Kennedy Center Honors Rock and Roll

John Paul Jones, Jimmy Page, Buddy Guy, and Robert Plant (left to right), 2012 recipients of Kennedy Center Honors.

As most of you readers know by now, spring semester at Community Writing Workshops in Morgantown is going to be an exciting time. We're going to be launching headlong into a class that pairs rock and roll with writing and literature. And what better way to get into that spirit than to celebrate some of the most influential rock musicians of all time. Last night, The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts recognized American blues guitarist and singer Buddy Guy, and English rock band Led Zeppelin, with their 2012 lifetime achievement award for contributions to American culture (along with actor Dustin Hoffman, prima ballerina Natalia Makarova, and late-night talk show host and comedian David Letterman).

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Buddy Guy

"Heaven is lying at Buddy Guy's feet while listening to him play guitar." -- Jimi Hendrix

"Buddy Guy was to me what Elvis was for others." -- Eric Clapton

"Without Buddy Guy, the blues, not to mention rock as we know it, might be a heckuva lot less interesting today. . . . Makes you shudder to think about it." -- Stevie Ray Vaughn

Some may wonder why Buddy Guy (though undoubtedly deserving of his honor) is being mentioned here as a rock musician when he is, after all, best known as an innovator of Chicago's electric blues, but what many people fail to realize is that Buddy Guy is often called the bridge between blues and rock and roll, and his influence on rock musicians like Eric Clapton, Jeff Beck, Jimi Hendrix, The Rolling Stones, Slash, ZZ Top, Stevie Ray Vaughn, and fellow honoree Jimmy Page is immeasurable. His legendary on-stage showmanship also wrote the script for rock stars to come.

Inducting Guy was 2008 inductee Morgan Freeman, who had this to say about the blues legend:

“I first heard the blues sitting on my grandmother’s porch in Mississippi – we called it “gut bucket music. You mastered the soul of that gutbucket music and used that as your starting point. You found a new music in it that no one had ever seen before. And without the Internet, without YouTube, without even FM radio, you went viral. You went viral, Buddy Guy. And you made a bridge from roots to rock and roll.”

This was followed with performances by the Rob Mathes band ("Every Day I Have the Blues"), Jimmy Vaughn and Gary Clark, Jr. ("Things I Used to Do," "I'm Ready," and "Hoochie Coochie Man"), Tracy Chapman ("Hound Dog"), Jeff Beck and Beth Hart ("I'd Rather Go Blind") and Bonnie Raitt ("My Time After a While" and "Sweet Home Chicago"). I will post more videos as they become available, but for now, click the player to hear Raitt's tribute.

UPDATE: Click below to hear Beth Hart and Jeff Beck's tribute to Buddy and Tracy Chapman's rendition of "Hound Dog."

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Led Zeppelin

If I tried to list all of the rock bands that have been influenced by Led Zeppelin, I'd pretty much have to list all of the rock bands. From Black Sabbath to the White Stripes, there's very few bands out there who don't owe a debt of inspiration to Zep.  In fact, everyone seems to want to list Led Zeppelin as their forefather--the rockers, the grungers, the punks, and the metal heads. That's how big Zeppelin is.

Comedian Jack Black put it best in his induction of the band:

"The jams of Led Zeppelin are second to none. Just ask anyone, from Oliver Stone to Paul Ryan and everyone in between! They sang songs about love, about Vikings, about Vikings making love. You know, they say Led Zeppelin sold their souls to Satan. Come on, guys, you know you did. There's no other way to explain your ungodly talents!"

Following Black's presentation some of rock's greatest paid their tribute with the Foo Fighters kicking things off with the Zeppelin jam "Rock and Roll." Unexpectedly, the Foo's drummer Taylor Hawkins stepped into the role of lead singer, doing a very respectable Robert Plant impression, while regular lead singer Dave Grohl took to the drums (back in the seat that made him famous with the band Nirvana), and paid tribute to his hero, the late John Bonham. Next came Kid Rock's high-energy cover of "Ramble on," and Lenny Kravitz's "Whole Lotta Love" (which received a standing ovation from Plant himself). And, finally, bringing the house down, a highly emotional rendition of "Stairway to Heaven" performed by Ann and Nancy Wilson of Heart, who were backed by a gospel choir and John Bonham's son, Jason, who took up his dad's old seat to pound the skins. 

To see some highlights, click on the players below.


UPDATE: You can now watch Led Zeppelin's entire induction ceremony by clicking below.