JIMMY PAGE, FLEA, EMINEM INDUCT JEFF BECK, METALLICA, RUN-DMC INTO ROCK HALL

Jimmy Page, Flea, and Emimem inducted Jeff Beck, Metallica and Run-DMC, respectively, into the Rock And Roll Hall of Fame.

Metallica, Run-DMC, and Jeff Beck were among the artists inducted into the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame in Cleveland on April 5. The induction was aired live by music television channel Fuse. Metallica was the first Thrash Metal band inducted into the hall, and they welcomed back bassist Jason Newsted and were ushered in by Red Hot Chili Peppers’ bassist Flea. Earlier in the night Jeff Beck was inducted in by Jimmy Page, and Hip-Hop superstar Eminem inducted Run-DMC.

Metallica including Newsted gave their thanks, and Flea during the group’s induction talked about first hearing the band on the radio in 1984 in his band’s van after finishing a gig.

[Flea] “I was just riveted to the radio, and all I could do was… I was just staring at the radio, I was like, ‘What the f–k! Holy s–t. I’m telling Anthony, ‘Dude, this is amazing.’ [Jason Newsted] (audience cheers) “How’s it goin’? It’s been a wonderful weekend. it’s just so wonderful to be included in this whole thing.” [Lars Ulrich] “You know what? Remember one thing. This is really all about you people up in the balcony. Just remember that. The real reason we’re f–kin’ here is all the people in the balcony, you know that. Thank you to everybody out there. We love you. Metallica is in the Rock And Roll Hall Of F–kin’ fame. Take that f–kin’ home with ya! (applause out)”

Jimmy Page inducted the very innovative Jeff Beck.

[Page] “You sort of listen to Jeff along the way, and you go, ‘Wow. He’s getting really, really good, Jeff.’ And you’d hear him a few years later and he’d keep on getting better, and better, and better, and he still has all the way through. He has us mere mortals just wondering and having so much respect for him.” [Beck] “I mean there’s so many people that have helped me, and I’d like to extend a heap’s thanks to them. And a heaps thanks to those that didn’t (takes middle finger and fixes hair).”

Run-DMC talked about the honor, and presenter Eminem said that the group changed his world.

[Eminem] “I remember being in 9th grade when Raising Hell came out. Two years later, I still remember being in 9th Grade when Tougher Than Leather came out. I had skipped school, if you could believe that, to go buy Tougher Than Leather the day it came out. As soon as I heard ‘Run’s House’ it was pretty much a rap for me. Marshall Mathers became Eminem.” [Rev Run] “Jam Master Jay’s mother who’s here, and RIP to JMJ, Mrs. Myzel, she let us create routines in her living room. She’d come home from work and we’d be there with the turntables and she never told us turn the music down, once. And I’d like to thank you Mrs. Myzel for not turning the music down or we wouldn’t be here.”

Others inducted into the Rock And Roll Hall of Fame included Little Anthony and the Imperials, Roseanne Cash, Bobby Womack, Wanda Jackson and sidemen Bill Black, DJ Fontana, and Spooner Oldham. The show was punctuated by perhaps the greatest line-up of rock guitarists on one stage as Aerosmith’s Joe Perry, Page, Beck, and Hammett were all on for the all-star jam of “Train Kept A Rollin’.”