Longtime Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Nominating Committee member, Seymour Stein, described himself in 2001 as a "doo-wop fanatic," who was working hard to get the artists from his youth fully represented in the Hall of Fame.

Stein, an avowed "doo-wop fanatic" who identifies heavily with the music of his youth, feels like there's "quite a bit of catch-up to do." He cites the Hollies, Brenda Lee, Conway Twitty, Gene Pitney, Percy Sledge, Chuck Willis and panoply of doo-wop acts such as the Five Satins ("In the Still of the Night") and the Penguins ("Earth Angel") as acts that should be full-fledged inductees. "I don't want to forget artists from the '50 and '60s, but not at the expense of worthwhile artists from the '70s," he said. "I don't want to sound like George Bush, but I don't want to see anyone left behind. But I really mean it, hence the difference."

Of those eight artists he listed there, Lee, Pitney, and Sledge (one of the most controversial inductions, by the way) have been honored since that interview. And since Stein is still on the Committee, and he doesn't want to leave anyone behind, you can bet he will join Steven Van Zandt in trying to get the Hollies in.

Stein goes on to make a prediction, that is laughable in hindsight:

Stein does not predict that any artist, whether in 2001 or in future years, will ever sail into the hall the first year they are eligible, the way, say, the Beatles did in 1988, or Bruce Springsteen did in 1999. He cited a random selection of artists, from James Taylor to Earth, Wind & Fire to Gene Vincent to Parliament-Funkadelic to Joni Mitchell to the Bee Gees to the Velvet Underground, who waited a few, or many, years for induction.

Presumably Stein felt that no other artists will ever live up to the standard of the Beatles or Springsteen. But his theory about first ballot Hall of Famers was proved wrong the very next year when Tom Petty, Talking Heads and the Ramones were all inducted in their first year of eligibility. In fact there have been 11 first ballot Hall of Famers since Stein made his prediction, Madonna being the most recent example.

Stein and Van Zandt have been rather candid about their biases in favor of the music of their youth. At some point, don't you have to close the book on that chapter in rock and roll history and start recognizing some of the gaping holes in later periods? How many groups from the 50's and 60's still need to be inducted before the award is completely stripped of its prestige?

As a way to keep a fresh perspective on the Rock Hall, perhaps there should be term limits for the Nominating Committee members. There is little doubt that each of the members, past and present, have been qualified to help shape the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. But you can imagine what happens when the same group meets year after year: At the committee meeting, the member nominates a few artists, they get tossed around and ultimately get rejected or put on the ballot. The next year, the committee member tries again with the same names that didn't make it, and tries to wear down the other members into submission. A five year term limit would allow committee members ample opportunity to advocate for their favorite artists, but wouldn't let them stay so long that their perspective gets outdated.

So, are term limits a good idea? Is five years the right amount of time? Let's hear it in the comments.

Sure, this story is from eight years ago, but it is well worth repeating here:

Last week, the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame announced its annual list of inductees. The news was followed by the annual list of grievances and complaints about those choices in the music business. This year, however, the opposition included a particularly high-profile and vitriolic voice, Courtney Love's.

. . .

Some in the music industry were upset that punk-rock and female acts were not represented in the winners' circle, but Ms. Love had her own ax to grind. Evidently not a fan of the New York Dolls, Black Sabbath or Lou Reed [nominees who weren't inducted that year], she lambasted the Hall of Fame in a telegram: ''How dare you fools not put Lynyrd Skynyrd, Patti Smith, or AC/DC in your Hall of Fame. Damn you to the darkest belly of the underworld. Stop.''

She goes on to demand that the items belonging to herself and her husband, Kurt Cobain, that are in the possession of the Hall of Fame's museum in Cleveland be returned: ''Any of my stuff you stole, I want back immediately. Stop. This includes any of mine or Kurt's clothes, guitars, or debris that you scavenged for. Stop. I hope that no one I know is ever inducted into your idiotic 'Hall of Fame.' ''

One wonders what will happen in 2011, when Nirvana, Cobain's old group, will most likely be inducted into the Hall of Fame.

Ms. Love concludes her telegram: ''You are a sham and you deserve Bush. Stop. He probably has the same taste in music as you.''

An employee for the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame said the sentiments expressed in the telegram captured the true spirit of rock 'n' roll.

Well, Michael Stipe has been inducted into the "idiotic" Hall of Fame, and he's Love's daughter's godfather, so that's at least one Hall of Famer that she knows.

For the record, Nirvana can't actually be inducted prior to the 2014 Induction Ceremony and Hole won't be eligible until two years after that.

Rolling Stone magazine recently came up with a list of the "100 Greatest Guitar Songs of All Time." Despite the name, the list isn't really indicative of the best guitar songs, but more of a rundown of the greatest artists of all-time with tracks selected from each.

These types of lists are generally good indicators of who Rolling Stone thinks the important artists are. And because of the overlap between the Rolling Stone writers and the members of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Nominating Committee, it might show who could be headed for future induction.

Here is the list of artists in order, with their Hall of Fame status in parentheses. The guitar song can be found on Rolling Stone's website -- it's irrelevant here.

1. Chuck Berry (yes)
2. The Jimi Hendrix Experience (yes)
3. Cream (yes)
4. The Kinks (yes)
5. The Rolling Stones (yes)
6. Van Halen (yes)
7. The Beatles (yes)
8. Led Zeppelin (yes)
9. The Allman Brothers Band (yes)
10. Nirvana (eligible in 2013)
11. Led Zeppelin (yes)
12. The Jimi Hendrix Experience (yes)
13. Derek and the Dominos (eligible since 1995)
14. Bruce Springsteen (yes)
15. The Who (yes)
16. Neil Young With Crazy Horse (yes)
17. Black Sabbath (yes)
18. Ramones (yes)
19. Prince and the Revolution (yes)
20. The Impressions (yes)
21. The White Stripes (eligible in 2024)
22. The Beatles (yes)
23. The Yardbirds (yes)
24. Rage Against the Machine (eligible in 2017)
25. The Rolling Stone (yes)
26. B.B. King (yes)
27. The Paul Butterfield Blues Band (eligible since 1988)
28. U2 (yes)
29. AC/DC (yes)
30. Bill Haley and His Comets (yes)
31. Queen (yes)
32. Dire Straits (eligible since 2003)
33. Metallica (eligible since 2007)
34. Aerosmith (yes)
35. The Stooges (eligible since 1994)
36. Pink Floyd (yes)
37. Elvis Presley (yes)
38. The Faces (eligible since 1995)
39. Santana (yes)
40. The Who (yes)
41. Television (eligible since 2002)
42. John Mayall and the Bluesbreakers (eligible since 1990)
43. The Sex Pistols (yes)
44. Sleater-Kinney (eligible in 2020)
45. The Beatles (yes)
46. Dick Dale and the Del-Tones (eligible since 1987)
47. Van Halen (yes)
48. The Clash (yes)
49. Jimi Hendrix (yes)
50. Pixies (eligible in 2012)
51. Ozzy Osbourne (eligible since 2005)
52. Radiohead (eligible in 2017)
53. Creedance Clearwater Revival (yes)
54. Stevie Ray Vaughan (eligible in 2008)
55. Cream (yes)
56. The Byrds (yes)
57. Grateful Dead (yes)
58. Link Wray (eligible since 1985)
59. Jeff Beck (eligible since 1992)
60. Funkadelic (yes)
61. Sam and Dave (yes)
62. Albert King (eligible since 1987)
63. Guns n' Roses (eligible in 2011)
64. Lynyrd Skynyrd (yes)
65. The Police (yes)
66. Stevie Ray Vaughan (eligible in 2008)
67. Bruce Springsteen (yes)
68. B.B. King (yes)
69. Pink Floyd (yes)
70. Smashing Pumpkins (eligible in 2015)
71. The Strokes (eligible in 2026)
72. Weezer (eligible in 2019)
73. Blue Cheer (eligible since 1993)
74. ZZ Top (yes)
75. Frank Zappa (yes)
76. Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers (yes)
77. Pearl Jam (eligible in 2016)
78. Buddy Guy (yes)
79. Sonic Youth (eligible since 2007)
80. Steely Dan (yes)
81. Michael Jackson (yes)
82. The Ventures (yes)
83. Sublime (eligible in 2017)
84. John Mayer (eligible in 2024)
85. Phish (eligible in 2013)
86. Jeff Beck (eligible since 1992)
87. King Crimson (eligible since 1994)
88. Quicksilver Messenger Service (eligible since 1993)
89. Joan Jett and the Blackhearts (eligible since 2005)
90. The Smiths (eligible in 2008)
91. The Mars Volta (eligible in 2027)
92. Mick Jagger (eligible in 1995)
93. My Bloody Valentine (eligible in 2010)
94. Dire Straits (eligible since 2003)
95. Moby Grape (eligible since 1992)
96. Hüsker Dü (eligible since 2006)
97. Queens of the Stone Age (eligible in 2023)
98. Red Hot Chili Peppers (eligible in 2009)
99. My Morning Jacket (eligible in 2024)
100. Tool (eligible in 2017)

There are 46 songs from non-Hall of Famers by 43 different artists. Of these artists, 20 are already eligible for induction, with at least seven having been "previously considered" by the Nominating Committee (Albert King, Jeff Beck, Dick Dale, The Faces, The Stooges, Metallica, and The Paul Butterfield Blues Band).

As for the artists that aren't eligible yet, many of them are very likely future Hall of Famers. Bands like Nirvana, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Pearl Jam, The White Stripes, and Radiohead are almost certainly going to be inducted. As for the Mars Volta, the Strokes, and My Morning Jacket, it's probably a little too soon to know if they'll make it, but making this list is a sign they're on Rolling Stone's radar.

Glenn Tipton, guitarist for Judas Priest, told MTV that if the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame ever inducted them, they would be proud to accept the award:

Though they still come out with fresh experiments like [their new concept album, Nostradamus], Priest have been banging their heads for more than three decades. But the veterans have never been considered for inclusion in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, despite being eligible since 1999. Tipton said it's an honor the band would welcome but one he doesn't expect anytime soon.

"We'd absolutely be honored by it, but we have no control over that," he said. "Besides, we haven't been noticed for 30 years. Maybe they'll notice us now that we've crossed that 30-year mark."

Maybe in researching the new album, Tipton discovered the writings where Nostradamus predicted that Judas Priest would be inducted in 2009. Given the current constitution of the Nominating Committee, it will probably take a lot longer than that before 70's and 80's metal get recognized by the Hall of Fame.

Phil Gallo, over at Variety, discusses whether or not Chicago and the Doobie Brothers should be inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. He argues that Chicago deserves it, but the Doobies don't (but he never really states why not).

His case for Chicago:

Chicago... were revolutionaries. "CTA," "Chicago," "III," "V," "VI" and "XI" pushed the limits on conceptual boundaries and displayed superb musicianship. And they had hits, which has somehow been labeled as a sin over time.

I have been appalled by the acts that have made it in ahead of them. It shows the bias of the hall's voters - they are either too old to have the wistful childhood memories of the early '70s or too young to fully appreciate how distinctive they were in the pop landscape at the time. Chicago made a difference back then.

Both Chicago and the Doobies are fan favorites, but each have been eligible for over 10 years without a single nomination, so they have to be considered long shots for future induction until the Rock Hall reconsiders the 70's.

Idolator came up with a list of 70's snubs:

ABBA Bachman-Turner Overdrive Boston Captain Beefheart & The Magic Band Cars Deep Purple Devo Neil Diamond Doobie Brothers Electric Light Orchestra Emerson, Lake & Palmer Foreigner Peter Gabriel Genesis Guess Who Hall & Oates Hawkwind Heart

Jethro Tull KC & The Sunshine Band King Crimson Kiss Moody Blues Procol Harum Randy Newman Todd Rundgren Roxy Music Rush Styx Supertramp Richard & Linda Thompson Three Dog Night Loudon Wainwright III Yes

"Little Steven" Van Zandt, a Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Nominating Committee member, let loose his opinions about the musical legacy of the 80's. While espousing the awesomeness of the video game Rock Band, and how it will create new drummers, he says, "Let this be the deathblow to those evil drum machines hanging around from that bloated era of musical horror we refer to as the '80s."

Van Zandt has already let it be known that he will be pushing for more '60s bands to be inducted into the Rock Hall next year. But these statements leave the impression that he will actively oppose bands who incorporated electronic music into their sound during the '80s (or even beyond). Not exactly what the Rock Hall was hoping for when it restructured the Nominating Committee two years ago.

Thanks, Casper.

Fred Schneider of the B-52's recently spoke out about his band's musical credentials and why he believes they deserve a spot in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

"We've done tours with the Pretenders, the Go-Go's, Tom Tom Club, Blondie," Schneider says, rattling off several of B-52's' musical era contemporaries.

"Each time, each band had a new album out, so it was groups from the past with new records," he says. "It wasn't like an oldies tour. Well, except for us."

What most of those groups also have is a spot in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. (The Go-Go's the one exception, with the Tom Tom Club in through the back door as members of Talking Heads.)

The B-52's were eligible for the hall in 2004 – 25 years after their debut album appeared – but have so far been ignored by the nominating committee, possibly because their songs were always frothy, fun party music.

"We created our own genre," Schneider notes, which should count for something in Hall of Fame consideration. "We should have been in four years ago. The most recent years, (the acts) who got in are sort of our peers.

"But what can you do? Hopefully I'll be in there (some day) so my mother can have this plaque or something on the mantle.

Actually, the Nominating Committee has not completely ignored the B-52's, but they still haven't made it to the final ballot.

Future Rock Hall projects that the B-52's have a 44% chance for induction.

Neil Diamond has been in the news lately, with the release of his new Rick Rubin-produced album and his cameo on American Idol. So it's not surprising that a reporter asked him about his absence from the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

The star is disappointed he is continually turned down by the panel - even though he thinks he has made a very significant contribution to the industry.

He says, "It makes me wonder. I've paid my dues, I think, and I think I've done good work. I'd like to be in there with my peers.

"Maybe you just have to keep doing it and I'll get in there some day."

Diamond has been eligible since 1988, and at some point over the past 20 years, the Rock Hall Nominating Committee has seriously discussed his credentials, but he has never appeared on final ballot.

The vast majority of Future Rock Hall voters (87%) are confident that Neil Diamond will one day be inducted.

Thanks, David & Tom

For performers, the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame really only has one eligibility prerequisite: "Artists become eligible for induction 25 years after the release of their first record."

This seemingly straightforward rule often has different meanings. In most cases, an artist's "first record" is a single, an EP or an album. But what about a demo tape (like the Talking Heads)? Or a song included on a compilation (like Metallica)?

In today's environment, as the traditional music business models crumble, how will new media rules apply to eligibility dates? Is releasing songs on MySpace official enough (like Black Kids)? Or selling self-pressed CDs at your gigs? The Rock Hall won't have to deal with these issues for a while, but you can bet they will need more clarification in the future.

---

In going through some of the original eligibility dates of Hall of Famers, one strange case stood out from the rest: Rod Stewart. Stewart was first nominated for the 1993 ceremony, which means he would have had to release his first record by 1967. But Stewart didn't release his first solo work, the album An Old Raincoat Won't Let You Down, until 1969. So Stewart became eligible from his work with the Hoochie Coochie Men (1964), who are definitely not in the Hall of Fame.

Following this logic, does this mean that Stevie Ray Vaughan should already be eligible because he was a member of the band Paul Ray and the Cobras, which released a single in 1975? (Not to worry SRV fans, Stevie hasn't been snubbed -- he hasn't been on the list of eligible artists that the Nominating Committee works from yet.)

It seems like Rod Stewart is just a weird exception to the Rock Hall's prerequisite, but let us know if you find any others.

"Little Steven" Van Zandt, E Street Band guitarist and Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Nominating Committee member, was recently asked about who he will push for induction into the Rock Hall later this year:

Q: You worked hard to get the Dave Clark Five into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame this year. Who's on top of your list now of bands that ought to be in?

A: Right now the priority is the Hollies. It's ridiculous. I think Johnny Burnette & the Rock 'n' Roll Trio is still high on my list. . . . Paul Revere & the Raiders deserve to be in. Herman's Hermits deserve to be in.

Q: Really?!

A: Absolutely. People forget how important Herman's Hermits were when they started. . . . We all get very elitist about who should be in and who shouldn't, but I consider great, great, great '60s pop music absolutely essential to the development of the art form.

Van Zandt is clearly passionate about the artists who helped shape him as a musician during his youth (he was born in 1950), but does he really think the '60s are underrepresented in the Hall of Fame?

The Rock Hall generally nominates at least a couple of bands from the '60s every year, so you can pencil in The Hollies at the top of your list of potential nominees for the 2009 ballot.

Thanks, Tom.

Robert Hilburn, the former pop music critic of the L.A. Times and current Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Nominating Committee member, is working on his "deeply personal and highly opinionated memoir."

Hilburn... will recount his personal ties with John Lennon, Bob Dylan, Elvis Presley, Johnny Cash, U2, Bruce Springsteen, Michael Jackson, John Fogerty, Prince, Kurt Cobain, Stevie Wonder, Ice Cube, Joni Mitchell, Neil Young, Jack White, and Eminem.

Hopefully Hilburn will squeeze in some juicy tales from the Nominating Committee meetings, but given the secrecy surrounding the Rock Hall, that's seems unlikely. Look for the book in 2009.

Portfolio.com has an article which takes a look at the declining attendance figures at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Museum in Cleveland. As their chart shows, there was a steep drop in attendance after the first few years the Museum was open, but over the last ten years ticket sales have basically leveled out at around $4.2 million per year. Rock Hall Museum C.E.O. Terry Stewart has plans to bring more people to the museum, which include "a new exhibit featuring Janis Joplin’s Porsche (now on loan from her estate) to bringing the induction show to Cleveland in 2009 and every three years after that."

While bringing the Induction Ceremony back to Cleveland will undoubtedly help raise the profile of the Museum, it won't cure the image problem that the Rock Hall has in the eyes of many people. This website alone contains thousands of pleas to the Hall to induct long ignored fan favorites such as KISS, Rush, Alice Cooper, The Moody Blues, The Monkees, Neil Diamond, Yes, Steve Miller Band, Jethro Tull, and many others. You can't help but wonder if Terry Stewart wishes the New York-based Rock Hall Foundation (who determines the nominees each year) would put some popular names on the ballot to help boost ticket sales at the museum. What's going to bring more people to Cleveland, Janis Joplin's car or a KISS induction with a full blown exhibit to honor them? A Leonard Cohen exhibit or a Monkees induction?

We're not advocating the induction of artists purely to sell Museum tickets, but you have to wonder if every year Terry Stewart shows up at the Nominating Committee meeting hoping that another stadium act like U2 or Aerosmith will get the votes to appear on the ballot (maybe Bon Jovi for 2009?).

---

In other Rock Hall financial news, Fox News' Roger Friedman breaks down the finances of the New York-based non-profit Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Foundation.

If you missed last night's Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony, you can now watch various clips or the whole thing over at BestBuy.com (although YouTube might be easier).

The New York Times has their usual rundown of the ceremony, with an excellent slideshow too.

We're still pretty sure this is really Norm MacDonald and not Dave Clark (check out Rolling Stone's gallery).

Much of the Rock Hall coverage today focuses on Madonna's revelation that she used ecstasy with the A&R guy that discovered her, and that she smoked some weed with her publicist. Artists use drugs? Really?

The 2008 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony will be streaming live at BestBuy.com beginning at 8:30 ET (or VH1 Classic on TV). Keep checking back to Future Rock Hall for updates during the show.

8:15 PM ET - Settling in for what will likely be a 3 hour plus ceremony. If you're streaming the ceremony, you should see the Rock Hall graphic at this point.


8:18 - Never noticed this about the logo before, but the 'N' in 'AND' is subtly emphasized. Nice touch. The graphic logo not only represents the I.M. Pei-designed museum, but is a clever abstraction of a view down a guitar neck.

8:30 - Jann Wenner introduced as the Chairman of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Welcomes everyone to the 23rd annual induction ceremony. Possible induction order: Cohen, The Ventures, the DC5, Madonna, and Mellencamp.


8:35 - Kicking off the inductions with Gamble & Huff in the renamed Non-Performer category. Patti LaBelle performing "If You Don't Know Me By Now" with the resplendent Paul Shaffer and company.

8:39 - Wenner mentioned earlier that the new museum archives and library will be open in 2010.

8:40 - Standing O for Patti. Nicely done. On to the video tribute...

8:41 - "Every time we wrote a song, it was a hit." At least they're humble.

8:44 - Jerry Butler on to present the Ahmet Ertegun Award to Gamble & Huff. Whoa! Possibly the shortest speech ever. Was that even 50 words?

8:45 - Butler's the first to comment on the weight of the statue. Over/under is 3 1/2 mentions for the night. We're on our way.


8:46 - It's still unknown who selects the award winners in the Non-Performer and Sideman categories. Not the Nominating Committee and definitely not the Voting Committee.

8:49 - Celebrity sightings so far: Tom Hanks, Meg Ryan, Bryant Gumbel, and Chevy Chase.

8:50 - Gamble & Huff wrap it up after a couple of nice speeches. Back to Jerry Butler for a performance.


8:53 - Video tribute to master of the blues harmonica, tonight's Sideman inductee, Little Walter.

8:56 - Ben Harper gets to induct Little Walter posthumously. Harper seems nervous, not looking up from his notes, fumbling some words.

8:58 - Wait, another short speech? Where's Eddie Vedder to stretch things out? James Cotton on for the performance with Ben Harper sitting in (literally).


9:03 - Backstage with original MTV VJ Mark Goodman! Reporting from the kitchen?


9:04 - Introduces a classic Rock Hall performance of "Satisfaction" from 1989. Not sure why they show these fantastic old clips -- just going to make tonight look pale by comparison.

9:10 - Goodman interviews Shaffer about the '89 clip. We mentioned this last year, but how long until Paul Shaffer gets inducted?

9:11 - The Ventures video tribute is next. John Fogerty will be inducting them.

9:13 - Fogerty: "[The Ceremony] was a lot looser when it wasn't televised."

9:15 - The Ventures have recorded over 250 albums?

9:17 - The Ventures are clearly thrilled to be there, but I think Don Wilson just thanked the Lieutenant Governor of Washington? Nokie Edwards thanks Les Paul and Chet Atkins for their inspiration.

9:23 - Lots of short speeches this evening. Maybe people haven't had enough to drink yet. It's still early.

9:24 - Performance time -- "Walk Don't Run"


9:27 - Now the Hawaii Five-O theme song . Anyone know who wrote the theme to CHiPs? They might get in next year.

9:30 - Leonard Cohen is next. Lou Reed will induct him, and Damien Rice will perform in his place. Still no reason given why Cohen and Madonna will be not be performing tonight.

9:33 - Reed in a sweet leather suit with pink shirt. Lots of "Looooouuu-ing" when he's introduced.


9:36 - The crowd seems puzzled by Lou Reed's speech. Probably not the first time.

9:37 - "We're so lucky to be alive the same time Leonard Cohen is."

9:40 - The crowd is getting restless as Reed delivers passages from Cohen's latest book.

9:41 - Cohen is introduced to a standing ovation.


9:44 - Cohen's speech is well done and given in verse. The crowd is eating it up.

9:46 - Rice starts out with an acoustic guitar performance of "Hallelujah" -- so much for having it end the night.


9:50 - Just one Cohen song? Must be, since the annual "In Memoriam" video begins.

9:54 - The video ends with Denis Payton and Mike Smith from the DC5. Very sad.

9:54 - Madonna is next. Justin Timberlake inducting her and Iggy & The Stooges will be performing the tribute.

9:58 - Timberlake turns on the charm and injects some sexual innuendo into the evening.


10:02 - Hey, it's a Britney Spears reference! Timberlake is turning this into a roast.

10:07 - Madonna gave Justin a B-12 shot in the ass? He's not joking.

10:08 - "The world has long been full of Madonna wannabes -- I may have even dated a couple of them."

10:10 - Madonna is ripped as usual. I think she needs to get under the umbrella of steroid suspicion with all that B-12 talk.


10:18 - Hospitals, synagogues, ecstasy...

10:22 - Madonna making the most of her time. Thanking all the people who helped her get to that stage including all of her collaborators.

10:25 - Madonna herself introduces "another ass-kicker from Michigan." Iggy & The Stooges kick it off with "Burning Up." This sounds nothing like Madonna. Fantastic.


10:29 - Right into "Ray of Light." Pretty sure Madonna picked Iggy because they share a physique.

10:30 - Based on this performance, how can the Rock Hall continue to keep The Stooges out? They are killing.

10:33 - A shirtless Iggy exits through the kitchen on the way to the press room. Don't call the health department just yet.

10:35 - Another classic performance clip. Led Zep with Steven Tyler and Joe Perry.

10:38 - Mellencamp's video starts. We'll be ending the evening with the emotional induction of the DC5.

10:41 - Unbelievable. They're playing "Our Country" in the tribute montage.

10:42 - Billy Joel introduced to induct John Mellencamp.

10:45 - The selection of Joel makes sense now. He's a natural at this, even though he's barely mentioning Mellencamp.


10:48 - Joel congratulates Mellencamp on outliving the music industry. The Joel takes some shots at VH1. Will that make the edited broadcast?

10:51 - Mellencamp takes the stage to accept his "shiny tsotske" (as Joel puts it).


10:55 - Mellencamp talks about having spina bifida as a baby. Touching story.

10:58 - Mellencamp has his speech on the teleprompter? Very professional until he tells someone to "scroll up."

11:05 - "The sword is a mighty weapon, but it ain't nothing compared to the songs that we sing."

11:06 - "Pink Houses" gets it started.


11:12 - A solo version of "Small Town" is next. Somehow works into the lyrics that his wife was 13 when he wrote this song.

11:16 - "Authority Song" with Mellencamp's son on guitar.


11:20 - This is the uncomfortable part of the evening where you encourage old white guys in tuxes to get up and dance.

11:22 - The Dave Clark Five are next.

11:29 - The crowd loves Tom Hanks -- putting a lot of effort into the speech is definitely appreciated.


11:36 - Hanks is on fire.

11:38 - Wow. Dave Clark looks exactly like Norm MacDonald in Burt Reynolds makeup.


11:50 - Nice speech by Dave Clark in tough circumstances. Tom Hanks introduces Joan Jett, who starts with "Bits and Pieces."


11:54 - Jam time! Jett, Mellencamp, Fogerty, Cotton, and Joel take the stage and start with the DC5's "Glad All Over."

11:58 - And just like that it really is All Over. A bit of an anti-climactic ending to a show in desperate need of a climax.

With the 2008 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony less than 24 hours away, YouTube offers the chance to take look at some of the highlights from past ceremonies:

From 1995 -- Led Zeppelin (with Steven Tyler and Joe Perry):


Also from 1995 -- Neil Young & Crazy Horse (with Pearl Jam):


From 1994 -- Bruce Springsteen and Axl Rose perform "Come Together":


From 2004 -- Tom Petty and Prince pay tribute to George Harrison: