Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame 2025: A Classic Rock Crowd Finally Gets Its Night

The 2025 Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame induction ceremony at the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles on November 8 felt tailored for fans who grew up on FM rock radio, MTV, and the early days of grunge. For guys in their late forties through their sixties, this was the year the Hall finally caught up with a big chunk of their record collections.

Bad Company, Joe Cocker, Soundgarden, The White Stripes, and Warren Zevon all got their due alongside Cyndi Lauper, Chubby Checker, Outkast, and more, in a show streamed live on Disney Plus and headed for an ABC highlights special on January 1.

Below is a detailed look at the night, with a focus on the artists that matter most to classic rock, 80s, and 90s rock fans.

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The Class Of 2025: Built For Rock Lifers

The 2025 lineup hit a sweet spot where 70s album rock, 80s pop rock, and 90s alternative all converged.

Performer category

• Bad Company

• Joe Cocker

• Cyndi Lauper

• Soundgarden

• The White Stripes

• Outkast

• Chubby Checker

Musical Influence Award

• Warren Zevon

• Salt-N-Pepa

Musical Excellence Award

• Thom Bell

• Nicky Hopkins

• Carol Kaye

Ahmet Ertegun Award

• Lenny Waronker

For rock fans who have been arguing for years that acts like Bad Company, Soundgarden, and Zevon were overdue, this class felt like long-delayed course correction.

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Bad Company Finally Take Their Victory Lap

One of the most emotional segments of the night came when 70s arena rock staples Bad Company were officially welcomed into the Hall. The band were inducted by Fleetwood Mac drummer Mick Fleetwood, who framed them as one of the definitive hard rock outfits of the 70s.

With singer Paul Rodgers not performing because of health concerns, drummer Simon Kirke gave the acceptance speech on behalf of the band, thanking fans who stuck with them from vinyl to streaming.

The performance was a classic rock all-star jam that could have headlined any festival on its own. Kirke anchored a set that featured Aerosmith guitarist Joe Perry, Heart’s Nancy Wilson, Bryan Adams, and Black Crowes frontman Chris Robinson tearing into Bad Company staples, underscoring just how influential those songs have been on generations of rock players.

For men who grew up hearing “Can’t Get Enough” and “Feel Like Makin’ Love” on car stereos and bar jukeboxes, seeing that music finally enshrined with that level of respect felt like vindication.

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Warren Zevon: The Cult Hero Becomes Canon

Few inductees have inspired more passionate “what is taking so long” conversations than Warren Zevon, and his segment played directly to that long-simmering affection. Zevon entered under the Musical Influence banner, which in his case felt like an understatement.

Former Late Show host David Letterman, one of Zevon’s most vocal champions, delivered the induction speech. Letterman balanced his usual deadpan with genuine emotion, telling stories from Zevon’s legendary late-night appearances and recalling how the songwriter gifted him a guitar after his final visit. That guitar was onstage throughout the segment.

In maybe the most poignant musical moment of the evening for classic rock fans, The Killers used that same Zevon guitar for a muscular version of “Lawyers, Guns And Money.” Brandon Flowers and company leaned hard into the song’s dark humor and barroom swagger, delivering the kind of performance that reminded everyone how contemporary Zevon’s writing still feels.

For an audience that discovered Zevon through FM radio, vinyl deep cuts, or those famous Letterman appearances, the segment felt like official confirmation that their cult favorite had finally been allowed into the big room.

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Joe Cocker: A Show-Closing Soul Rock Blowout

Joe Cocker’s induction came late in the night and effectively turned into the ceremony’s grand finale. Bryan Adams handled the induction, connecting Cocker’s raspy, blue-collar delivery to the entire lineage of rock and soul vocalists.

The musical tribute was built for fans who remember Cocker’s electrifying performances at Woodstock and on 70s television. Tedeschi Trucks Band, Nathaniel Rateliff, and Teddy Swims took the lead, serving up a warm, smoky “Feelin’ Alright” that could have slotted into any classic rock station’s playlist.

They closed with a full-tilt version of Cocker’s reimagined “With A Little Help From My Friends,” joined by Chris Robinson and Cyndi Lauper. The arrangement leaned into gospel, blues, and big rock dynamics, delivering the kind of goosebump moment that older rock fans expect from a Hall of Fame finale.

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Soundgarden And The 90s Generation

For Gen X rock fans, the emotional core of the night belonged to Soundgarden. The surviving members reunited to accept their induction, with actor Jim Carrey offering an unexpectedly heartfelt introduction that recalled meeting the band in the mid-90s and spoke to the enduring impact of the late Chris Cornell.

The performance honored both the band’s heavy riff legacy and Cornell’s voice. Taylor Momsen stepped up to deliver a fierce “Rusty Cage” alongside Pearl Jam guitarist Mike McCready, while Brandi Carlile and Alice In Chains guitarist Jerry Cantrell joined original bassist Hiro Yamamoto for “Black Hole Sun.”

In another goosebump highlight, Cornell’s daughter Toni took the stage for a powerful “Fell On Black Days,” underlining just how personal this induction was for the band and fans alike.

For anyone who came of age in the 90s, this was the moment that cemented grunge not just as a movement, but as Rock Hall canon.

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The White Stripes: Minimalist Rock For A New Generation

While The White Stripes may feel a bit younger to some classic rock listeners, their induction spoke directly to rock fans who followed guitar music into the 2000s. Iggy Pop did the honors, tying Jack and Meg White’s stripped-down garage attack to the raw energy of 60s and 70s rock.

Meg White did not attend. Jack White accepted for both of them, referencing a recent conversation where Meg thanked fans and helped him shape the speech. He shared one of her old memories about animals staring at them in strange places, including an elephant at the Detroit Zoo, a story that captured the band’s offbeat charm.

On the performance side, the Hall leaned into the songs that have already become stadium staples. Olivia Rodrigo and Feist delivered a tender “We Are Going To Be Friends,” while Twenty One Pilots exploded into an electric “Seven Nation Army” that had the crowd chanting the now ubiquitous riff.

For rock radio listeners who have watched “Seven Nation Army” turn into a universal sports and crowd anthem, the moment felt like acknowledgment that this is already part of the classic rock songbook.

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Cyndi Lauper: 80s Icon With Rock Cred

Even though much of Lauper’s legacy sits in pop, her induction spoke directly to fans of 80s rock radio, where her hits lived alongside the hard rock and new wave of that era. Chappell Roan gave the induction speech, recalling auditioning for a talent show with “True Colors” and positioning Lauper as a blueprint for fearless individuality.

Lauper’s performance was built like a mini 80s time capsule. She opened with a stripped-down “True Colors,” moved into “Time After Time” with British singer Raye, then closed with a big, communal “Girls Just Want To Have Fun” with Avril Lavigne and Salt-N-Pepa, pulling the crowd into the chorus.

Her speech nodded to the women who came before her and emphasized the continued power of rock and roll to push for social change, a message that resonated with older fans who watched those songs conquer MTV in real time.

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Outkast, Sly Stone, And The Broader Picture

Though not classic rock in the strict radio format sense, Outkast’s induction was a reminder that the Rock Hall now reflects the entire evolution of popular music that grew up alongside rock. Donald Glover (Childish Gambino) inducted the duo, praising their genre-smashing creativity. An afterparty at Mr. Chow in Beverly Hills brought out Dungeon Family alumni and younger artists like Janelle Monáe and Thundercat, underlining just how far their influence has spread.

Onstage, Janelle Monáe tore into “Hey Ya,” turning a 2000s crossover smash into a full-on celebration that had even the classic rock crowd on its feet.

The show also opened with an all-star Sly Stone tribute and included a moving Elton John performance of “God Only Knows” in honor of Brian Wilson, reminding everyone that this night is about the entire arc of rock history, not just the latest class.

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How To Watch And Why It Matters

The full 2025 Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame induction streamed live on Disney Plus from the Peacock Theater and will be available on demand. A condensed highlights special will air on ABC on New Year’s Day and hit Hulu the following day, giving fans who missed the live stream a second chance to see the key performances and speeches.

For older fans, this ceremony checked almost every box:

• Long-overdue recognition for 70s staples like Bad Company and Joe Cocker

• Emotional closure for 90s icons Soundgarden and Warren Zevon

• A moving tribute to Brian Wilson from Elton John

• Acknowledgment that 80s and 2000s acts like Cyndi Lauper and The White Stripes now belong in the classic canon

It was a night that made it feel like the Hall finally caught up with what classic rock fans have known for decades.

2025 Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony Complete Performance List

Opening Tribute: Sly & The Family Stone

1. Dance to the Music performed by Stevie Wonder, Flea, Beck, Questlove, Maxwell, Jennifer Hudson, and Leon Thomas III

2. Everyday People performed by Maxwell, Stevie Wonder, Beck, Questlove, Flea, and Leon Thomas III

3. Thank You (Falettinme Be Mice Elf Agin) performed by Stevie Wonder, Flea, Beck, Questlove, Maxwell, and Leon Thomas III

4. Higher performed by Jennifer Hudson, Stevie Wonder, and the full all-star band

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Salt-N-Pepa (Musical Influence Award)

5. Shoop performed by Salt-N-Pepa (Cheryl James, Sandra Denton) with DJ Spinderella

6. Let’s Talk About Sex performed by Salt-N-Pepa

7. What a Man performed by Salt-N-Pepa with En Vogue

8. Push It performed by Salt-N-Pepa

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Outkast Induction Tribute

9. ATLiens performed by Big Boi and JID

10. Ms. Jackson performed by Doja Cat with Big Boi and the backing band

11. B.O.B. (Bombs Over Baghdad) performed by Tyler the Creator

12. Hey Ya! performed by Janelle Monáe

13. The Way You Move performed by Big Boi and Sleepy Brown

14. The Whole World performed by Big Boi, Killer Mike, JID, Doja Cat, Tyler the Creator, and Janelle Monáe

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Bad Company

15. Feel Like Makin’ Love performed by Simon Kirke, Chris Robinson, Nancy Wilson, and Joe Perry

16. Can’t Get Enough performed by Simon Kirke, Bryan Adams, Nancy Wilson, and Joe Perry

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Soundgarden

17. Fell on Black Days performed by Toni Cornell with Soundgarden and Nancy Wilson

18. Rusty Cage performed by Taylor Momsen with Soundgarden

19. Black Hole Sun performed by Brandi Carlile with Soundgarden

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Cyndi Lauper

20. True Colors performed by Cyndi Lauper with an all-female band featuring Gina Schock and Lisa Coleman

21. Time After Time performed by Cyndi Lauper and Raye

22. Girls Just Wanna Have Fun performed by Cyndi Lauper with Avril Lavigne and Salt-N-Pepa

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The White Stripes Tribute

23. Seven Nation Army performed by Twenty One Pilots (Tyler Joseph and Josh Dun)

24. We’re Gonna Be Friends performed by Olivia Rodrigo and Feist

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Warren Zevon Tribute

25. Lawyers, Guns and Money performed by The Killers with Waddy Wachtel

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In Memoriam: Brian Wilson Tribute

26. God Only Knows performed by Elton John with Don Was and Kenny Aronoff

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Joe Cocker Tribute and Finale

27. The Letter performed by Tedeschi Trucks Band with Nathaniel Rateliff

28. Feelin’ Alright performed by Teddy Swims with Tedeschi Trucks Band

29. With a Little Help From My Friends performed by Tedeschi Trucks Band, Nathaniel Rateliff, Teddy Swims, Bryan Adams, Cyndi Lauper, and Chris Robinson

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Honored Without Performances

• Chubby Checker accepted his honor by video with no live performance

• Thom Bell, Carol Kaye, Nicky Hopkins, and Lenny Waronker were honored through video tributes and speeches only