Ed Brayton is a journalist, commentator and speaker. He is the co-founder and president of 
In my longstanding tradition of reviewing the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction shows, I thought I'd review HBO's 25th anniversary hall of fame concert, which aired Sunday night. Yes, I know the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame is something of a joke because of all the people who aren't in it, but there are still a lot of great people in it that make great music and the induction shows are usually worth watching for that reason.
Sunday night's show, from Madison Square Garden, was over four hours long but it started pretty slowly. For the first hour it looked as though the show was mostly going to be a litany of old singers who'd lost their voices. Stephen Stills has the vocal range of Steven Hawking at this point, which made the Crosby, Stills and Nash set almost painful to listen to, even with James Taylor's help. And Jerry Lee Lewis was practically a corpse.
The same was true of Simon and Garfunkel, though I really liked their rendition of Bridge Over Troubled Water (and Simon's You Can Call Me Al solo song as well). Even Aretha Franklin sounded strained. Overall, the first hour, maybe two, were pretty forgettable. But then they started putting some interesting combinations of people together and that led to some great collaborations.
Metallica came on and did a great version of Sweet Jane with Lou Reed, then followed it up with Ray Davies from the Kinks. Unusual combinations but they both worked. They also did Iron Man/Paranoid with Ozzy Osbourne, but that's something we've seen before and could easily imagine even if we hadn't.
U2 then did a great set that included collaborations with Bruce Springsteen, Mick Jagger and Fergie (who did a blistering version of Gimme Shelter), and the great Patti Smith. And that was really the launching point for the rest of the show, which improved dramatically over the first half.
Jeff Beck was hit or miss. He did a horrible rendition of People Get Ready -- horrible because Sting was singing, and as much as I like Sting he stunk the joint up on that one -- but rescued it with a good version of Foxy Lady with Billy Gibbons from ZZ Top and two songs with the immortal Buddy Guy. Beck had the incomparable Vinnie Colaiuta playing with him as well (and on that subject, there really should be a wing of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame for sidemen like Colaiuta).
Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band then took over the show and cranked it up to 11 with some unusual pairings. First he brought out the legendary Sam Moore, who unlike most of the old singers from early in the show, still has a booming voice. They ripped it up on Hold On (I'm Coming) and Soul Man. Then Tom Morello of Rage Against the Machine came out and he and Bruce did The Ghost of Tom Joad.
It finished up with Billy Joel and Bruce doing a surprisingly good version of New York State of Mind and -- of course -- Born to Run. The second half of the show really redeemed the first half, I thought (with the exception of Stevie Wonder, who was his usual dynamic self during the first half of the show).
Comments
I recorded and then watched the show as well but fast-forwarded through much of the crap (which correlates well with Ed's criticisms).
Ed stated:
Gimme Shelter is one of favorite Stone's songs and they are my favorite all-time band. I also think Gimmie Shelter is one of a handful of songs that best defines the music and youth culture from the late-60s. In fact I have it on a playlist I give out to friends & family that attempts to capture that age (rather than timeless songs from that era like the perfect reflection of a timelessly great rock and roll song, Honky Tonk Women). I thought U2's arrangement was horrid. I had no problem with Jagger or Fergie's performance; I just hated how pedestrian it was arranged versus how the Stone's do it. One of reasons I love the Stone's version is I find it impossible to relate it any previous music, it's like a pink penguin in a sea of regular ones.
The biggest question I had was why Rod Stewart didn't join Beck on People Get Ready, one of my favorite songs of all-time is how Beck and Stewart do it. Both are perfect for that song. I agree Sting wasn't up to the task.
I also agree that Vinnie Colaiuta distinguished himself with the exception of Lars Ulrich and the following drummer. Who really surprised me, probably because I've not been exposed much to live Springsteen, was Max Weinberg. Great sound.
Ed stated:
I thought this performance was the highlight of the entire show. In fact I kept this recording on my DVR just to repeatedly watch. Springsteen and Morello have performed this song together previously given Morello's bands cover the song; here's their performance at this show.
Springsteen's mini-sermon at the start of this clip was kind of ironic given he criticized Bono's talking rather than singing earlier in the show.
While I have several of Springsteen's albums, I now better understand why people are so laudatory about his band's performances live. I just thought it was based merely on their energy and enthusiasm, but the quality is there in spades as well.
Posted by: Michael Heath | December 5, 2009 10:00 AM
I thought the show was was very good as well. There were a couple of acts I didn't care for. I did wonder why Chuck Berry and Little Richard were not there. Maybe they were invited and didn't want to come? No Dylan, McCartney, Tom Petty, Mellancamp among others.
For those of you who don't know, there were actually two shows. If you do a google search you can find the set list for both shows. I am pretty sure that Jaggar did just one show. By the way I thought the Gimmee Shelter performance was great.
I am hoping they put out a CD with both shows.
Posted by: sanford sklansky | December 5, 2009 10:21 AM
Now that I think about it, Michael is right about the musical arrangement on Gimme Shelter. The band was pretty lackluster on that one, not giving the song anything like the edge it needs to have. It was saved by the performance of Jagger and Fergie (which is something I never thought I'd say, not being big fans of either of them really).
I also agree about Springsteen. When he was really at the peak of his popularity, I was in high school (Born in the USA days) and I didn't really get his appeal back then. The older I get, the more I understand it. He's grown on me, as has U2 (who I'm going to see in June). Another one who's really grown on me is Tom Petty.
Posted by: Ed Brayton | December 5, 2009 10:29 AM
Oh, and Michael mentioned Max Weinberg. Max is what I call a minimalist drummer. There's nothing the least bit fancy about his drumming. You aren't gonna get unusual time signatures in Springsteen songs, nothing complex. It's straight 4/4 time. And he plays the most basic 5 piece kit. But he does it really well. He's the perfect drummer for that band.
The other really great minimalist drummer, in my opinion, is PH Naffah from Roger Clyne and the Peacemakers (and earlier, the Refreshments). He's even more minimalist, only a 4 piece kit, one ride cymbal and one crash cymbal. But he does some amazing things within those confines, especially his cymbal work, and plays with such enormous energy that he drives the band's live shows to a whole new level.
Posted by: Ed Brayton | December 5, 2009 10:34 AM
Just saw it on youtube. Mick and Fergie, FTW. Sadly, they had to put up with the rest of the "band" falling asleep on them. *yawn*
Posted by: 386sx | December 5, 2009 10:45 AM
Ed stated:
I grew into Springsteen merely due to an initial youthful provincialism that eroded over time. We had local boy Bob Seger covering a similar style while I found Bob's lyrics to be much applicable to my life than Springsteen's urban grit. Time-wise Springsteen broke lose with his Born to Run album about the same time Seger's Live Bullet and Night Moves albums gained him notice. I always bought Springsteen's albums; I just turned to Seger far more when I wanted to listen to that type of music. I assume folks from Iowa or Indiana did the same regarding John Mellencamp. And for the record, in spite of being a huge Seger fan, I think Night Moves as an album is overrated and most of the songs don't hold-up well.
One of my favorite playlists I've made is one featuring Seger ballads. Nearly any one from any album could have been a hit single.
In golf there's a term, 'sneaky long' which I think roughly applies to Tom Petty. He rarely appears on anybody's 'best ever list'. Yet if one were to go mano-mano on listing and conceding great songs, most artists' catalogue of great songs would be exhausted well before Petty's.
Re your Mick Jagger dis. I could make a long list of truly cringe-worthy lyrics and performances by Jagger. The Stones' last album Bigger Bang was filled with lame and oft-repeated cliches though I loved the music. There are few musicians I listen to for the lyrics (Seger, Dylan); for me the appeal has always been something primal. That's probably why I don't comment on most of your music blogs; your taste in music is far more sophisticated than mine. I'm still fully immersed in blues-based rock or blues-based country just trying to get the feeling.
Posted by: Michael Heath | December 5, 2009 10:54 AM
Oh, you mention Seger. Live Bullet was THE album of my childhood. My brother, my father and I all absolutely love that album. I know every scratch of it by heart. As far as I'm concerned, it's the single most important album of the rock era. It was so sad watching him get inducted into the Rock hall of fame a few years ago, now that his voice is gone. But that album lives forever.
Posted by: Ed Brayton | December 5, 2009 10:58 AM
That sounds fucking great! One of my favorite pairings like this is Black Crowes doing live Led Zep covers with Jimmy Page on guitar. Some of them are available on Youtube.
Posted by: Comrade PhysioProf | December 5, 2009 11:31 AM
I loved the Jimmy Page/Black Crowes CD. I think Chris Robinson is one of the most overlooked rock front men in the world, and the whole band too. When musical styles mix, the result is often great. Wynton Marsalis and Willie Nelson put out a great CD last year together, a combination I never thought I'd see that just worked perfectly.
Posted by: Ed Brayton | December 5, 2009 11:36 AM
The Wynton Marsalis & Willie Nelson album for anyone who is curious. - DJ
Posted by: DingoJack | December 5, 2009 11:41 AM
Even though I am slightly older than Ed and Michael, it's surprising how similar some of my own experiences were. I'd listened to 'rock'n'roll' as a kid, then, in a burst of adolescent snobbishness had rejected it -- except for keeping a toe in with the 'folk-rock' of the time, everybody from the New Christy Minstrels and the Clancy Brothers to Seeger and Ochs. (Partially because my local NY station ran a show featuring this just before Jean Shepherd and Long John Nebel came on.) I wasn't even 'hearing' the Beatles when they first arrived.
Then three things happened. A friend of mine came back from the "Summer of Love" and told me about the music he'd heard -- and I'll still never know how he kept his virginity during his time there, but he did. I finally was able to get an FM radio. And I happened to hear -- even before this, some of the surprising 'soft rock' that AM was playing. (My first 'grabber' was THE ASSOCIATION, still someone I could listen to.) And okay, my first trying marijuana helped, but it took a while before I started smoking it regularly.
After that, I began to hear more and more, and finally got to a few live concerts at the FILLMORE EAST -- my second one was also the second American appearance of the original JEFF BECK GROUP with Stewart, Wood and Waller. (Talk aboout great side men, Waller held the group together that night.)
I was hooked, and began going back and discovering what I'd missed, as well as haunting the $2 racks for oddities I could afford. (A friend of mine and I discovered "Definition" by CHRYSALIS together, and I still think it may have the best lyrics of any rock album I've heard after 40 years of listening.)
I too was hooked by Seeger and hated Springsteen when he first came out. (I was writing poetry at the time, and included a slash at Bruce in one -- and for the next ten years had to introduce the poem with an apology once I really listened to him.) Even saw Seger live, but even though I'd spent money I couldn't afford the money I spent, almost walked out before he came on because his opening acts were RUSH -- still don't get them -- and an awful group called STARZ.
Any point to this? No, just rambling on. But I still am convinced the STONES haven't done anything worth listening to twice since the 60s. And one last burble, but my favorite live moment was a joint appearance by Eric Burdon -- his last appearance with WAR when he almost had a breakdown on stage -- and the MOODY BLUES -- who almost couldn't do the show because Roy Thomas had broken his flute just before coming on. What were the odds of someone in the audience having a flute he could use? But it happened.
Then three things happened.
Posted by: Prup (aka Jim Benton) | December 5, 2009 11:44 AM
Ah, prup, you take me back to the golden days. It was the Long John Nebel show that made me a fan of James Randi, without whom my life would not be the same.
My favorite moment was seeing Ozzy, the Prince of Darkness, shouting "God bless you!" over and over as he left the stage. Laughed my ass off. Second Dave was seeing Billy Gibbons channeling Jimi. THAT was surreal.
Ed, there is a HoF category for sidemen. The fact that Nicky Hopkins still isn't in it is the best reason not to take the Hall seriously.
Posted by: Pieter B | December 5, 2009 12:38 PM
I grew up in NJ, and was in college when Springsteen hit. I saw his show in a small theater in New Brunswick during Junior year (between "The Wild the Innocent..." and "Born to Run"), and that forever spoiled me for live shows. Four solid hours of high-energy and tight rock and roll left the audience as worn out as the band was by the end.
Funny how regional loyalties can play out. When I first heard Seger my reaction was "meh... give me Bruce." Then I moved to MI in '78 and Seger was The Man around here as much as Bruce was in NJ.
Posted by: Don K | December 5, 2009 1:03 PM
Don K stated:
And it's easy to pick out which artists garner such loyalty. Sure part of it is a commitment to disproportionately heavy-duty touring within a region to build a base, but that part doesn't completely explain it. Such limitations are par for most bands that eventually make it. I was able to immediately note that Springsteen and Mellencamp got the same loyalty that Seger got in Michigan. I think it's a combination of their playing a mix rock and ballads but most importantly speaking to that region's youth in a way unique to their region yet still being good enough, and sufficiently universal to sell outside the region as well.
One ironic observation I experienced was when I moved to the San Francisco Bay area in 1989 Ted Nugent was getting far more radio coverage there than he was then getting in his home state of Michigan.
Posted by: Michael Heath | December 5, 2009 1:16 PM
Watching the Metallica set in a room full of people who generally like Metallica, we thought the whole set was horrid. Lars Ulrich is the worst famous drummer, he was screwing up at a show that was being broadcast to more than just Metallica fans who are in on the joke.
All of my housemates and friends - college seniors - cringed that Lou Reed and Ray Davies had to go through that experience.
Also, as a Neil Young disciple I understand why he wasn't at the show, but still, he would have kicked CSN's asses into gear.
Posted by: Matt S | December 5, 2009 2:12 PM
I'll have to check out the show when next broadcast.
As a rock connoisseur, I've noticed lamentable dynamic of rock singers losing their tone range as they age. This doesn't happen with opera singers because they learn to sing with a regimented technique that preserves the voice.
If I am not mistaken some rock guys who start to lose their voice wisely learn some of the "right" techniques in an attempt to rehab their voice.
I haven't researched the deal with Robert Plant. I know he'll never sound like he did in LZ. However it sounded like he regained some of the voice that he lost at his lowpoint.
Posted by: Jon Rowe | December 5, 2009 2:12 PM
Little Richard had hip surgery on Nov. 23 and is nowhere near ready to return to the stage.
Posted by: Dave | December 5, 2009 3:14 PM
This:
http://jalopnik.com/5416549/daughter-of-resigned-gm-ceo-attacks-new-gm-ceo-on-facebook
Is a performance.
I want to this woman to have my foul mouthed babies.
Posted by: democommie | December 5, 2009 6:17 PM
Jon Rowe:
"This doesn't happen with opera singers because they learn to sing with a regimented technique that preserves the voice."
What about Rob Halford?
Posted by: democommie | December 6, 2009 1:05 AM
This is a little off topic, but since this is a thread about music I will add this. There is a site called Wolfgangs Vault. Perhaps some of you have heard of it. Bill Graham either filmes or taped all the concerts he produced. You can listen to them for free or download them for a pretty nominal fee. They have the full last waltz concert on there now.
Posted by: sanford sklansky | December 6, 2009 12:58 PM
sorry
im kinda writing late on the concert but i felt that gimme shelter was a bit of a drag.fergie was horrid-matter fact the whole thing dragged,aretha was rough too-i love her but please lose weight so you can breathe
Posted by: magda | August 18, 2010 11:19 PM