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Hip-hop group Wu-Tang Clan, rocker Billy Idol and singer Phil Collins were among the artists inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame on Saturday at a gala concert at the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles.
The hall honors artists with lasting influence on popular music. Joy Division/New Order and the late soul singer Luther Vandross also joined the 2026 class. Oasis, Sade, and Iron Maiden, also honored, did not attend, but the show went on.
Staten Island’s Wu-Tang Clan performed hits including “C.R.E.A.M.” Member Method Man told the crowd: “We went from being banned on the radio to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.”
Queen Latifah and MC Lyte, widely known as the “First Lady of Hip Hop,” were also honored. They performed a medley of their hits and were joined by Megan Thee Stallion and Remy Ma.
Blink-182 drummer Travis Barker inducted Collins, who was moved to tears. It is the British singer’s second induction, after his first with the band Genesis. He arrived with his children, including actress Lily Collins of “Emily in Paris,” walked to the stage with two canes and joked, "I'm really not as bad as it looks.” Cynthia Erivo sang his hit “In The Air Tonight” while Barker played its famous drum fill.
Gwen Stefani inducted Idol, who performed “Rebel Yell” and later joined Stefani for “Eyes Without a Face.” His longtime guitarist Steve Stevens was inducted with him. “Punk was and remains a tremendously positive thing,” Idol said.
Actor Bob Odenkirk, inducting Oasis, called the band’s music “a dose of Viagra for the ego” and joked that their absence was in character.
Trent Reznor introduced Joy Division and New Order, who were inducted together. New Order formed after Joy Division singer Ian Curtis died in 1980, and bassist Peter Hook accepted the honor.
Iron Maiden, which was touring in Australia, was honored by a group of performers including St. Vincent, members of Rage Against the Machine and Metallica, and actor Jack Black. Oprah Winfrey introduced Vandross, and Usher sang “Never Too Much.” Television host Ed Sullivan received the Ahmet Ertegun Award, given to non-performing figures in the industry. Celia Cruz, Fela Kuti and Gram Parsons were also honored.
Neil Young inducted producer Rick Rubin, and the Red Hot Chili Peppers performed dressed as Rubin lookalikes. Rubin gave the night’s shortest speech: “You can’t kill rock and roll.”
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