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Billy Joel to give Mellencamp's induction speech
Posted: Feb 26, 2008 in Music
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Presenters have been announced for this year's Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction ceremony.
Billy Joel will give the speech when Indiana's John Mellencamp joins the club March 10 at the Waldorf-Astoria in Manhattan.
I'm sure Bob Dylan topped John's wish list, but Dylan presently is playing dates in South America.
Joel had a lot of hit records during Mellencamp's platinum era of the 1980s. It may be a good thing that Joel falls outside of the Springsteen-Seger-Petty continuum that Mellencamp frequently finds himself boxed. And it's kind of amusing that someone so strongly identified with the East Coast will say nice things about an artist who's battled coastal bias throughout his career.
The other inductee-presenter combinations:
Madonna-Justin Timberlake.
Leonard Cohen-Lou Reed.
The Ventures-John Fogerty.
The Dave Clark Five-Tom Hanks.
Little Walter-Ben Harper.
Kenny Gamble & Leon Huff-Jerry Butler.
didn't realize that the fourth Beastie Boy and Johnny Cougar were so tight.
Justin Timberlake presenting Madonna... good grief.
That's an interesting connection between Mellencamp and Joel. Stylistically and thematically, their music is quite different. I would expect their fans to make fun of each other.
Glad to hear it, as I revere them both.
I hope the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame realizes that in having Lou Reed present Leonard Cohen its breaking the UN regulation against having so much "cool" in concentrated in one area.
Gamble & Huff - wow, that tribute will rock the house. I hope Paul Shaffer is practicing right now. Billy Joel and Mellencamp? That's kinda odd - too bad they couldn't have found another "Heartland" artist. I guess they do have the whole supermodel as wife thing in common. Speaking of the Hall of Fame - when on earth will Paul Weller and the Jam get inducted. Give me a break, already.
John Mellencamp plays Rock n Roll?
John Mellencamp plays Rock n Roll?
Damn straight he does...Rock On John!
Billy Joel...John Mellencamp...interesting combination...Love them both,just never thought of them together...
I would've thought they would've gotten one of the newer country artists to induct Mellencamp since his influence appears heavily on the newer country stuff. Hey, if they can induct Madonna in the rock n' roll hall of fame, a country guy could induct Mellencamp. I don't see the Billy Joel-Mellencamp connection though. Oh, and how the hell is it that the Beastie Boys get inducted into the hall BEFORE RUN DMC? They were doing that rap/rock mix thing WAY before the Beasties ever released "Licensed To Ill" back in 1986.
I would've thought they would've gotten one of the newer country artists to induct Mellencamp ...
Musicjunky: Neither the Beastie Boys nor Run DMC are in the Hall of Fame. Technically, the Beastie Boys were eligible for induction this year, with Run DMC eligible next year. (That 25-year rule.)
it's nice to see that everyone is puttung that Joel/Mellencamp/Beastie/DMC knowledge to good use!
Musicjunky: Neither the Beastie Boys nor Run DMC are in the Hall of Fame. Technically, ...
Something ain't right about that. Run DMC helped the Beasties get started, kind of.