No shows and squabbles sour rock hall ceremony

0 Comments | AFP, March, 2006

NEW YORK (AFP) — The Sex Pistols didn't show up, Blondie had a public row and Black Sabbath asked another band to play their music at an awkward night of inductions into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

Southern rockers Lynyrd Skynyrd performed "Sweet Home Alabama" and "Freebird," but the annual ceremony's traditional theme of nostalgic tribute was soured by the behaviour of some other inductees.

Punk pioneers The Sex Pistols stayed true to their earlier dismissal of the Hall of Fame as "a place where old rockers go to die" by staying away from the show in New York.

Instead they sent a profanity-laced letter that was read out by Rolling Stone magazine founder Jann Wenner to scattered laughter and applause.

"We're not coming. You're not paying...