Heart Go Crazy At Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame Induction With Fellow Seattle Bands

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“My name is Chris Cornell, and I’m here to induct my hometown heroes, Heart.” That’s how the Sound Garden frontman started his Rock and Roll Hall Of Fame induction speech.

Cornell continued by saying, “Let us now praise sisters Ann and Nancy Wilson.” before mentioning the rest of the original band. “Together these people made magic.”

“It never occured to us that Ann and Nancy Wilson were women existing in a world dominated by men,” Cornell said. “They blasted any sexist barriers in front of them.” He pointed out that Heart put the Pacific Northwest on the map “in a major way.”

“Before that, no one thought that rock stars could come from Seattle,” he said. “Heart was important to us, not just as musicians, but as proof that Seattle could produce something beautiful and rocking.”

Photos: 28th Annual Hall Of Fame Induction Ceremony

He continued: “When you first heard the great albums that these men and women made, you had the sense that here was a band that knew exactly what they were doing and where they were going. They naturally rocked hard, and their folkier songs seemed to show a genuine understanding of folk music. Heart felt in touch with their musical heroes in a way that is authentic to me.”

“Ann Wilson is a unique vocal force of nature. I’ve sat in the living room with Ann and Nancy Wilson, it’s some of the best live singing I’ve ever heard,” Cornell said. “As a vocalist, she is one of the few vocal role models that I look to. And Nancy is an amazing guitar goddess. When these sisters sing together, its unlike anything I’ve ever heard before.”

A visibly moved Nancy Wilson said, “It is tremendously beaufiul to be in this eagles nest of tremendous music. Our music is about the enduring power of love. We came from an era where women normally did not rock and we weren’t supposed to be leaders. These days women are ferorcious leaders from the boardrooms to the bedrooms!”