Cleveland’s Rock Hall welcomes new class

CLEVELAND (AP) - The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame ceremony didn’t miss Axl Rose at all.

The rowdy celebration, which in past years has included awkward moments, touching tributes and unforgettable performances, rocked on without Rose, the Guns N’ Roses frontman who may one day regret skipping a night when 6,000 fans, 1,400 guests and many of music’s biggest stars partied in Public Hall with the class of 2012.

Hard rockers Guns N’ Roses _ minus Rose _ headlined this year’s eclectic group of inductees. Others being enshrined are the Red Hot Chili Peppers, the Beastie Boys, folk icon Donovan, late singer-songwriter Laura Nyro and British bands the Small Faces and Faces.

Before the ceremony started with a blistering performance by Green Day, Chili Peppers lead singer Anthony Kiedis said it was strange to be enshrined while on tour.

“We’re going somewhere,” Kiedis said. “How can we stop and take an award when really we’re just halfway there? But it is nice to be together with people that we spent some incredible years along the way writing songs and playing shows in little theaters and sweaty little transvestite clubs and having the time of our lives.”

Cleveland rocked without Rose.

Green Day, which was scheduled to induct Guns N’ Roses, got things started by tearing into “Letterbomb” with Billie Joe Armstrong leading the sold-out room of fans and celebrities in a sing-a-along chorus.

The first mention of Rose’s name drew a smattering of boos that were soon drowned out by the music.

Rose, the screeching frontman and ringmaster of the G N’ R traveling circus of dysfunction for decades, said earlier this week that he didn’t want to be part of the ceremony because it “doesn’t appear to be somewhere I’m actually wanted or respected.”

He cited a continuing rift with his former band mates as the main reason for not attending. His decision disappointed fans and ended months of speculation about whether the original Guns N’ Roses lineup would unite for the first time since 1993 and perform any of their classic hits like “Welcome to the Jungle” or “Sweet Child O’ Mine.”

As the ceremony approached, fans gathered on the sidewalks outside the historic venue, which hosted the Beatles in 1964, for a peek at some of rock’s royalty.

Alice Cooper was the fan favorite on the red carpet, signing autographs, telling printable stories and waving in response to cheers of “Alice, Alice!”

“New York is glitz, Cleveland is the nuts and bolts,” said Cooper, comparing the cities that share the rock hall induction ceremonies, which are held at New York’s Waldorf-Astoria and come to Cleveland every third year.

Funk icon George Clinton made a splashy entrance, arriving in a silver bullet-shaped vehicle familiar to amusement park thrill riders. Wearing a gray herringbone coat and black fedora, he stood and waved from the back seat.

Like Guns N’ Roses, the Red Hot Chili Peppers emerged from Los Angeles during the 1980s when Sunset Strip’s rock scene was dominated by “hair” bands more concerned with their tight lycra pants and eyeliner than their sound. Not the Chili Peppers, who found their unique groove by blending funky hooks and a punk ethos.

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