Uncovering the Next Generation's Hall of Fame
Open Questions about the 2024 Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony
The 2024 Rock & Roll Hall of Fame induction ceremony is just over a month away but very little has been announced about who will be attending and performing. Unlike last year's New York event, this year's Cleveland ceremony sold out quickly so the Hall of Fame doesn't have soft ticket sales as an incentive to promote the show. Expect the Rock Hall or Disney+ to release some specifics in the next week or two. On to the speculation:
Which inductees will be attending the ceremony?
Nothing has been confirmed but it's likely that all eight performer inductees will attend: Mary J. Blige, Cher, Foreigner, Peter Frampton, Kool & the Gang, Ozzy Osbourne, Dave Matthews Band, and A Tribe Called Quest.
Which of those artists will perform?
Mary J. Blige, Foreigner, Peter Frampton, Kool & the Gang, and Dave Matthews Band all seem like safe bets to perform short sets at the ceremony. Rock Hall antagonist Cher softened her stance against the institution after she was inducted, so she will probably perform as well. Ozzy Osbourne has been public about his desire to perform at the ceremony, but his significant health issues may be too much to overcome. A Tribe Called Quest played their last show in 2017, a year after losing founding member Phife Dawg. Combined with the Rock Hall's mixed history of getting hip hop artists to perform at the ceremony, a Tribe performance seems unlikely.
Can we expect any performances for the side category inductees?
The Rock Hall has a wide range of ways to honor inductees in the Musical Excellence and Musical Influence categories. The segment can be anywhere from only short video tribute (e.g. Elizabeth Cotten in 2022) to a full-blown induction segment with a video, speech, and performance (e.g. LL Cool J in 2021). This year, of the seven inductees in these categories, only Dionne Warwick is still alive. As a former nominee in the performer category, she should receive a complete inductee segment. For Jimmy Buffett, an all-star tribute performance of "Margaritaville" seems all but guaranteed along with the requisite video package. The MC5 will likely get an induction speech and video but no tribute performance. Big Mama Thornton, on the other hand, seems like a perfect candidate to receive a tribute performance including "Hound Dog" and "Ball and Chain." In the interest of time, the Rock Hall will likely combine the Alexis Korner and John Mayall segments and punctuate them with a guitar god performance, like last year's Jimmy Page appearance for Link Wray. Non-Performer inductee Suzanne de Passe will get the standard video and speech.
Who will be giving the induction speeches?
Nothing has been announced, but expect the usual mix of celebrities, past inductees, and future Hall of Famers. After the inductees were announced on American Idol earlier this year, the potential for more ABC/Disney crossover increased exponentially.
Who will get the closing slot?
It's unfair to call any inductee the headliner, but there's little doubt that the majority of the audience in Cleveland will be there primarily for Dave Matthews Band. The induction ceremonies are five-hour marathons that test the stamina of even the most die hard music fans. Last year's final performance by Missy Elliott was one of the best in the Rock Hall's history but was played to a half-full arena. Holding Dave Matthews Band until the end will guarantee the night ends with a full house.
Will Cher trash the Hall of Fame in her speech?
Before she was nominated, Cher had said she would never attend even if the Hall "gave me a million dollars… I’m never going to change my mind. They can just you-know-what themselves." After she was inducted, Cher backtracked and confirmed she would attend but cryptically said, "I’m going to have some words to say. I’m going to accept it as me." Cher has publicly discussed her absence from the Rock Hall for over 14 years, so it will be interesting to see how far she will go criticizing the institution in her speech as she's on stage holding the trophy.
Will Boyd Tinsley show up at the ceremony?
Violinist Boyd Tinsley left the Dave Matthews Band in 2018 amid sexual misconduct accusations and hasn't been actively performing since then. Following a DWI arrest this summer, it seems doubtful that he will attend the ceremony with his former bandmates, but he is an inductee nonetheless.
When is the induction ceremony again?
Saturday, October 19th at 6:30pm. The event is sold out, but tickets are available on the secondary market starting at $400. If you aren't in the building, the show can be viewed live on Disney+.