11 Pics About When Madonna Had Another Band Perform At Her Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame Induction
Carly Tennes
Published
01/08/2025
in
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On paper, Madonna and The Stooges don't have much in common. One is commercial, the other is rock n' roll. One topped the charts, the other defined a genre. One is the queen of pop, the other has Iggy Pop. But even with this massive divide, these two seemingly disparate acts came together to make Michigan music history in 2008.
From their Detroit roots to how The Stooges got their day in the sun, here are 11 pics about how the punk icons played at Madonna's Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction ceremony.
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1. Madonna’s Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Induction
Courtesy of Rock & Roll Hall of Fame on YouTube25 years after her debut self-titled album hit shelves and skyrocketed her to pop icon status, Madonna officially made her mark on rock history, landing a highly-coveted spot in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Yet instead of entering those hallowed halls alone, she sought to share the honor with her hometown heroes, The Stooges. -
2. Back to Detroit
Image in Public DomainThe story of Madge’s perfectly punk induction ceremony starts decades before “Holiday” was even a twinkle in her eye. Born Madonna Louise Ciccone, the pop icon grew up in the suburbs of Detroit, Michigan and briefly attended the University of Michigan before heading to New York City. Madonna’s career took off shortly thereafter, the artist landing not only 12 number-one hits, including “Like a Virgin,” “Vogue,” and “Music,” but also several accolades, including seven Grammy Awards. -
3. Enter The Stooges
Courtesy of ElektraMadonna wasn’t the only rocker coming of age in the Great Lake State throughout the ‘60s and ‘70s. Formed in Ann Arbor, Michigan in 1967, The Stooges cut their teeth in Detroit’s rock scene, rising the ranks to become one of rock n’ roll’s top acts. -
4. Iggy Pop
Courtesy of Michael MarkosHeralded for their proto-punk sound that would go on to inspire bands like Sonic Youth and The Misfits, The Stooges and frontman Iggy Pop served as seminal forces in the rise of punk rock, helping to define the genre’s sound and aesthetic, both in the Detroit suburbs and beyond. -
5. Hall Of Famers
Courtesy of Madonna on YouTubeDespite both Madonna and The Stooges' respective influences on music history, by 2008, only the former was set to be inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, joining a class of artists including John Mellencamp, Leonard Cohen and the Dave Clark Five. As such, the pop star decided to take a stand, allegedly asking the group to play at her induction ceremony as an act of protest, according to guitarist Ron Asheton. -
6. Protest Punks
Courtesy of Ruck Zuck on YouTube“She was upset that we’ve been nominated so many times and never made it, so she asked us to play in protest,” Asheton recalled of the offer to the Detroit Free Press ahead of their performance. “And it was under those auspices that I thought we were doing it. At first I went, ‘Whaaat?’ Then Iggy said, ‘Why don’t you think about it?’” -
7. Musical Confusion
Courtesy of Digital Love on YouTubeAsheton wasn’t the only one seemingly confused about their role in Madonna’s big day, with Rolling Stone taking care to redefine the groups’ Detroit connection while reporting on the event. “The choice of the Stooges may raise some eyebrows, but isn’t as strange as it seems," read an article ahead of the induction. "Both the band and Madonna are Detroit natives, and Iggy Pop opened for Madonna at the Dublin date for her Reinvention Tour in 2004.” -
8. Ray of Light
Courtesy of Rock & Roll Hall of Fame on YouTubeBut regardless of how anyone felt about it, The Stooges still hit the stage, performing Madonna’s “Burning Up” and “Ray of Light” with their signature punk spin. Despite garnering smiles from Madonna herself — especially after Iggy Pop briefly hopped off the stage and into the audience of music higher-ups — critics had mixed feelings on the display. -
9. Not-So Rave Reviews
Courtesy of Rock & Roll Hall of Fame on YouTube“Madonna always looks scary - something about her obvious lack of interest in proceedings combined with her constant urge to look hip,” The Guardian’s Alastair Harper wrote of the performance. “But we knew this. It's Iggy that's an eye-opener. He's never made an idiot of himself like this.” -
10. Scandal Sells
Courtesy of Rock & Roll Hall of Fame on YouTubeYet reviews like these were quickly proven moot. By 2010, the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame decided to change course, inducting The Stooges into their hallowed halls. “The Stooges were punk before punk existed,” the institution’s website read of the Michigan group. “In a time when hippie idealism was popular, the Stooges threw down the gauntlet in the form of provocative, high-octane rock and roll.” -
11. Happy Endings All Around
Courtesy of Madonna on YouTubeMadonna, too, landed a happy ending amid all the chaos, performing at the 2012 Super Bowl, collaborating with artists including The Weeknd, and maintaining bragging rights that she helped show the world just how much The Stooges could rock.
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- 11 Pics About When Madonna Had Another Band Perform At Her Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame Induction
Madonna’s Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Induction
25 years after her debut self-titled album hit shelves and skyrocketed her to pop icon status, Madonna officially made her mark on rock history, landing a highly-coveted spot in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Yet instead of entering those hallowed halls alone, she sought to share the honor with her hometown heroes, The Stooges.
25 years after her debut self-titled album hit shelves and skyrocketed her to pop icon status, Madonna officially made her mark on rock history, landing a highly-coveted spot in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Yet instead of entering those hallowed halls alone, she sought to share the honor with her hometown heroes, The Stooges.
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