This coming Saturday, the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame will hold its annual induction ceremony in Cleveland, Ohio. One of the most famous rockers of all time, Axl Rose, will not be in attendance when Guns N’ Roses is inducted into the hall. Rose is the founding member of the band.
“I strongly request that I not be inducted in absentia and please know that no one is authorized nor may anyone be permitted to accept any induction for me,” Rose wrote in a letter. The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame has responded to Axl’s request.
“We are sorry Axl will not be able to accept his Induction in person,” said a statement from the Hall.
On the guest list to attend the induction ceremony are other members of the band, including guitarist Slash and bassist Duff McGagan. The Hall announced that the Red Hot Chili Peppers will be performing during the induction ceremony and will later be inducted by comedian Chris Rock.
Donovan and Small Faces will also perform during the induction ceremony. The Small Faces will appear as the Faces with Kenny Jones and Ian McLagan. Those two will be joined on stage by Ronnie Wood and Rod Stewart. Billy Gibbons and Dusty Hill, from ZZ Top, are scheduled to present and will now perform as well. They will perform a tribute to Freddie King. Chuck D and LL Cool J will induct the Beastie Boys.
The 2012 class of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame will be inducted by presenters John Mellencamp, Steve Van Zandt and Bette Midler. Donovan will be inducted by Mellencamp, Small Faces will be inducted by Van Zandt and Laura Nyro will be inducted by Midler. Don Kirshner, former publisher and TV producer, will be inducted by Carole King. Kirshner will be honored in a tribute by Darlene Love.
The induction ceremonies for the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame began back in 1986 and the class of 2012 will bring the induction total to 302. The 2012 ceremony is being held at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame instead of the usual spot, the Waldorf-Astoria Hotel in New York City. A video of the highlights of the ceremony from this Saturday can be seen on May 5 on HBO.
Hall of Fame inductees
Guns N’ Roses
Red Hot Chili Peppers
Beastie Boys
Donovan
Laura Nyro
Small Faces
Also, bluesman Freddie King, TV producer Don Kirshner, producers Tom Dowd and Glyn Johns, and engineer Cosimo Matassa.