40 Years of Rock Hall ceremony: Moments that still echo
Add Axios as your preferred source to
see more of our stories on Google.
Taylor Swift performs during the 36th Annual Rock & Roll Hall of Fame induction ceremony on October 30, 2021 in Cleveland. Photo: Kevin Kane/Getty Images for the Rock Hall
The Rock & Roll Hall of Fame will hold its 40th induction ceremony on Nov. 8 at Los Angeles' Peacock Theatre.
Why it matters: We're ranking the 10 most memorable moments in the annual ceremony's history, from stellar performances to unforgettable speeches.
What's next: You can read our features on each moment below.
No. 10: Taylor Swift's big Rock Hall showcase
The annual ceremony is all about celebrating icons, but the 2021 show proved there are levels to this.
No. 9: Hall of Fame's all-male opening act
On Jan. 23, 1986, rock 'n' roll morphed into a black-tie affair honoring the genre's founding fathers.
No. 8: Talking Heads' one-night comeback
The Rock & Roll Hall of Fame inductions have hosted several eventful reunions, and one of the biggest took place on March 18, 2002.
No. 7: Paul McCartney's surprise jam
It was a Rock & Roll Hall of Fame performance that wasn't supposed to happen.
No. 6: Kurt Cobain's legacy comes back to life
The biggest question heading into the 2014 Rock & Roll Hall of Fame ceremony involved the most important band of the 1990s.
No. 5: Ringo Starr's night at the Rock Hall
There's perhaps nothing more sacred in rock 'n' roll than the Beatles, which made the 2015 Rock & Roll Hall of Fame induction ceremony one of the most anticipated.
No. 4: When Zeppelin rose again
The 1995 Rock & Roll Hall of Fame induction ceremony was historic for multiple reasons.
No. 3: Guitars galore
The 2009 Rock & Roll Hall of Fame ceremony was the first to take place in Cleveland in 12 years, and the first inductions open to the public.
No. 2: The Velvet Underground mourns
The Rock & Roll Hall of Fame inductions have been known to evoke intense emotions, with the most sentimental moment coming in 1996.
No. 1: Prince's unforgettable performance
Prince's epic guitar solo at the 2004 inductions is, perhaps, the most talked about moment in Rock Hall ceremony history — but it almost didn't happen.