Notes From The Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame

Billboard.com goes behind the scenes at the 21st annual As previously reported, the group is gearing up for a run of South African shows this month and summer European festivals, in between working on a new studio album. “We’ve been working on the new record for the last three months,” Ulrich said. “It’s been the best experience we’ve had writing in as long as we can remember. We’ve been on such a great roll [that there are] no therapists needed,” he added, alluding to the “coach” who was brought in to help band members make it through the recording of 2003’s “St. Anger.”

As they were leaving the stage, members were asked who they’d like to induct Metallica when the group is inducted into the Rock Hall down the road. “[Sabbath drummer] Bill Ward said they would play if we get inducted,” guitarist James Hetfield said, before Ulrich interjected, “Dave Mustaine,” the Megadeth frontman who was famously booted from the pre-fame Metallica in the early 1980s.

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Blondie endured a bizarre acceptance speech, which found former members Frank Infante and Nigel Harrison reigniting an old feud and complaining about not being allowed to play live last night. “The reason I brought this is in case I run into any of those f*ckers,” guitarist Chris Stein said backstage while brandishing his Rock Hall trophy.

“Our bass player Lee Fox has been working for us for more than 20 years,” he added. “Nigel worked with us for maybe four. It’s so obscure.”

Stein was pragmatic about the impending shutdown of New York rock venue CBGB, where Blondie first launched. “It’s just about the damn real estate in New York, isn’t it?,” he said. “Whoever moves in there is going to be paying $60,000 a month. I asked [club owner] Hilly [Kristal] if I could have a piece of the bar but he told me he’s taking it with him.”

In an amusing aside, drummer Clem Burke suggested Kristal belongs in the Rock Hall, to which Stein replied, “What’s the category, old beatnik?” As previously reported, the Davis family is in talks with actor Don Cheadle and director Antoine Fuqua about a biographical film on the artist, but a script has yet to be approved.

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Reflecting on his many successes with partner Herb Alpert at A&M Records, Jerry Moss was asked about Peter Frampton’s meteoric rise to fame in the wake of 1976’s “Frampton Comes Alive” and his inability to ever duplicate its success thereafter.

“Peter’s here tonight. It’s so great to see him,” Moss said. “He had a lot of courage when he left Humble Pie. That band was happening. He left and we stuck with him. I guess it was sort of my idea to do a live album. Peter was very adept in the studio as well. He could have been any kind of producer. I think the year [1976] pretty much exhausted Peter. He worked so hard and did so many things. He never took any time off and I think it took its toll. I don’t know if I could have said anything or done anything. This is the way it is. People were hungry for him and he answered the call.”