Rock hall inducts newest members

Rock and roll's biggest night did not disappoint.

The original shock rocker Alice Cooper brought a snake, a blood-stained tuxedo and a choir of mascara-wearing kids. Dr. John said that his fancy shoes came from "The Pimp Shop." And Paul Simon explained the reason for the 20-year delay in Neil Diamond's induction.

"Six words: You don't bring me flowers anymore," Simon said. "Unfortunately, if it's Barbra Streisand, it's not rock and roll."

Yes, the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame's induction of Cooper, Dr. John, Jac Holzman, as well as Diamond, Darlene Love, Tom Waits, and others Monday night at the Waldorf-Astoria in midtown Manhattan was filled with life lessons.

"She taught me everything I know," Bette Midler said, as she inducted Love. "In a crazy way, she changed my view of the world. Listening to those songs, you had to dance, you had to move."

There were plenty of stars in attendance to soak up the knowledge -- a night where Bruce Springsteen sits between Bette Midler and Catherine Zeta-Jones, where John McEnroe and his rocker wife, Patty Smyth, mingle with Michael Douglas, and Michael J. Fox dines with Dr. Mehmet Oz with John Mayer nearby.

John Legend, who inducted Dr. John, said he learned about New Orleans from the funk-blues master. "He has never stopped flying the flag of funk and tonight he is definitely at the right place at the right time," Legend said.

"I feel like I'm blessed to get an award from y'all," Dr. John said. "We love what we do."

Holzman, Elektra Records founder, was inducted by The Doors' John Densmore, and Specialty Records founder Art Rupe was inducted by Lloyd Price. Sideman Leon Russell was inducted by Elton John.

Afterward, Cooper was still looking for ways to shock. "I kept thinking who would be the first band to be kicked out of the Hall of Fame," he said, backstage. "Yeah, that could be us."

Fuse will air an edited version of the show at 9 p.m. Sunday.