“The Playlist” Salutes The Rock and Roll Hall Of Fame Class of 2012

This weekend saw The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in Cleveland induct an incredible talented group from the world of Rock, Rap, Alternative, and members of a classic 50s group.  This diverse group with many talented players will get saluted through this week's version of "The Playlist".

The Class of 2012 now officially in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame included Guns N' Roses (6 Billboard Top-10 hits, 15 Top-10 Rock hits, and about 30 Million albums sold worldwide), The Beastie Boys (the Hip-Hop, Rock, Punk group who broke down barriers and sold about 30 Million albums in their career), Red Hot Chili Peppers (23 Top-15 Alternative hits with 12 reaching #1, and over 82 Million albums sold worldwide) , and the living members of The Crickets who played with Buddy Holly.  The ceremony saw some key figures missing from the ceremony - one was expected, and one was not.

Axl Rose made it very well known that he would not show up with the other original members of GNR.  Slash predicted this would happen - whatever differences are still lingering are on Rose's end it seems, but that would not ruin the night for Slash, Duff, Matt and Steven.  They would perform with Alter Bridge lead singer Myles Kennedy for their moment on the Hall stage.

While The Beastie Boys became only the 3rd Hip-Hop act to be anointed into the elite Hall, MCA (Adam Yauch) had to cancel at the last minute to be in Cleveland for the group's special moment, also cancelling the Beastie's performance at the Hall.  Yauch has been battling Cancer over the last few years.

This week's version of The Playlist salutes the inductees through music - their signature songs, their contributions to other artists, the covers that helped themselves and other artists.  You'll find these 20 songs truly represent the main recipients of the Class of 2012.  Congrats to this year's impressive class to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

Guns N' Roses -- Paradise City (Top-7 hit in 7 different countries in 1988)

Wings -- Live and Let Die (GNR covered the McCartney hit from '73 and made it Top-10 Rock hit)

Sheryl Crow -- Sweet Child O' Mine (GNR's #1 smash was covered for the movie Big Daddy, and earned Crow a Grammy nomination for Best Female Rock Vocal with her version)

Daughtry -- What I Want (Slash ripped with his guitar work for Chris and the band's Top-10 Rock hit in 2007)

Velvet Revolver -- Fall To Pieces (#1 Rock and Alternative song in '04, with Slash, Duff and Matt Sorum joining forces with Scott Weiland of STP)

Michael Jackson -- Black or White (Slash worked numerous times with "The King Of Pop", including this #1 smash in 1991)

The Cult -- Fire Woman (Matt Sorum was on drums during The Cult's most successful stretch that featured this '89 Top-5 Rock and Alternative hit, plus their only Top-40 hit of their career)

Red Hot Chili Peppers -- Under The Bridge (over 1.5 Million copies sold of this #2 Billboard hit in 1991 that went #1 in 3 other countries)

Stevie Wonder -- Higher Ground (his Top-3 hit in '73 was covered by the Peppers in '89 top score their 1st ever Rock hit of their career)

Young MC -- Bust A Move (Flea made that addicting bass groove on Marvin Young's One Hit in 1989, which peaked at #7)

Kid Rock -- Born Free (Peppers drummer Chad Smith was on Rock's Born Free album, and the title track appeared on radio in 4 different formats)

Jane's Addiction -- Been Caught Stealing (Dave Navarro came from Jane's to the Peppers in 1993)

Alanis Morissette - You Oughta Know (the 1995 hit that launched her singing career worldwide had Flea and Navarro reworking the music into the smash you know)

Pearl Jam -- I Got Id (Jack Irons was the Peppers original drummer, and took over for the Seattle grunge Gods with the Merkin Ball CD and one of the biggest hit of the band's career in 1995)

Beastie Boys -- Fight For Your Right (To Party!!!!!!!!!!!)

Kool and The Gang -- Jungle Boogie (one of several songs sampled in "Hey Ladies", which hit the Top-40 in 1989)

Linda Ronstadt -- It's So Easy (her Crickets cover in '77 scored her a Top-5 hit)

James Taylor -- Everyday (a return to the charts in '85 for Taylor with this Holly and The Crickets classic)

All the highlights of the induction ceremony can be seen on HBO on Sat., May 5th @ 9pm (set your DVR).