Jon Bon Jovi looks at the crowd before presenting a speech on Friday at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in Cleveland.
THE BLADE/BRIAN DUGGER
Buy This Image
CLEVELAND — Rock & Roll Hall of Fame inductions weekend got kicked off with a lot of squeals Friday afternoon.
Jon Bon Jovi and bandmates Richie Sambora and David Bryan surprised visitors to the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, first appearing for a studio interview, then gliding down an escalator to a ceremony on the third floor, where a plaque with names and signatures of this year’s Hall of Fame class was unveiled.
There were bursts of howls and screams as Bon Jovi made his way through the crowd to the stage.
Jon Bon Jovi speaking at the Rock Hall #RockHall2018 pic.twitter.com/mTLwFuhsbY
— Geoff Burns (@GeoffBurnsBlade) April 13, 2018
After being introduced by Rock & Rock Hall of Fame CEO Greg Harris, Bon Jovi thanked the hall for being inducted.
”Any kid who strums a guitar dreams of making a record. Every kid who makes a record dreams of having fame. And every guy who has a minute of fame dreams of having more immortality than any of us will ever know,” Bon Jovi said. “We are thrilled. We are honored. And it’s about [expletive] time.”
Jon Bon Jovi thanking the Rock Hall. The group will be inducted Saturday night. #BonJovi #RockHall2018 #HBO #SiriusXM #klipsch pic.twitter.com/RVgXBJj38g
— Brian Dugger (@DuggerBlade) April 13, 2018
Saturday night, Bon Jovi will headline this year’s inductees class to the Hall of Fame in a ceremony at Public Hall that begins at 7:30 p.m. Bon Jovi, The Cars, Dire Straits, The Moody Blues, Nina Simone, and Sister Rosetta Tharpe will be honored. Bon Jovi, The Cars, and The Moody Blues are expected to perform in the concert, which will be aired on May 5 on HBO.
Getting ready for the official unveiling of the new inductee exhibits at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame #rockhall2018 pic.twitter.com/q34JJF62Oj
— Geoff Burns (@GeoffBurnsBlade) April 13, 2018
Prior to Bon Jovi’s speech, Justin Hayward of The Moody Blues addressed the crowd.
"We're all very grateful to the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame for being the temple for all the music we loved growing up. It means a lot to us as a group, and it means a lot to all of the people who love our music,” Hayward said. “Once they opened some of the voting to the fans, it was like a stampede. It was just a matter of time before we got in. It means a lot to us. Thank you, and we’re looking forward to tomorrow.”
Jon Bon Jovi and other members of this year’s Rock Hall class. @toledonews on the scene. Unveiling of new exhibit. #Rockhall2018 #BonJovi pic.twitter.com/I1wfWaRbRl
— Brian Dugger (@DuggerBlade) April 13, 2018
#RockHall2018 pic.twitter.com/mCRfBxaOM5
— Geoff Burns (@GeoFFburn) April 13, 2018
Contact Brian Dugger at bdugger@theblade.com or on Twitter @DuggerBlade.