So, it was the 2006 induction ceremony of the UK Music Hall Of Fame in London last night. Is it just me, or has this event lost much of its excitement very quickly? Oh, that's just me, sorry. I suppose Gordon Brown got booed a little at this year's event, which is always fun. Anyway, brand new inductees Prince, James Brown, Brian Wilson and Bon Jovi all performed at the annual Hall Of Fame ceremony at Alexandra Palace last night, with Led Zeppelin, Rod Stewart and Dusty Springfield all also inducted.
The back stage award went, of course, to Beatles producer George Martin, and various artists, including Corinne Bailey Rae, Johnny Borrell and Queen drummer Roger Taylor joined a 31 piece orchestra and the London community gospel choir to perform a number of Beatles songs. The aforementioned Brown (Gordon, not James) was in attendance to present Martin with his award, and he told the audience: "George Martin is the most amazing man and I'm proud to be able to present him this evening. In 1962, even after every major producer rejected The Beatles and one producer said guitar groups had no future, George Martin made The Beatles the most successful group in history".
Martin himself said: "I never realised I was as good as all that. I'm not to be honest, this is hyperbole. I think the reason I am here today is I have been a very lucky man and I have worked with the greatest people in showbusiness, performers and writers. It rubs off working with people like that, it makes all the difference in the world."