CLEVELAND (CelebrityAccess) The Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame induction ceremony took place in Cleveland Aug. 14 with one of the many highlights of the four-hour show a performance by a reunited Bon Jovi and another stirring performances by Lauryn Hill and Andra Day honoring inductee Nina Simone.
Bon Jovi’s portion of the ceremony ran about an hour, according to the Associated Press, with Jon Bon Jovi spending 20 minutes on the acceptance speech – one that he said he had been writing for years. (Rolling Stone has provided the full transcriptions of the lengthy induction moments.) Former band members Richie Sambora and Alec John Such embraced current members onstage then all joined in to perform “Living On A Prayer,” “You Give Love A Bad Name” and “It’s My Life.”
The dedication to Simone was dubbed “groundbreaking” by the AP, with special accolades for Hill, who was “brilliant” and sang in French to honor her mentor.
The show kicked off with a tribute to Tom Petty by The Killers, who performed “American Girl” and “Free Fallin’.” Later, Ann Wilson and Jerry Cantrell honored Chris Cornell with “Black Hole Sun.”
The Cars, Dire Straits, The Moody Blues rounded out the 2018 hall of fame class.
