U2, Pretenders, O'Jays
join Rock Hall of Fame

The band formed after Hynde moved to London to be part of its fertile music scene. She’s soldiered on, with drummer Martin Chambers, after guitarists James Honeyman-Scott and Pete Farndon died as drug casualties.

“They went through all the heartache that rock ’n’ roll is built on — they lost two band members and they never gave up,” said Neil Young, who inducted the band and sat in for a ferocious performance of “My City Was Gone.”

Hynde told the audience she knows the Pretenders have sounded like a tribute band for the past 20 years. “We are a tribute band,” she said. “We’re paying tribute to James Honeyman-Scott and Pete Farndon, without whom we would not have been here.”

Celebrating the 50th anniversary of rock ’n’ roll, the hall — also celebrating its 20th induction dinner — brought Bo Diddley in to perform the Bo Diddley beat with fellow guitarists Eric Clapton and Robbie Robertson.

Now a stooped old man, Jerry Lee Lewis moved slowly to the stage to perform “Whole Lotta Shakin’ Goin’ On.” But he still managed to kick over his stool and sit on the piano keys.

Still singing the blues
Guy dominated the Chicago blues guitar scene, and he was ushered into the hall by some pretty decent guitar players themselves — Eric Clapton and B.B. King. Later, both joined Guy onstage for a rollicking rendition of “Let Me Love You Baby.”

Backstage, Guy noted that few black blues musicians have not been able to enjoy the success he has had in their lifetimes.

“My mother told me before she died ... if you’ve got any flowers, give ’em to me now, so I can smell ’em. So y’all give this to me tonight, I can smell this, man!”

The dinner offered a clash of celebrity cultures: Mariah Carey breezing in, offering a brief kiss to ex-husband Tommy Mottola, Richard Gere sharing a laugh with King, The Edge checking his Blackberry during the O’Jays’ performance.

Highlights of the induction ceremony will be televised Saturday on VH1.

Frank Barsalona, credited with creating the first big rock ’n’ roll booking agency, and Sire Records founder Seymour Stein were inducted in the nonperformer category.

Musicians, industry professionals and journalists vote on the inductees. Hall of fame members are permanently enshrined in Cleveland’s Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

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