Bob CollinsMaybe Neil Young was wrong.
The tribute last night to the inductees of the Rock ‘n Roll Hall of Fame revealed a continuing split between the artists it honors and the institution.
Steve Miller last night accepted his induction and then ripped the organization, formed by rock heavyweights like Jann S. Wenner of Rolling Stone.
“When they told me I was inducted they said, ‘You have two tickets — one for your wife and one for yourself. Want another one? It’s $10,000. Sorry, that’s the way it goes,’ ” he said, adding, “What about my band? What about their wives?”
Miller said the whole evening, which will be broadcast later on HBO, almost didn’t happen.
Here’s his whole induction speech.
Ice Cube of the rap group N.W.A, wasn’t any happier than Miller was. The group was just the fifth hip-hop act to be inducted but it declined to perform at the ceremony, as tradition dictates.
“I guess we really didn’t feel like we were supported enough to do the best show we could put on,” he said.
Deep Purple, also inducted, played without one of its founding members. Ritchie Blackmore stayed away because current members wouldn’t agree to play with him.
