Michael Jackson, Aerosmith Inducted Into Rock Hall

ByABC News
March 23, 2001, 7:36 PM

March 20 -- NEW YORK Michael Jackson might have been the first to moonwalk that way, but it was the members of Aerosmith who walked into history as the big stars of the 16th annual Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductions.

Tom Hamilton, whose tenure as the Boston band's bass player has exceeded 30 years, thanked his parents, saying, "I promise when I finally get this out of my system, I'll go to college!"

Aerosmith and Jackson who did no moonwalking, thanks to a cast on his broken foot were among 11 inductees honored at Monday's ceremonies, held at the Waldorf-Astoria hotel in New York. The others were Steely Dan, Queen, Paul Simon, Latino-rock pioneer Ritchie Valens, doo-wop greats the Flamingos, and R&B legend Solomon Burke. In the second round of sidemen inductees, Chuck Berry keyboardist Johnnie Johnson and "chicken-pickin'" Elvis Presley and Rick Nelson guitarist James Burton gained entry, and Island Records founder Chris Blackwell was inducted in the non-performing category. Both Jackson and Simon, who already entered as members of the Jackson 5 and Simon and Garfunkel, respectively, were honored for their solo work.

Induction duties were handled by a varied array of stars. Perpetual toastmaster Bono praised Blackwell, who brought Bob Marley and reggae music to the mainstream; 'N Sync recognized Jackson, and Kid Rock hilariously rapped about Steven Tyler, Joe Perry, Hamilton, Brad Whitford and Joey Kramer. Foo Fighters Dave Grohl and Taylor Hawkins both lauded and performed with Queen's Brian May and Roger Taylor (an ailing John Deacon was unable to attend), with Grohl making for a credible Freddie Mercury stand-in. Marc Anthony sang Simon's graces; Four Seasons falsetto Frankie Valli recalled the Flamingos' heyday; and Moby made sure the world knew the source of erudite jazz rockers Water Becker and Donald Fagen's band name a dildo in William Burroughs' seminal beat novel Naked Lunch.

R&B songstress Mary J. Blige inducted Burke, while Latino sensation Ricky Martin honored the late crossover pioneer Valens. Keith Richards, who spearheaded a campaign for the creation of the sidemen category, affectionately recognized Johnson and "Suzie Q" riffman Burton. Wearing a glittery black jacket, Richards said his opportunity to induct Burton and Johnson was "the reason I am here and sporting this jacket that's how important it is to me."