U2 Headlines 2005 Rock Hall of Fame

By NEKESA MUMBI MOODY, AP Music Writer
NEW YORK - Minutes after U2 was officially bumped up to legendary
status after a raucous, sentimental induction into the Rock and Roll
Hall of Fame, the Irish quartet headed to the media room to answer
questions about their momentous honor.

But perhaps only a rock band fronted by Bono would first be asked
about everything but music.

"Bono! ... What about the Nobel Peace Prize?" one reporter called
out, querying as to whether Bono's mission to eradicate third-world
debt would get him the honor.

"Rock star is already having the cream of the cake," Bono replied.

Another wondered whether Bono assume the presidency of the World
Bank, as the latest Bono-leading-the-free-world rumor would suggest.

Over U2's 30-year journey from the streets of Dublin to becoming the
world's most important rock band, there have often been times when
Bono's charisma, his charitable efforts (and more recently a fashion
line) have eclipsed his collaborators and lifelong friends: U2's
other members, guitarist The Edge, bassist Adam Clayton and drummer
Larry Mullen Jr.

But on Monday evening, if not always clear to others, their rock
peers recognized the collaborative achievements of perhaps the most
groundbreaking rock group in the past two decades.

"Uno, dos, tres, catorce," said Bruce Springsteen, quoting the
Spanish countdown in U2's recent hit "Vertigo," as he inducted the
band into the rock hall with a loving, humorous tribute.

"The translation is one, two, three, fourteen. That is the correct
math for rock 'n' roll. The whole had better equal a lot more than
the sum of its parts — or else you're just rubbing two sticks
together."

On a night when The Pretenders, The O'Jays, Percy Sledge and blues
legend Buddy Guy received key to rock's exclusive club, U2 was
clearly the evening's star attraction.

"They are the keepers of some of the most beautiful sonic
orchestration in rock and roll," Springsteen said of the band.

Though they weren't inducted until after midnight, there was hardly
an empty chair in the ballroom when they were honored last; and when
the group performed some of their biggest hits, including "I Still
Haven't Found What I'm Looking For" with an assist from Springsteen
himself it — everyone, from celebrities like Catherine Zeta-Jones to
grizzled industry folk jumped out their seats to cheer them on.

But they were hardly the evening's only highlight.

The O'Jays are best know for their work with Philly soul producers
Kenny Gamble and Leon Huff, but the gospel-styled singers are
actually from Canton, Ohio. "Back Stabbers" was a big hit in 1972,
with "Love Train" and "For the Love of Money" other well-known
songs.

After film clips showed them in wild tuxes during the 1970s, the
quartet wore simple black suits to perform a medley including each
of those songs. They were inducted by singer Justin Timberlake.

"Anyone who's ever written, produced or performed something soulful
stands in the shadows of these giants," Timberlake said.

If nothing else, Sledge's voice has been the backdrop to countless
romantic encounters. The Southern soul singer is best known
for "When a Man Loves a Woman."

Rod Stewart called it "one of the best performances I've ever heard
and I'm sure you've ever heard."

The Pretenders came from the same rock generation as U2. Ohio native
Chrissie Hynde was a tough but tender role model for women,
singing "Brass in Pocket," "Precious" and "Back on the Chain Gang."

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
(news), 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.

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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