What happened at the RRHoF this weekend?

Most of the surprises from the ceremony were not so surprising by the time the induction began. We already knew Rod Stewart had to skip the affair due to throat problems. Likewise for Adam Yauch of the Beastie Boys, for reasons not fully revealed but suspected to be due to his ongoing treatment for cancer. And then there's Guns N' Roses frontman Axl Rose, who last week released a statement saying the ceremony "doesn't appear to be somewhere I'm actually wanted or respected," and requesting he not be inducted at all -- a request the Rock Hall refused.

Then came the induction that also came with the most drama: Guns N' Roses. Green Day’s Billy Joe Armstrong talked about each member of the band -- except for a particular lead singer that nobody mentioned by name, but who was booed when Armstrong asked the audience "who was missing." Even so, Armstrong praised Rose as "one of the best frontmen to ever touch a microphone," and noting, "Sometimes you have to look back at chapters of your life to move forward." Duff McKagan likely said it best, however, declaring, “I don’t know if it matters who here’s tonight because it’s about the music that band created.” With Alter Bridge lead singer Myles Kennedy singing lead, GN’R performed “Mr. Brownstone,” “Sweet Child o' Mine” and “Paradise City.”

Finally, after almost four-and-a-half-hours, comedian Chris Rock inducted the Red Hot Chili Peppers. His best line: “If Brian Wilson and George Clinton had a kid, he’d be as ugly as f**k, but he’d sound like the Red Hot Chili Peppers… He’d be funky!“ Bassist Flea shed tears when thanking his mom, while lead singer Anthony Kiedis discussed how his former drug addiction almost destroyed the band, and thanked his longtime friend Flea for sticking with him. He also acknowledged former guitarist John Frusciante, who elected not to attend the ceremony.

RHCP, currently touring, played “By the Way,” "Give It Away," and “The Adventures of Rain Dance Maggie” from their latest album, I'm With You. Kiedis invited everybody who has ever played with them to take the stage, then called up some people by name, including Smokey Robinson -- who declined -- Ronnie Wood, ZZ Top's Billy Gibbons and Slash. Billy Joe Armstrong also joined them for a rousing rendition of “Higher Ground.”

Seventeen new members were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Saturday night in Cleveland, Ohio. The 27th annual ceremony was a five-hour, twenty-minute affair that'll be broadcast in edited form on HBO May 5.