Jeff Lynne and Roy Wood were the only members of ELO on hand for their induction by Dhani [pr: Danny] Harrison, son of Lynne’s friend George Harrison. Drummer Bev Bevan is on tour in England and no reason was given for keyboardist Richard Tandy's absence. (Only those four members of the group are now enshrined. The other 21 didn't rate.)
Harrison, who is now 38, explained that his dad took him to see his first concert: ELO in Birmingham, England in 1986. At one point, George excused himself only to appear onstage playing “Johnny B. Goode” like a scene from Back to the Future. The camera at the Barclay Center then showed Michael J. Fox in the Rock Hall audience.
Dhani added that one of the last conversations he had with his father was when George told him to seek out “the space wizard” -- Lynne -- to finish his final solo album - 2002's Brainwashed.
Lynne took the stage while Wood was looking for the stairs. In a short speech, Wood praised Lynne for his songwriting.
Jeff Lynne's ELO -- the current lineup -- opened the evening's festivities show paying tribute to Chuck Berry with “Roll Over Beethoven,” which was a huge 1973 hit for ELO in the U.K. They also did “Evil Woman” and "Mr. Blue Sky.”