1 of 12
Billie Jo Armstrong of Green Day performs during the 2012 Rock n Roll Hall of Fame induction cermony in Cleveland, Ohio
Billie Jo Armstrong of Green Day performs during the 2012 Rock n' Roll Hall of Fame induction cermony in Cleveland, Ohio Reuters

The Red Hot Chilli Peppers, the Beastie Boys, Donovan, Laura Nyro, Small Faces, Freddie King and Guns 'N' Roses were all inducted in to the 27th Annual Rock And Roll Hall of Fame, at a ceremony in Cleveland, Ohio.

"Beastie Boys regret that Adam 'Mca' Yauch will be unable to join Mike 'Mike D' Diamond and Adam 'Adrock' Horovitz at the band's induction into the Rock n Roll Hall of Fame. Mike, Adam and Adam are truly grateful for the honour but with only two of the three Beastie Boys attending, they will unfortunately not be able to perform at the ceremony," the band Beastie Boys' representative issued a statement.

The controversial part of the awards was that Guns 'N' Roses front-man, Axle Rose, declined to attend the event because of his conflict with the other members. Rose had earlier declined the honour saying he neither felt "wanted" or "respected".

"He is one of the best front men to ever touch a microphone. Sometimes you have to look back at chapters of your life to move forward," Green Day rocker Billie Joe Armstrong said to Opposing Views, referring to Axl Rose. Armstrong, while presenting the award, asked the audience who was missing and went on to confess that most singers were crazy and that he could vouch for that. A huge crowd of 6,000 thronged Cleveland's Public Hall to witness the event, which went on for five and half hours and ended in an "all star jam."

"A lot of people are disappointed that Axl Rose isn't here. But let's face it, even if he was going to be here, he still wouldn't be here yet," comedian Chris Rock told The Los Angeles Times during the induction ceremony.

Meanwhile, there were also tributed paid to singer Laura Nyro, who died of ovarian cancer.

"In a world full of imitators saying 'fake it till you make it,' she was a complete original. She was in a league all her own. When you put her records on, you'd think they were made yesterday. She embodies what we all want to be; if only we had the guts...She was an ornament on the Earth. Everyone is so gratified to see this day finally come around at last," Bette Midler told The Rolling Stones.

Check out photographs of the event in this slideshow

Cancer Los Angeles