The Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony comes to Barclays Center once again—to enshrine famed names like Joan Baez, Pearl Jam, and Tupac Shakur

by Evan Monroe

The 32nd annual Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony, sponsored by Klipsch Audio, will once again take place at the Barclays Center, this year’s on Friday, April 7. It will be the third time Brooklyn has hosted the event, set to be broadcast by both HBO and SiriusXM.

2017 inductees are Joan Baez, Electric Light Orchestra (seen above), Journey, Pearl Jam, Tupac Shakur, and Yes, while Nile Rodgers will be honored with the Award for Musical Excellence.

Artists are eligible for Hall of Fame inclusion 25 years after the release of their first recording; this year’s were chosen by votes from more than 900 musicians, journalists, and critics, as well as the aggregate results of the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame’s online fan vote. Four of the winners of this Fans’ Ballot (ELO, Journey, Pearl Jam, and Yes) will be inducted as performers and will play at the ceremony. (A minor outcry, however, resulted when Jane’s Addiction, Bad Brains, The MC5, J. Geils Band, Jane’s Addiction, Janet Jackson, and Depeche Mode were nominated, but not inducted.)

Located near Lake Erie in downtown Cleveland, the Hall was established in 1983 by Atlantic Records founder and chairman Ahmet Ertegun to recognize artists, producers, engineers, and other figures who have had notable influence on the development of rock and roll. According to a 2015 report by the Cleveland-based Plain Dealer publishing consortium, the facility has welcomed more than 10 million visitors and has had an aggregate positive economic impact on the city to the tune of some $1.8 billion. The Hall’s first inductees included Elvis Presley, James Brown, Little Richard, Fats Domino, Ray Charles, Chuck Berry, Sam Cooke, and Buddy Holly, and the roster now totals some 320 performers, sound engineers, and industry executives.

Special guests for this year’s celebration include Jackson Browne (inducting Baez), Neil Young (inducting Pearl Jam), and Geddy Lee and Alex Lifeson of Rush (inducting Yes).

Tickers run from $242 for upper-tier seating to $1,850 for floor seating adjoining the stage.

Barclays Center
April 7th / 620 Atlantic Avenue / 800.745.3000 / barclayscenter.com