On This Day in 2016, Steve Miller Gave the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame an Earful During His Induction

You might know Steve Miller as the founder of the blues-rock outfit The Steve Miller Band. His career evolution has really been something to experience, as he started mainly in blues before turning toward more pop-focused arena rock works. It’s not surprising that on this day in 2016, Miller was finally inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. However, it wasn’t exactly a fun day for those who had to deal with Miller’s expletive-filled rant after the ceremony.

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On April 8, 2016, Steve Miller’s induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame was supposed to be a relatively forgettable and pleasant event. However, it has since gone down as one of the most controversial inductions in the Hall of Fame’s history.

Steve Miller Wasn’t in the Best Spirits During His 2016 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Induction

It was kind of expected, though. Miller was notorious for hating awards ceremonies and rarely attended them. While backstage, Miller absolutely let loose on the Hall of Fame for being a “private boys club” and referred to those involved in its operation as “a bunch of jacka**** and jerks and f***ing gangsters and crooks.”

The whole thing was pretty awkward for The Black Keys, who inducted Miller and performed at the ceremony. They would later say that Miller “made no effort to even figure out who we were.” Several of the band’s members left after their speech, and I don’t really blame them for that.

Shockingly, Miller actually participated in the ceremony despite his not-so-pleasant opinions of it. But he would continue to be very open about how unpleasant he considered the experience to be. During his acceptance speech, he called out the Hall of Fame for their lack of female inductees, though he was much more tame with his words.

“I encourage you to keep expanding your vision, to be more inclusive of women and more transparent,” Miller said during his speech. “And, most important, to do much more to provide music in our schools.”

“I’d like the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame to advocate for musicians’ rights, and do something to (help raise money) for poor musicians’ health and retirement funds,” Miller later said.

Later, Miller would say that his very public distaste for the event was in part due to the fact that the organization voted against his proposal to have Elton John induct him. He was also unhappy with how controlling the showrunners were, which is something that other inductees have lamented in the past.

Photo by Nicholas Hunt/FilmMagic

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