David Letterman will induct Pearl Jam into the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame in New York on April 7 after Neil Young has been forced to cancel his role this week over health issues.
"Due to illness, Neil Young is regrettably no longer able to induct Pearl Jam at this Year's Induction Ceremony," said the Rock Hall in a statement Wednesday. "The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame is thrilled that David Letterman has agreed to induct Pearl Jam this Friday night at the 32nd Annual Induction Ceremony."
No official statement regarding details of Young’s health status has been released, but the Rock Hall did respond to a fan’s comment on Twitter by saying, “It's great of David to step in and we're keeping Neil in our thoughts.”
Letterman has been a longtime supporter of Pearl Jam: the band performed on his late night show several times through the years, as did frontman Eddie Vedder – who played the group’s 1994 single, “Better Man”, as one of the final musical guests of the CBS program in 2015.
The Seattle band also appeared to support Letterman in his highly-publicized feud with Jay Leno by never appearing on The Tonight Show.
Pearl Jam will enter the 2017 Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame alongside fellow honorees Journey, the Electric Light Orchestra, Yes, Joan Baez and Tupac Shakur at New York’s Barclays Center.
Due to illness, Neil Young is sadly unable to induct @PearlJam @ this year's ceremony. We're thrilled David Letterman has agreed to step in. pic.twitter.com/7k463ajhV3
— Rock Hall (@rockhall) April 5, 2017
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Search Pearl Jam at hennemusic
