U2 made a surprise opening appearance at Saturday’s Rock & Roll Hall of Fame ceremony, performing its new single “Silencio” alongside dancers dressed as riot police before playing its 1984 hit “Pride (In the Name of Love).” Singer Bono raised peace signs and his fist during the song honouring Martin Luther King Jr. U2 was inducted in 2005.
This year’s inductees include Billy Idol, Phil Collins, Sade, Queen Latifah, New Order, Luther Vandross, Iron Maiden, Oasis and Wu-Tang Clan. Several will be absent. Noel Gallagher has a concert in Britain, Liam is avoiding the ceremony, Iron Maiden is touring Australia and Sade is skipping it. Collins and some New Order members face health-related limitations. Vandross died in 2005.
Wu-Tang Clan, Queen Latifah and MC Lyte are expected to attend and possibly perform. Idol will perform with guitarist Steve Stevens. Latifah and Lyte receive Early Influence Awards, alongside posthumous honourees Gram Parsons, Fela Kuti and Celia Cruz. Kuti will be the first African-born inductee and Cruz the first primarily Spanish-language singer inducted.
Rick Rubin, Linda Creed, Arif Mardin and Jimmy Miller receive Musical Excellence Awards, while broadcaster Ed Sullivan receives the Ahmet Ertegun Award.
The ceremony will air on ABC and Disney+ on December 9. Los Angeles is hosting for a second year, with future events also planned for New York and Cleveland.