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Paul McCartney to induct Ringo Starr into Rock Hall on April 18

Paul McCartney and Ringo Starr, shown performing last year, will appear together again for the 2015 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction ceremony in Cleveland. Starr is being inducted as a solo act.
(Zach Cordner / Invision / Associated Press)
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The 2015 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction ceremony will find one Beatle inducting another when Paul McCartney ushers Ringo Starr into the hall as a solo act. Punk poet Patti Smith will handle the duties of posthumously welcoming Lou Reed into the institution for his solo career.

Both are already members of the Hall of Fame, Starr with the Beatles, and Reed for his role in New York proto-punk band Velvet Underground.

Stevie Wonder is on tap to induct R&B singer and songwriter Bill Withers at the ceremony, which is set for April 18 in Cleveland. In addition, J. Geils Band singer Peter Wolf will introduce the Paul Butterfield Blues Band, Fall Out Boy will pay tribute to Bay Area pop-punk trio Green Day, guitarist-singer-songwriter John Mayer will induct Texas blues-rock guitarist Stevie Ray Vaughan and Memphis guitarist Steve Cropper, of Booker T. & the MG’s, will induct 1950s doo-wop group the “5” Royales.

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The identity of who will induct Joan Jett & the Blackhearts is still to be announced.

Performers confirmed for this year’s event include Beck, Dave Grohl, Joe Walsh, Tom Morello, John Legend and Jimmie Vaughan, and additional performers will be announced in coming weeks.

The hall’s 30th annual induction ceremony will take place in Cleveland’s 10,000-capacity Public Hall, which is a short distance from the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum. Tickets to the ceremony are sold out, but organizers said some VIP packages remain. Ticket info is available at (216) 515-1232 or by e-mail at development@rockhall.org.

As usual, the event will be filmed and highlights will be aired later as an HBO special. This year’s Rock Hall show is scheduled to premiere on May 30.

Follow @RandyLewis2 on Twitter for pop music coverage.

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