Rock Hall 2026 induction ceremony: Phil Collins returns, Wu-Tang inducted, Oasis and Iron Maiden stay away

Phil Collins walked onto the stage of the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles on Saturday night with two canes, was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame as a solo artist, and told the room, "you haven't heard the last of me." Collins, 75, has not performed since 2022 and has spent recent years dealing with mobility problems. His daughter, the actor Lily Collins, was in the audience.

The 2026 ceremony honoured eight performing acts: Collins, Billy Idol, Iron Maiden, Joy Division/New Order, Oasis, Sade, Luther Vandross and Wu-Tang Clan. Collins was already in the Hall as a member of Genesis. An edited version of the night airs on ABC on December 8 and streams on Disney+ the next day.

Collins, Barker and a drum fill

Blink-182 drummer Travis Barker inducted Collins and called the drum fill in "In the Air Tonight" arguably the most badass of all time, according to the Associated Press. Cynthia Erivo then sang a slowed-down version of the song, and Barker played the fill himself as it built toward its crescendo. Collins, in tears, said he had grown up "just wanting to play the drums" and described his later success as a happy accident.

Wu-Tang, Idol and the other inductees who turned up

Chris Rock inducted Wu-Tang Clan, saying they rewrote the rules of hip-hop. The group played a medley with a jazz band behind it, including "C.R.E.A.M." and Ol' Dirty Bastard's "Shimmy Shimmy Ya." RZA said the group took Staten Island to the world. Reports differ on the headcount on stage: the AP counted all 10 current members, while other outlets wrote that nine living members attended.

Gwen Stefani and Tony Kanal of No Doubt inducted Billy Idol, and Stefani joined him for "Eyes Without a Face" before the crowd took over "White Wedding." Oprah Winfrey inducted Luther Vandross, who died in 2005, as "the maestro of the love song," and Usher sang a medley that included "Here and Now" and "So Amazing."

Trent Reznor inducted Joy Division and New Order. Only bassist Peter Hook came, and he played "Love Will Tear Us Apart" and "Bizarre Love Triangle" with Deftones and Lauren Mayberry of Chvrches. Hook said the younger musicians had made an old man very happy. Per the AP, he did not mention his New Order bandmates in his speech.

Who stayed away, and who filled in

Oasis, Iron Maiden and Sade did not attend. Noel Gallagher was playing a show in Britain, and Liam Gallagher, Rolling Stone and other outlets reported, did not want to come. Bob Odenkirk, a self-declared fan, inducted the band, and Stephen Wilson Jr. played an acoustic "Wonderwall." Iron Maiden stayed on tour in Australia; Jack Black inducted them, and the AP reported a one-off group with members of Metallica, Rage Against the Machine and St. Vincent playing "The Trooper." Andra Day inducted Sade, and Sienna Spiro sang "Smooth Operator."

The New Order members Bernard Sumner, Gillian Gilbert and Stephen Morris were also absent, according to Rolling Stone.

The rest of the class

MC Lyte and Queen Latifah received the Early Influence Award at separate points in the night: Remy Ma introduced MC Lyte, and Megan Thee Stallion inducted Latifah, who said it is "difficult enough being a woman in hip-hop." Gram Parsons, Fela Kuti and Celia Cruz were honoured posthumously in the same category with video tributes. Ed Sullivan received the Ahmet Ertegun Award, and Linda Creed, Arif Mardin, Jimmy Miller and Rick Rubin took the Musical Excellence award.

Neil Young inducted Rubin, who kept his speech to one sentence: "You can't kill rock 'n' roll." The Red Hot Chili Peppers played "Give It Away" in white wigs and fake beards. U2, inducted in 2005, opened the show with their new single "Silencio" and "Pride (In the Name of Love)," the first with dancers in riot-squad gear. Their album Carnaval de Luz had come out a day earlier. Run-DMC and Aerosmith closed with "Walk This Way," the 1986 record Rubin produced.