Macca to induct Ringo Starr into Hall of Fame

The former Beatle will play London’s O2, Birmingham and Liverpool in May as part of a European tour. Image by MJ KIM/MPL Communications/PA Wire

Sir Paul McCartney has agreed to induct his former Beatles bandmate Ringo Starr into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame next month.

Stevie Wonder, Patti Smith and John Mayer will also usher in new members, the hall announced.

The 30th annual induction ceremony is scheduled for Cleveland’s Public Hall on April 18. The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum is located in Cleveland.

The Beatles are in the rock hall already and so are McCartney, John Lennon and George Harrison as solo artists.

Drummer Starr is the last to be honoured individually, and Eagle Joe Walsh will perform some of his friend’s music.

Wonder will induct Bill Withers, a fellow songwriter who had his biggest impact in the 1970s. John Legend will perform Withers’s music, and it is still a mystery whether Withers, who quit the music business more than 30 years ago, will sing. Rock hall spokeswoman Shauna Wilson said it is still to be determined which inductees will perform.

Smith will induct another artist indelibly tied to New York, the late Lou Reed, and Beck will perform his music.

Mayer is speaking in honour of another blues guitarist, the late Stevie Ray Vaughan. Vaughan’s brother Jimmie will perform with members of his brother’s old band, Double Trouble.

Dave Grohl has committed to performing inductee Joan Jett’s music, although the hall has not announced who will give the speech for the I Love Rock And Roll singer.

Peter Wolf will induct the Paul Butterfield Blues Band, with Tom Morello performing the band’s music. Fall Out Boy will induct Green Day and guitarist Steve Cropper is scheduled to honour the “5” Royales.

The rock hall will open an exhibit on April 11 honouring this year’s new class, and also has a special exhibit on photographer Herb Ritts’s work with musicians.

(Press Association)