The show, complete with its with stage changing lulls, continued with the evening’s first induction for the Ronettes of 'Be My Baby' fame. After a uncomfortable speech by Ronnie Spector that failed to mention her husband Phil Spector for his contributions, house band director Paul Shaffer read a brief note from Spector congratulating the group that brought fame to his 'wall of sound.’

Next up was Chicago born Patti Smith. The rock poetess laureate gave a passionate acceptance speech then ripped into a few of her classics like "Because The Night" and her mother’s favorite, Rock and Roll N$%#&*." after paying tribute to the Rolling Stones by singing "Gimme Shelter."

The evenings broadcast filled the spots usually reserved for commercials with classic performances from the past ceremonies which made the viewer pine for a collection of these on DVD. The rewinds included a rippin’ Neil Young and Led Zeppelin on stage together and a Prince surprise visit to Tom Petty and Jeff Lynne's tribute to George Harrison from a few years ago. It wasn't live but it sure beat commercials.

Al Sharpton preached on behalf of James Brown’s contributions to Rock and defended the Hall's decision to induct Brown and Hip Hop Artist Grandmaster Flash and the Furious Five by saying, "this place is for anyone who rocks America and any one who rolls America."

Then the night got really interesting as Van Halen was inducted but practically no one showed up to accept. As you read here a few days ago, Eddie Van Halen checked himself into rehab but nobody knows what the heck happened to his brother. David Lee Roth choose not to come because he was upset about the song they were going to sing or something stupid like that. This left the awkward appearance of Mike Anthony the band's former Bass player and Sammy Hager the 'replacement' singer to accept the honor. Hager did a great job of handling his role by humbly thanking the Hall of Fame for including him 'when they didn't have to."  And saying it would take a "shotgun" to keep him away. Later during the live press conference interspersed into program he couldn't answer why Roth and Van Halen did not attend.

The night turned momentous with the inclusion of the first hip hop artist into the hall. Grandmaster Flash and The Furious Five scratched and rhymed their way into the hall as fine representatives for the newest genre in rock-now 30 years old. Unfortunately their live set did not translate as well as one might have expected but it was still most historic.

The evening concluded with the inclusion of REM. After Eddie Veder’s long winded yet heartfelt induction speech the band humbly accepted their honor. Michael Stipe thanked everyone he ever meet and then walk over to stage to perform. An inspired set was concluded by an all star band that included all inductees and presenters to perform Patti Smith's “Power to the People” written by her late husband.

All in all it was an interesting night that celebrated some passionate careers. The true live aspect was sort of tipped off by the occasional muting of the F word though censors had no problem with Patti Smith's song that had numerous rantings of the N word. And in a time when Rock and Roll gets grief for it overt commercialization it was quite refreshing to watch over four hour rock without interruptions.