Yes was inducted by Alex Lifeson and Geddy Lee of Rush, who joked about waiting a long time to get into the Hall of Fame.
Geddy mentioned that his decision to play a Rickenbacker bass came after hearing Chris Squire on the album Time and a Word.
Jon Anderson told the crowd that April 7th was 49 years to the day since he first met Squire in a pub in England and called the band’s induction a tribute to the persistence of its fans.
But it was keyboardist Rick Wakeman, who also played with David Bowie early in his career, who gave the most hilarious Rock Hall acceptance speech ever:
"Less than half a mile away from this very building was where I had my very first meaningful sexual experience. [Applause] No. No. No. Please. It wasn't very good. [Laughter] Never is when you're on your own."
After their speeches, Yes played “Roundabout” with Geddy Lee on bass and then “Owner of a Lonely Heart,” with Steve Howe switching from guitar to play one of Squire’s Rickenbacker basses.