Rock n Roll Hall of Fame, 2015

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CLEVELAND — When the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction ceremonies return here every few years to their spiritual and literal home, music history often ignites. Such was the case Saturday night at the 30th annual gathering, which saw the inductions of Ringo Starr, Bill Withers, Joan Jett and the Blackhearts, Stevie Ray Vaughan & Double Trouble, the Paul Butterfield Blues Band, Green Day, Lou Reed and the "5'' Royales. USA TODAY's Jerry Shriver captured the mayhem.

They love rock 'n' roll. Black leather-clad Joan Jett and her Blackhearts opened the show at a sold-out Public Hall by tearing through early hits Bad Reputation and Cherry Bomb (the latter aided by Foo Fighters' Dave Grohl on guitar and vocals, and original bass player Gary Ryan). She then introduced friend Tommy James to sing psychedelic pop hit Crimson and Clover, a 1968 hit for him that became a 1981 cover hit for her. Grohl and Miley Cyrus joined in on vocals (as did the audience), then Cyrus took to the podium to induct the group.

Cyrus who, at 22, is more than 30 years the junior of the Godmother of Punk, said she remembered early on wanting to have sex with the singer, who she called "a wonder

woman'' an admirable activist and a "bad-assed babe on the planet.''

Jett choked up during the long standing ovation that greeted her arrival at the podium, then acknowledged Cyrus as "another strong woman who does things her way.'' Before calling out the names of her bandmates in her first group, the Runaways, Jett noted that "rock and roll is an idea and an ideal. Sometimes we forget the political impact it has on people around the world. ... it's about giving a voice to people who weren't satisfied with whatever box they were put into.''

Blues power. Electrified, Chicago-style blues music entered the rock mainstream in the mid-'60s via groups such as the Paul Butterfield Blues Band, and J. Geils frontman and presenter Peter Wolf reminded the audience of that fact. "They always got the house on fire and played every night last it was the last night.''

Surviving members Mark Naftalin, Elvin Bishop and Sam Lay (frontmen Butterfield and guitarist Mike Bloomfield both died in the 1980s but were represented by family members) accepted the award. "That was a butt-kicking band and we helped the blues cross over,'' said Bishop.

A tough-sounding group led by Zac Brown, Tom Morello and harmonica player Jason Ricci reprised the group's Born in Chicago,with Brown showing impressive dexterity on guitar. Then, a Bishop-fronted band that included 80-year-old drummer/vocalist Lay and harmonica player Billy Boy Arnold ushered out their segment with the Muddy Waters classic Got My Mojo Workin'.

Texas pride. Presenter John Mayer inducted Stevie Ray Vaughan and Double Trouble, describing Vaughan as "the ultimate guitar hero,'' having the courage to overcome drug and alcohol addiction and "coming back stronger.'' That inspired Mayer to resist temptations in his own career, he said. "Heroes live forever.'' Double Trouble members Reese Wynans, Chris Layton and Tommy Shannon accepted on behalf of their leader, who died in 1990, joined by older brother Jimmie Vaughan, who gave a shout-out to inductees the "5'' Royales.

A band led by Mayer, Jimmie Vaughan, Doyle Bramhall II and Gary Clark, Jr., plus the Double Trouble members, blasted the rapturous auditorium with Stevie Ray's finest: Pride and Joy,Texas Flood, and a Jimmie song about his brother, Six Strings Down.


Blackhearts leader Joan Jett, left, was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame on Saturday in Cleveland, with Miley Cyrus doing the honors. (Photo: Kevin Mazur)

Great Green Day: Members of Fall Out Boy inducted the pop-punkers Green Day (Billie Joe Armstrong, Mike Dirnst and Tré Cool), joking that it was appropriate since fans often confuse the groups when posing for pictures in airports with fans. Armstrong, wearing a floppy tuxedo bow tie, honored his elders — Elvis, The Who, the Rolling Stones, Kool & the Gang, Def Leppard — adding, "I feel like my record collection is sitting here in this room.''

The group then showered the collected stars and fans with smart, sharp and furiously-paced versions of American Idiot, When I Come Around and Basket Case. Armstrong's voice was especially clear and strong and bratty on Basket Case.

(The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction ceremony will air on HBO May 30.)

www.usatoday.com/story/life/music/2015/04/18/rock-hall-of-fame-2015-induction-ceremony/25913423/