Bon Jovi Performs with Richie Sambora and More 2018 Rock Hall Highlights

2018-04-15

Story by Charles Ken

Richie Sambora and Alec John Such joined Bon Jovi for a full set at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction ceremony

The 2018 Rock & Roll Hall Fame induction ceremony happened last night (April 14) at the Public Auditorium in Cleveland, Ohio, and Bon Jovi, The Moody Blues, The Cars, Dire Straits and the late Nina Simone and Sister Rosetta Tharpeare were among the musicians being celebrated at the annual event. One of the biggest moments of the evening was when the guys of Bon Jovi took the stage with their original guitarist Richie Sambora and bass player Alec John Such.

Both Sambora and Such rocked out with the current lineup of Bon Jovi for the group’s full performance. The set included Bon Jovi classics such as “You Give Love a Bad Name,” “It’s My Life,” “When We Were Us” and “Livin’ on a Prayer.” TV and radio personality Howard Stern inducted Bon Jovi. Watch footage of the New Jersey rockers performing at the Rock Hall induction ceremony below.

Other highlights from the star-studded evening included Heart’s Ann Wilson inducting the Moody Blues into the Rock Hall. Singer Justin Hayward, bass player John Lodge and drummer Graeme Edge performed at the show, and Denny Laine was in attendence, but Laine didn’t perform.

Killers frontman Brandon Flowers inducted the Cars, and surviving members Ric Ocasek, Elliot Easton, Greg Hawkes and David Robinson performed with Weezer’s Scott Shriner filling in for late bass player Benjamin Orr.

The Cars members bass player John Illsley and keyboardists Alan Clark and Guy Fletcher were at the ceremony, but frontman Mark Knopfler was absent. Illsley inducted the band himself. R&B superstar Mary J. Blige welcomed Simone into the Rock Hall, and R&B singer Andra Day performed in her honor.

HBO will air a special with highlights from the Rock Hall induction at 8 p.m. ET on May 5. Find other highlights from the rocking evening on the Rock Hall website.

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Charles Ken

Meet the expert - Charles Ken is a graduate of Michigan State University where he studied writing and history. He's a longtime music buff and covers classic rock for Audio Ink Radio. Contact him at ken@audioinkradio.com.