Stevie Wonder, Beck, Red Hot Chili Peppers bassist Flea and Questlove honoured Sly Stone at the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame 2025 ceremony last night (November 8).
- READ MORE: Sly Stone, 1943-2025: fearless truth teller whose sonic adventures were an absolute riot
They were joined by The Roots, Maxwell, Jennifer Hudson, and Leon Thomas for an all star tribute to the late funk legend at Los Angeles’ Peacock Theater.
The Sly And The Family Stone frontman died earlier this year aged 82 following “a prolonged battle with COPD and other underlying health issues”. He was inducted into the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame as a member of Sly And The Family Stone in 1993.
In tribute to the funk pioneer, the guest artists last night performed ‘Dance To The Music’ before Maxwell came out for ‘Everyday People.’ They then performed ‘Thank You (Falettinme Be Mice Elf Agin)’, before Hudson took the stage on ‘Higher’. You can view footage below.
The 2025 Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony opened with an incredible tribute to Sly & the Family Stone ft. @StevieWonder, @IAMJHUD, @_MAXWELL_, @flea333, @beck, and @questlove
📺 Tune in NOW on @DisneyPlus to watch the 2025 Rock & Roll of Fame Induction Ceremony. pic.twitter.com/LPJZjSWAlf
— Rock & Roll Hall of Fame (@rockhall) November 9, 2025
Motown family Stevie Wonder and @leonthomas take the stage together to honor Sly & The Family Stone at the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. pic.twitter.com/7WMzxppySC
— Motown Records (@motown) November 9, 2025
Following his induction in 1993, Stone did not perform again until 2006, when he made a stellar appearance at the Grammys performing a medley of Family Stone hits alongside some of his old bandmates and the likes of Aerosmith’s Steven Tyler and Joe Perry, as well as John Legend. He intermittently attempted to perform again in his later years but the performances were marred by his frequent lateness.
Elsewhere on the night at the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame ceremony The White Stripes, Cyndi Lauper, OutKast, Soundgarden, Thom Bell, Chubby Checker, Joe Cocker, Salt-N-Pepa and Bad Company were all inducted.
During The White Stripes induction, Jack White honoured his “sister” Meg White, before Olivia Rodrigo, Feist and Twenty One Pilots covered the band’s classics.
Meanwhile, Chappell Roan inducted Lauper, paying tribute to her by wearing a replica of the skirt from the ‘True Colors’ music video. Roan spoke about the song’s influence on her growing up, saying she sang it as a child in her hometown in Missouri.
After the speech, Lauper appeared onstage and sang ‘True Colors’, as well as her 1984 hit ‘Time After Time’, for which she was joined by Raye. She then ended the medley by bringing Avril Lavigne and Salt-N-Pepa onstage for ‘Girls Just Wanna Have Fun’.
Elsewhere, OutKast were inducted into the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame by Donald Glover, who told the crowd that he grew up listening to OutKast in Atlanta, inspiring his work as Childish Gambino.
After their induction, Doja Cat, Killer Mike, J.I.D., Tyler, the Creator, and Janelle Monáe joined Big Boi (but not André) for a medley of the duo’s classic hits, including ‘ATLiens’, ‘Ms. Jackson’, ‘B.O.B. (Bombs Over Baghdad)’ and ‘Hey Ya!’.
Soundgarden were also inducted by Jim Carrey, who once hosted a 1996 episode of Saturday Night Live where Soundgarden was the musical guest while The Killers also honoured late singer-songwriter Warren Zevon with a stirring cover of his 1978 track ‘Lawyers, Guns And Money’.
Elton John paid tribute to Brian Wilson with a cover of ‘God Only Knows’ on the night too.
