Today In Rock: January 19th, 1994 -Rock Hall Inductions
On this day… John Lennon, The Band, and the Grateful Dead were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. “Being inducted as a Beatle for John was to be expected,” stated Lennon’s widow, Yoko Ono. “But being inducted for his solo effort would have made John very happy.”
Paul McCartney inducted Lennon and embraced his widow, Yoko Ono, in an emotional reconciliation. “I wish John could have seen this,” Ono shared.
An anticipated Band reunion failed to materialize because of a feud between Robbie Robertson and Levon Helm. Eric Clapton gave the Band’s induction speech before joining Robertson, Rick Danko and Garth Hudson (Richard Manuel died in ’86 and Helm skipped the event) for a rendition of “The Weight.”
The Grateful Dead made do with a life-size cardboard cutout of Jerry Garcia, who did not attend.
At the ceremony, held at the Waldorf-Astoria Hotel, New York, The Animals, Duane Eddy, Elton John, Bob Marley, Rod Stewart, Willie Dixon and Johnny Otis were also inducted.
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