All hail breaks loose: "Hail, hail rock 'n' roll," said the evening's host Tom Hanks, "which sprang from dashboard radios, nickel-a-song jukeboxes and deep-grooved 45s." With that, rock pioneer Jerry Lee Lewis returned to open the show again, this time with Great Balls of Fire. Just like Thursday, he pounded out a faithful version, but unlike that subdued turn, he playfully picked up the piano stool and tossed it down as he left the stage.
HISTORY: Rock and Roll Hall of Fame timeline
THURSDAY CONCERT: Bruce Springsteen, Stevie Wonder and more
What's it to you? If Thursday's show was mostly about rock's sweet soul, folk and country roots, with a hefty dose of New York strut, Friday's acts offered a harder, rebellious edge, leavened by Aretha Franklin's gospel-drenched empowerment anthems and U2's expansive world view.
Queen Aretha: Franklin, a bit unfortunately, was introduced by film clips that showed her in her stage-stomping '60s heyday. This time, she was slowly escorted to center stage and maintained a more majestic presence. Dressed in a bright red gown, black fur-trimmed coat and white pearls, she belted faithful versions of Baby I Love You and Don't Play That Song (in memory of Atlantic Records founder Ahmet Ertegun, who signed her to the label). The crowd was flummoxed when she teased to Respect but instead sang a gospel-tinged number (Make Them Hear You) from the musical Ragtime.
Potent pairings: Momentum resumed when Annie Lennox came on to duet on Chain of Fools, then flagged again when Aretha did a showbizzy version of New York, New York— great song but wrong occasion, perhaps. The crowd loved it, though, especially when she said afterward that she was "thinking seriously" about moving here from Detroit. Lenny Kravitz injected needed energy by singing Think in a punchy voice that was clearly influenced by his stage partner. At the end, he escorted her offstage, Aretha sashaying all the way.
Worth the wait: Finally, Respect was cemented with the encore. That once-in-a-lifetime voice filled the Garden, ably supported by nearly 20 backing musicians, including Franklin's son Teddy on guitar, and the crowd gave the diva her due.
Got your back: Jeff Beck had been scheduled to appear as a guest with Eric Clapton but took over the headlining slot when Slowhand was sidelined by gallstone surgery. Beck, a two-time inductee (solo and with The Yardbirds), showed he's one of rock's most proficient, tasteful and appropriately showy guitarists — an axeman's axeman — as he led a quartet in a blistering set of jazz- and blues-tinged instrumentals, highlighted by Drown in My Own Tears.
HISTORY: Rock and Roll Hall of Fame timeline
THURSDAY CONCERT: Bruce Springsteen, Stevie Wonder and more
What's it to you? If Thursday's show was mostly about rock's sweet soul, folk and country roots, with a hefty dose of New York strut, Friday's acts offered a harder, rebellious edge, leavened by Aretha Franklin's gospel-drenched empowerment anthems and U2's expansive world view.
Queen Aretha: Franklin, a bit unfortunately, was introduced by film clips that showed her in her stage-stomping '60s heyday. This time, she was slowly escorted to center stage and maintained a more majestic presence. Dressed in a bright red gown, black fur-trimmed coat and white pearls, she belted faithful versions of Baby I Love You and Don't Play That Song (in memory of Atlantic Records founder Ahmet Ertegun, who signed her to the label). The crowd was flummoxed when she teased to Respect but instead sang a gospel-tinged number (Make Them Hear You) from the musical Ragtime.
Potent pairings: Momentum resumed when Annie Lennox came on to duet on Chain of Fools, then flagged again when Aretha did a showbizzy version of New York, New York— great song but wrong occasion, perhaps. The crowd loved it, though, especially when she said afterward that she was "thinking seriously" about moving here from Detroit. Lenny Kravitz injected needed energy by singing Think in a punchy voice that was clearly influenced by his stage partner. At the end, he escorted her offstage, Aretha sashaying all the way.
Worth the wait: Finally, Respect was cemented with the encore. That once-in-a-lifetime voice filled the Garden, ably supported by nearly 20 backing musicians, including Franklin's son Teddy on guitar, and the crowd gave the diva her due.
Got your back: Jeff Beck had been scheduled to appear as a guest with Eric Clapton but took over the headlining slot when Slowhand was sidelined by gallstone surgery. Beck, a two-time inductee (solo and with The Yardbirds), showed he's one of rock's most proficient, tasteful and appropriately showy guitarists — an axeman's axeman — as he led a quartet in a blistering set of jazz- and blues-tinged instrumentals, highlighted by Drown in My Own Tears.
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