It was aired on VH1classic, available on digital cable. I have never seen the liove uncut ceremony before but since my g/f has digital cable, I sat through the whole shebang. they will air an edited version on VHI this weekend.
The Ronnettes were inducted, and Ronnie Spector was drunk and babbling and was kinda embarrasing. Keith Richards inducted them. They did NOT mention pedophile record producer extraordinaire Phil Spector, although after the induction Paul Shaffer read a letter from Phil (in prison) congratulating the Ronnettes and half the crowd booed.
They then performed three songs. baby I Love You, on I missed, and Be My Baby.
(BTW, ronnie thanked eddie money and started in on a verse of "Take me home tonite" and I thought I was gonna barf)
Patti Smith was inducted. She was amazing as always. I half expected Thurston to be inducting her but instead it was zach de la cockroach from RATM. during his speech they had a splti screen of patti backstage listening and she looked very uncomfortable and when de la cockroach went off on bush and his war she looked very distressed, but when she got up there she was a perfect lady, which she said she had promised Fred "sonic" smith that she would do. he had told her she would be in the hall someday and that when that day came to not be a smart ass, and to accept the honor like a lady and thank everyone and not to curse profanely. she was excellent. she also talked about the programs that the rnr hall of fame have to support old musicians who need financial help or have medical issues and cannot earn money anymore. she played with leny kaye and her band and they played a rolling stones cover, GIMME SHELTER, which patti said was one of the greatest anti war songs, the she played because the night and then she said that she wished her mom was still alive but that one of the last words her mom told her was that when she got ito the hall of fame would she play her "favorite song, the one I like to vacuum to." so she played "rock n roll nigger." It was fucking great
Grandmaster Flash & The Furious Five were inducted. They were introduced by Jay Z, who, like the di[pshit corpo sell out he is, read his speech from his very obviously showcased Blackberry PDA.. The first hip hop act to be inducted, they received a lukewarm response. They came out and played an odd medley, which rightfully focused on Grandmaster Flash's turntable artistry. It was cool, but could have been better.
The world's ultimate party band, Van Halen, was inducted as well. They were introduced by Velvet Revolver, of all things, and it was awkward. very awkward. Only Sammy and Michael Anthony were there. Eddie is in rehab. alex is MIA (does anyone know where alex van halen is?) and david lee roth was a no show, suposedly becaue of an argument over what song he would get to sing. Michel anthony's hair plugs looke terrible and sammy looked like the beach buim he is, although he did wear a very old original lineup van halen shirt, which it looked like he ahd owned for decades. velvet revolver played two songs, with Slash not even trying to play like eddie, and then michael and sammy played with the house band.