Fanboys Anonymous

To Nirvana, Kiss, Cat Stevens, Peter Gabriel, Hall & Oates, Linda Ronstadt, and the E-Street Band: Congratulations! These artists achieved what is iconically considered the pinnacle of rock music—their Rock & Roll Hall of Fame induction ceremony. Brian Epstein (former Beatles manager) and Andrew Loog Oldham (Rolling Stones manager/producer) also received the Ahmet Ertegun award for non-performers.

The front-ladies of Nirvana (L-R): Kim Gordon, Joan Jett, St. Vincent, Lorde.

The highlight of the evening was Nirvana. Inducted by Kurt Cobain's friend Michael Stipe of R.E.M., most of the "wow-ing" moments of the evening belonged to the grunge gods. Dave Grohl spoke, and he was loudly applauded. (It was excellent to know that previous drummers were acknowledged, and Chad Channing was at least in the crowd.) Krist Novoselic spoke, and he was wildly applauded; he wasn't even able to make his first sentence heard.

As a very surreal and oddly beautiful surprise, Kurt's widow Courtney Love, his sister Kim Cobain, and their mother Wendy O'Connor were onstage as well. Wendy, in the most moving moment of the night, expressed her gratitude on Kurt's behalf. "I'll probably cry—I'm already crying—because, he'd (sic) been so proud… he'd say he wasn't, but he would be. I just miss him so much, he was such an angel."

What followed next was highly improbable, but it happened. Under a shower of boos and hisses, Courtney Love delivered her speech, which was a ballsy thing to do. After explaining to the bittersweet crowd that Frances Bean Cobain—her and Kurt's daughter—couldn't be there due to illness, Courtney hugged Dave Grohl, who returned the gesture. And Nirvana was officially the power trio of all power trios that belonged to the people.

Kiss, inducted by Tom Morello, were reunited and polite as Gene, Peter, Ace and Paul delivered their speeches. The crowd was no less rowdy than during Nirvana's induction, forcing bassist Simmons to shush the fans at the beginning. Highly applauded, they saluted the audience and called it quits for the evening without performing; something about a legal dispute between band members on royalties, but other than Kiss not performing, everything sailed smoothly.

Bruce Springsteen's The E-Street Band was inducted as well, and they threw a long, wonderful jam.

Cat Stevens and Peter Gabriel performed to celebrate their induction, with Gabriel bringing out surprise guest Youssou N'Dour to perform "In Your Eyes."

Hall & Oates and Linda Ronstadt did not perform due to health issues.

Nirvana performed for the first time in over 20 years (unless you include the McCartney thing, which is kinda legit), with Joan Jett on vocals for "Smells Like Teen Spirit," upcoming singer Lorde for "All Apologies," St. Vincent on "Lithium," and Kim Gordon for "Aneurysm." It was truly the capstone of a wonderful story, made even more so by the gestures of Wendy and dare I say, even Courtney, for all the bullshit was left outside as the Barclays Center of Brooklyn, New York City held an event to remember. I only wish Dave Grohl would have let his awesome vocals rip it on "Spirit" with Chad Channing on drums. Oh well.

As a super bonus, Nirvana played an after party show at Saint Vitus club to 200+ special guests (including producers Jack Endino and Butch Vig). Something tells me it might not be the last…

Kurt's mother Wendy, giving the short, sweet speech that moved even the toughest crowd.