Considering the many music geniuses lost within the last six months, it seemed unlikely the 31st annual Rock and Roll Hall of Fame could go by without paying homage to at least a few of them.
The ceremony — taking place at Barclays Center on Friday (April 8) — opened with a tribute to David Bowie, who unexpectedly died Jan. 10.
A bedazzled David Byrne, The Roots and Kimbra covered Bowie’s No. 1 hit (and funkiest track) “Fame,” with the former Talking Heads frontman and the “Somebody That I Used to Know” singer trading lead vocals on the immortal track (and then backing each other up with high-pitched shouts of “faaaaaame!”).
They didn’t say any words in tribute to Bowie, but they didn’t need to. The song itself, and its presence at the front end of the ceremony, spoke volumes.
#RockHall2016 opened with a tribute to David Bowie ?? pic.twitter.com/hhaqWMhLi2
— billboard (@billboard) April 9, 2016