- Jann Wenner kicked off the night giving an outline of who would be honored over the course of the evening.
- The house band, led by Paul Shaffer, then played for Patti LaBelle, who sang “If You Don’t Know Me By Now” in celebration of the first honorees, the architects of the Philly Soul sound, Kenny Gamble and Leon Huff.
- After a video montage about Gamble and Huff, Jerry Butler brought the producing duo to the stage to accept the first Ahmet Ertegun Award. Kenny expressed that their music represented peace and Huff related how he and his partner first met in an elevator. He said they figured they had to talk to each other because they were the only black men working in the building.
- Following their speeches, Butler sang “Only The Strong Survive.”
- Next, after a package about Little Walter, Ben Harper introduced the sideman. Then, James Cotton, on harmonica, and Harper, on slide, performed “My Babe.”
- After a montage about The Ventures, John Fogerty inducted the band. He noted that the group made 250 records and quipped that today, artists feel lucky if they sell 250 records. Guitarist Don Wilson, who spoke longest for the band, joked that with all the balconies in the auditorium, he couldn’t help but think about asking Mary Todd Lincoln how she enjoyed the theater. The group then played “Walk Don’t Run” and “Hawaii Five-O.”
- Following those tunes and a package celebrating Leonard Cohen, Lou Reed, who walked to the podium with a manila envelope and a book, spoke about the performer. Nervous and with a shaking hand, he shared with the crowd the first time they met and some of his favorite Cohen lyrics. Leonard then thanked Lou for reminding him that he “wrote a few good lines,” and proceeded to give a lyrical speech with the same refrain of the “tower of song,” repeating throughout.
- Damien Rice next honored Cohen with a rendition of “Hallelujah.”
- Following a montage to those who died in the past year and a video package dedicated to the Material Girl, Justin Timberlake welcomed Madonna to the stage. In a speech filled with innuendo, the “SexyBack” singer joked that Madonna just makes everything sexier. He commented, with no offense to Cleveland, that she will make the city that little bit more erotic by “entering the hall,” and that she’s always been a woman on top and he’s sure that she enjoys that position. He even mentioned that the two of them shared a kiss with the same person (Britney Spears), before pulling a 180 and naming Sean Penn. Justin closed by sharing an embarrassing anecdote, regaling the audience with a story about Madonna injecting him with a shot of B-12 in the butt while working on her new album, Hard Candy.
- Next, wearing a see through dress with a black bodice underneath, Madonna began on a sincere and serious note, drawing words from the Hebrew Talmud, before getting more lighthearted. She joked about her first MTV Video Music Awards performance with her a** hanging out and doing a tab of ecstasy with an A&R man early in her career, and then let a few F-bombs fly as well, directed at Timberlake and the audience.
- Iggy Pop then honored Madonna with renditions of “Burning Up” and “Ray of Light.”
- After an introductory video package about John Mellencamp, Billy Joel introduced the rocker from Indiana. The Piano Man gave a humorous and profanity filled speech, talking about how Mellencamp called him up to play the first Farm Aid. Billy said he told Mellencamp, “I’m a New York Jew, they’ll hate me.” He also shared a story about playing football with John and how Mellencamp “cheated” by secretly including the University of Indiana’s starting quarterback on his team. Above all, Billy touted John for not taking any s**t from anyone.
- Following Joel, Mellencamp took the stage, putting out a cigarette on the way. He told Billy, that in the Midwest, they can’t tell who a Jew is and joked that he thought he was Italian. John then spoke about having spinal surgery as an infant, naming the doctor who only charged his parents a dollar for his services. He said his grandmother always said he was lucky, and he agreed that he was lucky to be standing at the podium to accept the honor. Mellencamp closed by thanking his family and warning those people that upset him over the years that his son, Hud is a boxer and he may sic the pugilist on them.
- Mellencamp then performed “Pink Houses,” “Small Town” and “Authority Song.”
- Next, after a video package of The Dave Clark Five, Tom Hanks got nostalgic with his energetic and passionate induction of the quintet. He spoke about huddling around a jukebox, or as he called it, “the community iPod,” and listening to the group’s songs, describing the joy of listening to their portion of the British invasion.
- The band proceeded to thank their families before Dave Clark himself spoke. He said it was the work of five individuals that made the group successful, he just happened to be the guy up front. He also saluted bandmate Mike Smith, who just recently passed away, asking for applause from the crowd so Mike could hear them.
- Joan Jett then performed “Bits and Pieces.” Finally, to close out the night, Billy Joel, John Fogerty, John Mellencamp and Jett shared the stage for The Dave Clark Five’s “Glad All Over.”
