Despite the absence of Axl Rose, Izzy Stradlin, Rod Stewart, John Frusciante (Chili Peppers), and Beastie Boy MCA (Adam Yauch) Rolling Stone reporter Andy Greene called Saturday night’s Rock Hall event “…one of the best Hall of Fame induction ceremonies in recent memory.”

According to Greene, fans chanted f**k Axl, but once Slash, Duff McKagan, Gilby Clarke, Matt Sorum and Steven Adler hit the stage to play an explosive three-song set of Guns N' Roses songs with Alter Bridge singer Myles Kennedy no one seemed to care that he was absent.

Greene said, “…the band proved they could revive the spirit of GNR on their own. Adler was grinning from ear-to-ear during a note-perfect "Sweet Child O' Mine," and the finale of "Paradise City" had nearly every single person in the audience screaming at the top of their lungs. A powerful singer, Kennedy hit every Axl-patented banshee wail perfectly.” 

No one on stage ever even mentioned Axl’s name until the show was more than half over when Chris Rock came on to induct the Red Hot Chili Peppers. He said "A lot of people are upset that Axl didn't come tonight, but let's face it, even if he was coming tonight, he wouldn't be here by now…”

 HBO will broadcast the ceremony Saturday night, May 5th. 

Check out this video of Steven Adler and Matt Sorum echoing fans’ outrage that Rush and Kiss aren’t in the Rock Hall.