Rose absent from rock celebration

CLEVELAND -- Axl Rose may regret missing this bash.

The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction ceremony, a musical celebration that in past years has included awkward moments, touching tributes and unforgettable performances, kicked off Saturday night in historic Public Hall where 6,000 fans, 1,400 well-heeled guests and many of music's biggest stars partied with the class of 2012.

Hard rockers Guns N' Roses headlined this year's eclectic group of inductees. Others are the Red Hot Chili Peppers, the Beastie Boys, folk icon Donovan, late singer-songwriter Laura Nyro and British band Faces.

Rose, the Guns N' Roses lead singer with an affinity for drama, skipped the event.

Cleveland rocked without him. Green Day got the show started with a rousing performance.

Rose, the screeching frontman and ringmaster of the band's traveling circus of dysfunction for decades, said earlier this week that he didn't want to be part of the ceremony because it "doesn't appear to be somewhere I'm actually wanted or respected."

Rose cited a continuing rift with his former band mates as the main reason for not attending. His decision disappointed fans and ended months of speculation about whether the original Guns N' Roses lineup would unite for the first time since 1993 and perform any of their classic hits such as "Welcome to the Jungle" or "Sweet Child O' Mine."

Although he asked not to be inducted, the hall plans to enshrine him whether Rose likes it or not.

As the ceremony approached, fans gathered on the sidewalks outside the historic venue for a peek at some of rock's royalty.

Alice Cooper was the fan favorite on the red carpet, signing autographs, telling printable stories and waving in response to cheers of "Alice, Alice!" "New York is glitz, Cleveland is the nuts and bolts," said Cooper, comparing the cities that share the rock hall induction ceremonies, which are held at New York's Waldorf-Astoria and come to Cleveland every third year.