Usually when a band is inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame one of three things can be expected:
Some of the members are dead
Some of the members don’t show up because they’re mad at the others
Some of the members do show up, but don’t talk to the others
What band had the most members show up to the induction ceremony with the least amount of acrimony? I’m guessing Aerosmith.
I don’t think there was any acrimony between the members of U2 or R.E.M., both of whom were still together at the time of induction and neither of which, unlike Aerosmith, had ever broken up due to internal problems.
In fact, REM had probably the most “crimonious” break-up in history.
I’m only interested in the induction ceremony, and by that time Aerosmith had gotten over its internal differences. And there are five guys in Aerosmith, while U2 and REM have (or had) only 4.
Rush is only a three person band, but no one is dead, all three of them showed up and they’re still all talking to one another. They have been working together since 1974.
ZZ Top also was together when inducted.
Metallica was inducted with 1 member dead (but his father represented him) and the four members of the current band and 1 former member. All people on stage were friendly with each other and they played as a five member band during the ceremony.
The original Black Sabbath were all on good terms when inducted as well.
Only a few bands had ongoing feuds so bad that the ex-members couldn’t even be polite to each other for a few hours.
Creedence Clearwater Revival was the most blatant (John Fogarty arranged to perform with the E Street Band, but wouldn’t perform with Stu Cook or Cosmo Clifford.
The other Eagles still hated Randy Meisner after decades apart, and wouldn’t even pretend otherwise (he seemed to be hoping for hugs and and forgiveness).
Felix Cavalliere still wasn’t talking to anyone else in the Rascals.
And of course, Axl Rose wanted nothing to do with the old members of G n R.
Otherwise, most bands (even ones that had been torn apart by squabbling) were generally able to stay positive for one evening. Occasionally, we see cordial reunions of guys who hadn’t played together in ages - as when Vince Furnier brought together all the surviving members of the original BAND Alice Cooper (all but the late Glenn Buxton, whom Vince gave a sincere tribute to).
As for this year… Rush are still together after nearly 40 years and seem to get along great. But I suspect the Fisher brothers won’t be welcome when Heart is inducted!
True at the time, but all the original Rascals are performing together again.
The Four Tops were formed in 1956 and had all four members until death starting taking them away in the late 1990s. Only one original Top is left. As I understand it, anytime one member started to develop ego problems, the others busted his chops until he had an attitude adjustment. They were elected to Jann Wanner’s HOF in 1990
I’m glad to hear it- but as we’ve seen, some bands can’t put aside old grudges for even one night. The Rascals USED to be such a band.
Another band with a mamber they hate: Van Halen.
But the person being hated changes from time to time! Eddie used to hate David Lee Roth. Now he’s back with Dave, and seems to hate Sammy Hagar and Michael Anthony. He fired Anthony without giving him any heads up; Anthony found out he was out of the band when he saw the press conference at which Eddie announced his son Wolfie was the new bassist.
But the person being hated changes from time to time! Eddie used to hate David Lee Roth. Now he’s with Dave, and seems to hate Sammy Hagar and Michael Anthony. He fired Anthony without giving him any heads up; Anthony found out he was out of the band when he saw the press conference at which Eddie announced his son Wolfie was the new bassist.
Strangely, Hagar and Anthony were the only members of the band to show up for the Hall of Fame induction.
Yet that is the exact type of situation that made me come up with my question.
I had heard (and from someone who seems to be pretty connected to Heart-related news) that the entire classic lineup is going to be at the induction, including the Fishers. It’s been 30-odd years…even the worst breakup hates eventually simmer down into indifference.
And it’s not as if the Fishers will have to cancel any big gigs to make it to the induction!