AP Photo/Jason DeCrow
Oh, to be a confused, sweaty fly on the wall at the Waldorf Astoria last night, when Iggy Pop sang Madonna songs at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction ceremony. Pop and the Stooges covered "Burning Up" and "Ray of Light" in a tribute to the pop queen, who was inducted along with Leonard Cohen, John Mellencamp, The Ventures, and The Dave Clark Five.
Introduced by Justin Timberlake, who helped write and produce her forthcoming album Hard Candy, Madge thanked those who supported her, doubted her, and that ineffable magic that has "possessed" her throughout her career. Her lucky star perhaps? She recalled being "freaked out" when she first saw an audience full of girls dressed just like her, and confirmed JT's story about a B-12 injection she gave him in the studio.
Singer-songwriter Damien Rice paid tribute to Leonard Cohen (pictured, left) with a performance of "Hallelujah," while Lou Reed read from the master of melancholy's lyrics during his introduction. John Mellencamp, dubbed "a symbol of the hopes, struggles and passions of America's Heartland" by the Hall of Fame foundation, was introduced by fellow American icon Billy Joel, and performed "Authority Song" from his 1983 album Uh-Huh.
The "British Invasion" band The Dave Clark Five, dedicated their induction to the band's vocalist and keyboardist Mike Smith who died last month, and their saxophonist Denny Payton who died in 2006. And The Ventures, an instrumental band who recorded 250 albums in the last 50 years, were honored for their pioneering 1960s surf-rock.
The rock and roll industry loving audience, which included Tom Hanks, Chevy Chase, Michael J. Fox, and Meg Ryan, were also treated to performances by Joan Jett, John Fogerty, and Patti LaBelle.
