On Friday night, the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame hosted its 2023 induction ceremony at Brooklyn, NY’s Barclays Center. The star-studded affair, which fans at home were able to stream live for the first time ever, honored 2023 performer inductees Willie Nelson, Kate Bush, Missy Elliott, Rage Against The Machine, Sheryl Crow, George Michael, and The Spinners with more than four hours worth of speeches and special performances. In addition to the year’s performer inductees, the ceremony recognized Soul Train creator Don Cornelius, who received the Ahmet Ertegun Award; a pair of Musical Influence Award recipients, DJ Kool Herc, the New York DJ widely credited as the “father of hip-hop,” and Link Wray, the guitarist best known as the originator of the power chord; and Musical Excellence Award honorees Chaka Khan, Al Kooper, and Bernie Taupin.
Bernie Taupin, the longtime songwriting partner of Elton John, used some of his time in the spotlight to take a not-so-subtle jab at Rolling Stone Magazine founder Jann Wenner, a longtime gatekeeper of the Rock Hall’s induction process. While promoting his recent book, The Masters, a collection of interviews with famous musicians, Wenner had been asked why it only featured white, male subjects. He replied that female musicians were never “articulate enough on this intellectual level” and that Black artists “just didn’t articulate at that level.” Wenner’s were widely derided as being racist and sexist, and he was quickly relieved of his Rock Hall Board of Directors duties.
Taupin was appropriately inducted by Elton John, who gave a moving speech about their enduring partnership. While accepting his induction, Bernie Taupin took a nameless yet obvious shot at Jann Wenner, noting, “Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, are you listening? I acknowledge all these people because they and so many others are why I write. I guess you could say my being inducted is a paradox, perhaps, but either way, I’m honored to be in the class of 2023 alongside a group of such profoundly ‘articulate’ women and outstanding ‘articulate’ Black artists along with all of the other music masters here tonight.”
Related: Hip-Hop Has Historic Night At 2023 Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame Induction Ceremony [Watch]
In addition to the speeches, Taupin’s contributions to the world of music were feted by Elton John, who performed a solo rendition of “Tiny Dancer” in his honor. Elsewhere in the show, Elton John took part in a rendition of The Band classic “The Weight” alongside Sheryl Crow, Brittany Howard, and Chris Stapleton in honor of late Hall of Famer Robbie Robertson.
Related: Dave Matthews Inducts Willie Nelson Into The Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame [Watch]
Watch crowd-shot videos of Bernie Taupin and Elton John’s speeches as well as the various Elton John performances from the ceremony below. below. You can watch the entire 2023 Rock & Roll Hall of Fame induction ceremony livestream on demand today via Hulu or Disney+.
Elton John Inducts Bernie Taupin Into Rock & Roll Hall of Fame – 11/3/23
[Video: MarchofTheRashbaum]
Bernie Taupin Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Induction Speech – 11/3/23
[Video: MarchofTheRashbaum]
Elton John, Sheryl Crow, Brittany Howard, Chris Stapleton – “The Weight” (The Band) – Rock & Roll Hall of Fame In Memoriam – 11/3/23
[Video: Jordan Thomas]
Elton John – “Tiny Dancer” – Bernie Taupin Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Induction – 11/3/23
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