Red Hot Chili Peppers dressed up as Rick Rubin to perform at his Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame induction ceremony last night (November 14) – watch footage below.
The legendary producer was honoured with the Musical Excellence Award at the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles, with Neil Young delivering his induction speech.
To celebrate the occasion, the Chili Peppers took to the stage to perform their 1991 hit ‘Give It Away’, taken from the Rubin-produced album ‘Blood Sugar Sex Magik’.
However, all four members of the band – Anthony Kiedis, Flea, John Frusciante and Chad Smith – appeared wearing long grey wigs, bushy fake beards and sunglasses to resemble the producer’s distinctive appearance.
Watch the performance below:
Flea and the Chili Peppers honoring Rick Rubin at the Rock n roll Hall of Fame ceremony tonight
@thetraveladdictig pic.twitter.com/ZpNWLAhkoW— Bass Magazine (@BassMagOnline) November 15, 2026
Rubin’s acceptance speech was considerably shorter than Young’s introduction, with the producer delivering a single defiant statement before leaving the stage.
“You can’t kill rock and roll,” he declared. “Thank you.”
Young, who has known Rubin for decades, paid tribute to the producer’s ability to create an environment in which artists can focus entirely on their music.
“The music is all that’s allowed in,” he said, praising the care Rubin takes over the musicians he works with.
The pair previously collaborated on Young and Crazy Horse’s 2022 album ‘World Record’, which they co-produced at Rubin’s Shangri-La studio in Malibu.
Rubin was recognised in the Musical Excellence category, which celebrates musicians, producers and songwriters whose work has had a major impact on popular music.
One of the most influential producers of the past four decades, Rubin co-founded Def Jam Recordings in 1984 and helped shape the early careers of hip-hop artists including Beastie Boys, LL Cool J, Run-DMC and Public Enemy.
His work subsequently expanded across rock, metal, country and pop, producing records for artists including Slayer, Johnny Cash, System Of A Down and Adele.
Rubin’s relationship with the Chili Peppers began with 1991’s ‘Blood Sugar Sex Magik’. He went on to produce some of their most successful albums, including ‘Californication’, ‘By The Way’ and ‘Stadium Arcadium’.
The Chili Peppers’ latest appearance follows their recent Hollywood charity performance, where they revisited songs from their early years with late founding guitarist Hillel Slovak for the first time in decades.
Elsewhere at last night’s ceremony, Oasis were inducted by actor Bob Odenkirk, while Joy Division and New Order were honoured with a speech from Nine Inch Nails‘ Trent Reznor and performances featuring Deftones, Lauren Mayberry and Peter Hook.
Highlights from the induction ceremony will air on ABC in the US on December 8, before becoming available to stream on Disney+ and Hulu the following day.
