Rock and Roll Hall of Fame 2019: Janet Jackson, Stevie Nicks and more

Stevie Nicks is the first woman to have been inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame twice, with her being honoured with Fleetwood Mac in 1998. Nicks was the first performer of the evening and sang a medley of her hits, then sang “Leather and Lace” with Don Henley and “Stop Draggin’ My Heart Around” with Harry Styles. Her final song was her hit “Edge of Seventeen.” Styles came back to the stage to induct Stevie into the Rock Hall as a musical and cultural icon.

Thom Yorke, Colin and Jonny Greenwood weren’t there, but guitarist Ed O’Brien and drummer Philip Selway were at the event to thank their fans, cheering in the audience. On behalf of the indie rock band, O’Brien said it felt really good for them to be inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. He said if his band mates were there, they would feel it too. David Byrne, frontman for Talking Heads inducted them, telling everyone the band got its name from their 1986 song “Radio Head.”

Bryan Ferry, saxophonist Andy Mackay and guitarist Phil Manzanera gathered for the first time since 2011. They played a medley of “Love is the Drug,” “Out of the Blue, “Editions of You” and “Avalon.” Simon Le Bon and John Taylor of Duran Duran inducted the English band. Le Bon called their music “a shock to the system,” adding that it was a “psychedelic Sinatra crooning pop-art poetry,” with driving drums, oboes and saxophones, electric guitars and synthesiser sounds you had never heard.

The Cure did a mini-set of “A Forest,” “Shake Dog Shake,” “Lovesong,” “Boys Don’t Cry” and “Just Like Heaven.” Trent Reznor said the band was amongst the most unique, brilliant and “heartbreakingly excellent” rock bands the world has known while inducting the band. Robert Smith, frontman for The Cure, gave a short speech, surrounded by his former and current band members.

Janet Jackson spoke of her love for her parents, her siblings and her young son, two-year-old Eissa Al Mana. She said he wakes her each morning “singing his own little melodies.” Jackson said he is only two, but he is her heart, her life and had shown her the true meaning of unconditional love. While not naming Michael directly, Jackson mentioned her family’s incredible impact on popular culture, saying to her brothers that their baby sister had made it that night. Janelle Monae inducted Janet.

After their induction, Def Leppard and The Zombies and a whole load of crowd-pleasers including Queen’s Brian May took to the stage to sing, rather appropriately “All the Young Dudes.” Brian May inducted Def Leppard earlier that evening and gave some tips for rock star longevity. He said the guys didn’t get fat or lose their hair, their bands didn’t split up and they were there that night.

The Bangles’ Susanna Hoffs inducted The Zombies and said their music moved her to tears. She said it reminded her of what it is to be alive, human and how the power of music and song connects us all.