My Experience at the Induction Ceremony 

By Emily Eade

I had been waiting for this moment for months, the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony in Cleveland! It is a very important thing for music enthusiasts all around. I knew there were going to be many famous musicians, actors, and photographers all around Cleveland, and I got to meet four of them, three of which were inductees!

Danny Clinch- Not many people know exactly who Danny Clinch is… Clinch is a photographer and director of everything involving music, photographing famous musicians and bands from Foo Fighters to Tom Waits. Honestly, how does one describe a person that influenced themselves so much? My answer is you can’t really, just live on knowing that they helped you find who you are. 

Well, the story is I was hanging out in the bar of the Westin. I looked to my right 20 to 30 feet away and saw a man with a black hat and I knew right away that’s my favorite photographer, Danny Clinch. I ran to him to get a photo and told him how much I care for his photography. I got to meet the photographer that I’ve been looking up to these past few years. 

Clarence Avant- Not many people know who Clarence Avant is, but let me tell you he is very important. Not only was he an inductee for this year's induction ceremony, but he was a great mentor, producer, manager, and friend for many black artists around... Avant created a space for black musicians to learn what they were going into. Avant created Sussex Records where he produced and managed many acts, including the most notable Bill Withers. He’s known as the Black Godfather for a reason. 

Clarence Avant is a very adorable man. When we met, he asked for my name and then my age. I said, “My name is Emily and I’m 20 years old.” He joked with me and said, “I’m 32!” We both laughed and he said, “Just wait until you’re 90 like me.” 

Dave Grohl and Pat Smear- Dave Grohl and Pat Smear are the most notable people who got inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame this year. Dave Grohl is known as the greatest drummer of all time for his short run with Nirvana, but he is also known for being vocals for the legendary band Foo Fighters. Pat Smear was from one of the greatest punk bands of all time the Germs, was a touring guitar player for Nirvana, and is a guitar player for Foo Fighters. 

It’s very clear that my Dave Grohl and Pat Smear story means the world to me. Let me start by saying I never thought I would get the chance to meet the singer of the band and the drummer of the other band I’ve been in love with for years now. I never thought I’d get to meet the legend himself who captured my heart from the second I first heard him hit his drum kit playing Smells Like Teen Spirit, Dave Grohl! Since May, I knew I was going to try to find and meet Dave Grohl the weekend of the induction. I never thought it would come true or that I’d embarrass myself as much as I did. 

I was sitting at the bar of the Westin, and looked to my right only to see this man with long dark hair and a beard. I knew exactly from that moment I just saw my idol, Dave Grohl. I got up and booked it toward him as he walked towards the revolving door. Little did I know I would stop myself inside of that revolving door and ask him, “Dave. Dave Grohl can I take a picture with you?” He nicely said, “Yeah sure.” As I was getting ready to take the photo I heard him say, “This guy wants to join in.” Pat Smear slipped into the revolving door as I took the picture with my idol. Who would have thought cornering Dave Grohl in a revolving door in his hotel by accident would change my whole life.