Happy Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Induction Weekend!

Today, The Excellent 80's is honoring a few of the bands being inducted into The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in Cleveland tomorrow. We have the Red Hot Chili Peppers, the Beastie Boys, and Guns N Roses to name three of the biggest acts being inducted tomorrow.

Let's kick off The Excellent 80's party today with the Chili Peppers...

I realize this is not an 80's song, but it's pretty dang close considering this song came out 21 years ago in 1991 and was probably the group's most popular album. From the Chili's fifth studio album, "Blood Sugar Sex Magik," here is "Give It Away"...




Lyrics | Red Hot Chili Peppers lyrics - Give It Away lyrics

"Give It Away"

Single by Red Hot Chili Peppers
from the album Blood Sugar Sex Magik
B-side "Search and Destroy"
"Soul to Squeeze"
Released September, 1991
Format CD, cassette, 7", 12"
Recorded April–June 1991 at The Mansion in Los Angeles, California
Genre Funk rock, rap rock
Length 4:43 (album version)
3:47 (edit)
Label Warner Bros.
Writer(s) Flea, John Frusciante, Anthony Kiedis, Chad Smith
Producer Rick Rubin


Now, onto Guns N Roses, which is an interesting story in itself because Axl Rose has declined his invitation into the Hall of Fame for personal reasons. So, there will be no reunion, and as best I can tell it is mostly due to his personal issues with Slash. Anyway, they made some awesome music for many years in the late 80's and early 90's. Here is their 1989 hit "Patience"...




Lyrics | Guns N' Roses lyrics - Patience lyrics

"Patience"

Single by Guns N' Roses
from the album G N' R Lies
A-side "Patience" (LP Version)
B-side "Rocket Queen" (LP Version)
Released April 1989 (US),
June 1989 (UK)[1]
Format Vinyl, cassette
Recorded 1988
Genre Folk rock, blues rock
Length 5:56
Label Geffen
Writer(s) Izzy Stradlin and Axl Rose
Producer Guns N' Roses, Mike Clink

U.S. Billboard Hot 100 peak: #4


Finally, it's those lovable crazy Brooklyn kids that are now all in their 40's but still pumping out music. It's the Beastie Boys with the first single from their debut album "Licensed to Ill," here is "Hold It Now, Hit It"...




Lyrics | Beastie Boys lyrics - Hold It Now - Hit It! lyrics

"Hold It, Now Hit It"

Single by Beastie Boys
from the album Licensed to Ill
Released April 15, 1986
Format 7", 12"
Recorded Spring 1986
Genre Hip hop
Length 3:27
Label Def Jam/Columbia Records
Writer(s) Beastie Boys, Rick Rubin
Producer Rick Rubin

If You See Me Getting By, If You See Me Getting High

well, you know what to do... listen to the Chili's advice and "Knock Me Down"... though they'd been around for about six years at this point, the Red Hot Chili Peppers were just starting to gain some mainstream success with the help of this song...


Red Hot Chili Peppers-Knock Me Down
Uploaded by blood-sugar. - See the latest featured music videos.


Lyrics | Red Hot Chili Peppers lyrics - Knock Me Down lyrics

"Knock Me Down"

Single by Red Hot Chili Peppers
from the album Mother's Milk
B-side "Millionaires Against Hunger"
"Show Me Your Soul"
Released August 22, 1989
Recorded 1989
Genre Alternative rock
Length 3:44
4:44 (Original Long Version)
Label EMI/Capitol Records
Writer(s) Flea/Kiedis/Smith/Frusciante
Producer Michael Beinhorn

Billboard Modern Rock Tracks peak: #6

Teachers, Keep On Teaching

and preachers, keep on preaching! One of the most unique groups to come along in the 1980s... the L.A. band known as The Red Hot Chili Peppers formed in 1983 and developed quite a cult following until their commercial success with the whole Blood, Sugar, Sex, Magik... but in 1989, their album "Mother's Milk" went double-platinum and here is one of the hits from that album - a remake of a Stevie Wonder hit - "Higher Ground"...




Red Hot Chili Peppers Lyrics
Higher Ground Lyrics

“Higher Ground”

Single by Red Hot Chili Peppers
from the album Mother's Milk
B-side "Millionaires Against Hunger"
Released 1989
Format CD Single
Genre Funk rock
Hard rock
Length 3:21
Label EMI
Writer(s) Stevie Wonder
Producer Michael Beinhorn