USA: RAMONES, TALKING HEADS, GENE PITNEY AND BRENDA LEE WELCOMED INTO THE ROCK AND ROLL HALL OF FAME
Record ID:
392658
USA: RAMONES, TALKING HEADS, GENE PITNEY AND BRENDA LEE WELCOMED INTO THE ROCK AND ROLL HALL OF FAME
- Title: USA: RAMONES, TALKING HEADS, GENE PITNEY AND BRENDA LEE WELCOMED INTO THE ROCK AND ROLL HALL OF FAME
- Date: 18th March 2002
- Summary: NEW YORK CITY, NEW YORK, USA (MARCH 18, 2002) (REUTERS) TOM PETTY AND THE HEARTBREAKERS POSE FOR STILLS PRESS (SOUNDBITE) (English) TOM PETTY SAYING: "I've dedicated my entire life to this music, you know from the age of ten and it's really all I've known and it's like I said the list of people in this, this whatever it is really impressive to me and to added to that li
- Embargoed: 2nd April 2002 13:00
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- Location: NEW YORK CITY, NEW YORK, USA
- Country: USA
- Topics: Entertainment,General
- Reuters ID: LVA2BYMV0J7ICIYH8KX56S8371JB
- Story Text: The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame welcomed its first members from the new wave and punk eras on Monday night, inducting The Ramones and Talking Heads along with classic rockers Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers, soul and R&B icon Isaac Hayes, versatile vocalist Brenda Lee and singer/songwriter Gene Pitney.
The Rock and Roll Hall Fame's 17th annual induction ceremony on Monday (March 18) inducted two of the best known bands from the punk era, The Ramones and the Talking Heads.
One of the greatest rhythm and blues musicians of all time, Isaac Hayes was also inducted as was a band that continues to rock and roll to this very day, Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers.
Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers formed in Gainesville, Florida, in 1976. Their third album, "Damn the Torpedoes," was a breakout record, yielding singles that went on to become rock classics, including "Refugee," "Even the Losers," "Don't Do Me Like That" and "Here Comes My Girl."
Jakob Dylan, son of legendary singer and songwriter Bob Dylan and front man of his own band The Wallflowers, inducted the group.
The band performed a rocking version of one of their best known tunes, "Last Dance with Mary Jane".
When the band went up on stage to accept their award, Tom Petty said,
"I thank this rock and roll for the freedom that it's given me and I thank the fans for such a wonderful life and I thank God for all of it, God bless you thank you very much."
When addressing the press backstage, Petty spoke about what being inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall Fame meant to him, "I've dedicated my entire life to this music, you know from the age of ten and it's really all I've known and it's like I said the list of people in this, this whatever it is really impressive to me and to added to that list you know I have to thank our audience you know and our peers, it's wonderful really."
The Talking Heads were a group that sprung out of the famed New York punk mecca for up and coming bands in the 1970's CBGB's. The downtown Manhattan dive opened in 1973 and was originally meant as a showcase for country, bluegrass and blues. The dingy night spot became ground zero for the exploding punk and new wave movements of 1970s. The Talking Heads went on to have a string of hits in the '70's including "Take Me To The River" and "Psycho Killer." In 1980 the band released, "Remain in Light" and in 1983, "Speaking in Tongues." Each album was more popular than the last and a concert film of their tour was released in 1984 entitled, "Stop Making Sense." The album, Stop Making Sense was also a smash hit.
By the mid 1980's the band split up and went their separate ways. Rumors about the band and why they broke up have swirled for years. Drummer Chrise Frantz, addressed some of the rumours in a backstage after the band was inducted into the Hall of Fame. He said flatly that people's perception of the split were incorrect,
"People perceived us as being angry at each other and acrimonious and stuff like that and to a great extent that was a false perception. On the other hand we haven't played together for a really long time so it's wonderful to be back together and I think we're all very grateful to have a happy night like this."
Isaac Hayes performed his Oscar-winning "Theme from 'Shaft"' with an orchestra that numbered more than 20 people. Hayes, who saw eight of his albums crack the Top 20 in the early 1970s and is perhaps best known today as the voice of Chef on the television cartoon "South Park," said that looks back now and sees many of the accomplishments in his life he was not able to see before, "To be recognized that all those years that I put into the business, I never thought about it but now so much attention is on it I realize that I did that, I did that, I did that, wow and it's kind of mind blowing I try not to think about it but "I'm indeed honored."
Eddie Vedder came on stage to induct the ultimate punk rock band, The Ramones, into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. More than 15 minutes later, he was still rambling on about the band and when he noticed the crowd's dismay, he decided to lash out, And after this I'm sure the evening will move quickly. But it's The Ramones and it's punk rock and I'm just about finished and I hope you're OK with that. Apparently you're not, fuck you!" Then Vedder reached down and took a gulp from a wine bottle he had brought on stage and then said aloud, "Take it easy, Eddie."
It was a bittersweet night for The Ramones, the group from Queens who lost founding member and lead singer Joey Ramone to cancer last year at the age of 49. One of the Ramones, Tommy Ramone said that there was nothing more that Joey Ramone wanted towards the end of his life than to be inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, "It was very important for him that we be inducted and he knew it, he knew it, OK, it was one of the last things that we talked about and it was very important to him, I give great thanks that we were inducted for Joey, definitely." The Ramones also found fame and fortune starting out at CBGB's and they too took time out to thank the owner of the bar, Hilly Kristal for his help in getting them the notoriety they wanted. The group was saluted by the neo-punk trio Green Day, who ripped through rapid-fire versions of several Ramone songs.
Brenda Lee, who has sung rock, country and pop standards with equal conviction for 50 years and recorded the holiday classic "Rocking Around the Christmas Tree," was inducted by an admiring fan from a younger generation, songstress Jewel. Lee, known as "Little Miss Dynamite"
because of the title of one of her hits, said she was overwhelmed to be inducted after being nominated but not selected previously.
Gene Pitney made his mark on music in the early 1960s by penning several hit records for other artists and then charting on his own. Pitney's recording of "Only Love Can Break a Heart" by Burt Bacharach and Hal David was his highest charting U.S. single, reaching No. 2. But in an ironic twist, the song which kept Pitney from hitting the No. 1 spot was his own "He's a Rebel," recorded by the Crystals. Pitney also wrote "Hello Mary Lou," a smash for teen idol Ricky Nelson, and had great success with "Town Without Pity."
A song that Isaac Hayes helped write, "Hold On, I'm Coming" was the featured song in the big finale. Others inducted into the Hall on Monday included legendary guitar sideman Chet Atkins and Jim Stewart, founder of and driving force behind revolutionary soul music label Stax Records.
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