Metallica, Run-DMC headed to Rock Hall of Fame

CLEVELAND — Hello, Cleveland. It's been a while.

Just as Derek Smalls, the fictional bassist for Spinal Tap yelled as he and his bandmates stumbled around backstage looking for a Cleveland stage in the iconic rockumentary, the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction ceremony found its way back to this self-proclaimed rock capital on Saturday.

And the night was expected to be loud, rowdy and spontaneous — more rock concert than scripted celebration.

Back in Cleveland for the first time since 1997, the no-holds-barred show, previously held in New York's Waldorf-Astoria, was open to the public. Nearly 5,000 fans crammed the balconies inside renovated Public Auditorium and overlooked the 1,200 VIPs paying as much as $50,000 for a table.

Heavy metal heroes Metallica, whose menacing sound has inspired headbangers for nearly three decades, headlined the eclectic 2009 class that included rap pioneers Run-DMC, virtuoso guitarist Jeff Beck, soul singer Bobby Womack and rhythm and blues vocal group Little Anthony and the Imperials.

Rockabilly singer Wanda Jackson will be inducted as an early influence. Drummer DJ Fontana and the late bassist Bill Black — both of Elvis Presley's backup band — and keyboardist Spooner Oldham will enter in the sidemen category.

"It will be crazy," Metallica producer Steve Thompson said. "We're setting history. It brings a new dimension to the Hall of Fame, going from Jeff Beck to Metallica."

On a sunny, chilly evening, fans stood behind barricades along the red carpet, screaming as rock stars past and present arrived.

Led Zeppelin's Jimmy Page, who will present Beck, received the loudest ovation. He was soon followed by Metallica presenter, Flea, bassist for the Red Hot Chili Peppers, who served as his own roadie by carrying his guitar case.

For Metallica, whose members have survived some of the darkness found in their raging music, the event was also serving as a family reunion.

Bassist Jason Newsted, who left the band in 2001, accepted an invitation to rejoin his bandmates for the big gig.

"It's still somewhat surreal," Metallica singer-guitarist James Hetfield said. "The other part of it will be us kicking in the door a little bit. We've got a lot of other friends that we'd like to bring in to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. There's a lot of heavy music that belongs in there."