HBO's '2012 Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame Induction Ceremony' Special: Trailer, More Details

GUNS N' ROSES, BEASTIE BOYS, Donovan, Freddie King, Laura Nyro, RED HOT CHILI PEPPERS and SMALL FACES/FACES are among the inductees on the exclusive HBO special "2012 Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame Induction Ceremony", debuting saturday, may 5 (9:00-11:30 p.m. ET/PT). The 27th annual induction ceremony was conducted April 14 at Cleveland's legendary Public Hall, just steps away from the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame And Museum. The HBO special features long-awaited performances, momentous jams, reunions of former band members and moving speeches from both presenters and inductees.

HBO Signature will present a 24-hour marathon of the HBO special beginning at midnight the same day the special debuts on HBO, and concluding Sunday, May 6 at midnight.

Other HBO playdates:

* May 10 (7:30 p.m., 3:20 a.m.)
* May 13 (2:00 p.m.)
* May 15 (3:00 p.m., 12:30 a.m.)
* May 19 (5:15 p.m.)
* May 28 (12:10 a.m.)
* May 31 (1:30 p.m.)

HBO2 playdates:

* May 12 (6:00 p.m.)
* May 17 (11:45 p.m.)
* May 21 (9:30 a.m., 10:00 p.m.)
* May 25 (5:30 p.m.)
* May 30 (1:50 a.m.)

USA Today described the live event as "raucous" and "star-crossed," while AP deemed it a "rowdy celebration." The New York Times said the night featured "blistering jams and shaggy dog stories about rockers' early years" while the Cleveland Plain Dealer called it a "musical extravaganza."

GUNS N' ROSES were inducted by GREEN DAY, who performed to open the evening's festivities. Frontman Billie Joe Armstrong said in his induction speech, "The first time I saw GUNS N' ROSES on MTV I thought, one of these guys could end up dead or in jail . . . The thing that set them apart from everyone else is guts, heart and soul. And most importantly, they told the truth and painted a picture of the mad world that they lived in."

In addition to GUNS N' ROSES lead singer Axl Rose, who announced three days before the ceremony that he would not attend and was not accepting his induction, other missing members included original guitarist Izzy Stradlin and longtime keyboardist Dizzy Reed, who still plays in the current version of the band.

For the Rock Hall induction performance, McKagan, guitarist Slash and drummer Steven Adler were joined by guitarist Gilby Clarke and drummer Matt Sorum for three songs — "Mr. Brownstone", "Sweet Child O' Mine" and "Paradise City" — from the band's classic 1987 debut, "Appetite For Destruction". Providing vocals in the absence of Axl Rose was Myles Kennedy, the singer for ALTER BRIDGE and Slash's current solo band.

Sorum played drums for "Mr. Brownstone", while original drummer Adler took over for the other two songs.

Stradlin issued a statement the week before the induction, thanking his bandmates, the Hall Of Fame for "the acknowledgment of our works over the years," and the fans who "have supported GUNS N' ROSES from day one."

McKagan addressed Rose's absence during the bandmembers' acceptance speeches, saying, "I don't know if it matters who's here tonight because it's about the music that band created."

Slash admitted that all the drama almost stopped him from attending, saying, "The fans are the ones who made it possible for us to get together tonight with all the adversity and everything that was going on . . . I was like fuck it, but (my wife) said 'Go and do it with the guys,' and I said 'You're right.'"

The HBO special also features an all-star jam of Stevie Wonder's "Higher Ground" at the end of the show, featuring RED HOT CHILI PEPPERS with Billie Joe Armstrong, George Clinton, Slash and Ron Wood. Paul Shaffer and members of the CBS Orchestra served as back-up band for several of the night's performances.

The Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame Foundation was established by legendary record executive Ahmet Ertegun and a group of music business executives to honor the artists that have defined rock and roll and have inspired and continue to inspire a generation. The Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame And Museum, Inc. is the nonprofit organization that exists to educate visitors, fans and scholars from around the world about the history and continuing significance of rock and roll music. It carries out this mission both through its operation of a world-class museum designed by I.M. Pei in Cleveland, Ohio that collects, preserves, exhibits and interprets this art form and through its library and archives as well as educational programs.

HBO presented the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame's 25th anniversary special in 2009 and a concert spectacular celebrating the opening of the museum in Cleveland in 1995.

A trailer for the HBO special "2012 Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame Induction Ceremony" can be seen below.

Check out photos of the event:

* Wire Image - Inside
* Wire Image - Show
* Wire Image - Arrivals
* Wire Image – Press Room
* Film Magic - Show
* Film Magic - Press Room
* Getty Images - Show
* Getty Images - Press Room
* Getty Images - Arrivals