All Hail

It must have been 1987 or so when I was in Cleveland visiting with friends at that year's national convention of the International Downtown Association that a few years previously had started me on my brief run as a popular speaker.  Local movers and shakers were usually at such events and I met one from Cleveland, who was all enthusiastic about a project to create the international Rock and Roll Hall of Fame right there in Cleveland, a city--among other incongruities--that had no obvious association with rock and roll.  I almost laughed at him.  Good luck with that, I said, but more politely.

Joke was on me for sure.  The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in Cleveland has succeeded wildly, bringing in its biggest stars for induction ceremonies and tribute concerts that often feature other major rock stars.

Inducted this year was the Electric Light Orchestra.  They were introduced by an emotional, nervous Dhani Harrison--George's son--indicating the relationship that grew between ELO's Jeff Lynne, who produced the last Beatles singles as well as George Harrison's last album together with Dhani.

That kind of relationship is not unique anymore, nor has it been for awhile.  There are many videos on YouTube with ad hoc groups of superstars playing each other's songs.  Sting and Paul Simon have toured together.  And so on.  Together with more sophisticated electronics and concert sound, it's the reason that, while new pop music has moved in other directions, some of the best rock and roll ever is being played now.

Though George got most of the credit for forming the great but brief run of the Traveling Wilburys,  Jeff Lynne was at its center.  He'd already produced (or was at the time producing) records by members Roy Orbison and Tom Petty as well as Harrison.  Now they're all gone, and only Lynne and Bob Dylan remain from that group.  That's the other inevitable aspect of these superstar get-togethers.  Mortality.

But it's great to see so many of these performers and groups still at at, some of them still playing concerts and touring.  Sometimes their children--like Dhani and James Taylor's son--are likely to keep their music alive for yet another generation.

  This ELO performance of their version of Chuck Berry's "Roll Over Beethoven" that starts with a bit of Ludwig van done with authority by a string trio of three beautiful players (cause they really are an Orchestra), is kind of a perfect tribute to rock and roll itself.  What's rock and roll?  Take the blues and add rhythm and joy.  All hail!