barclays Center for the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame induction show November 3. (Photo by John Naughton.)

In most cases, the induction shows are held in large arenas. That’s great for fans like me, who can buy a ticket for an all-star night. Inductees, guests and folks who have special status at tables on the arena floor.

Meanwhile, the “cheap” seats are fans. You’ll see a mix of tuxedos and elegant gowns to people in jeans and T-shirts. If you can imagine the mingling of Academy Awards and NASCAR crowds, there you go.

This year’s inductees: Kate Bush, Sheryl Crow, Missy Elliott, George Michael, Willie Nelson, Rage Against the Machine and The Spinners, along with DJ Kool Herc and Link Wray for Musical Influence, and Chaka Khan, Al Kooper, Bernie Taupin for Musical Excellence, as well as Don Cornelius for the Ahmet Ertegun Award.