Purple Reign

Image credit: Bob Seger: Dimitrios Kambouris/WireImage.com 

BOB SEGER Once an arena-rock staple, the semiretired Detroit rocker hadn't played live in nine years before Monday night. With a voice hoarse from over-rehearsal, the now-white-haired Seger got off to a shaky start with the moody ''Turn the Page,'' even hitting a bad note or two. But toward the end of the song (''Here I am/On the road AGAIN''), he found new strength, transforming his trembling rasp into his old roar, and winning a standing ovation.

From there, Seger -- backed by longtime companions the Silver Bullet Band -- kicked into the overplayed, arguably corny hit ''Old Time Rock & Roll.'' But the sheer energy of their performance -- and Seger's heroic effort to push past his vocal troubles -- won over the audience. Yoko Ono got up and boogied; Rolling Stone founder (and inductee) Jann Wenner danced atop a chair; Springsteen and pal Little Steven Van Zandt clapped along; and actress Leelee Sobieski (who came with Sean Lennon) snapped pictures of the mayhem with a cameraphone. Maybe presenter Kid Rock was right to call Seger ''the baddest motherf---er of all time.''

ALL-STAR JAM At last year's inductions, a planned all-hands-on-deck finale (to be led by the reunited Police) fell through, leading some to wonder if they'd seen the demise of the chaotic jams that are the ceremony's trademark. But the tradition returned in force this year, as most of the inductees and presenters (minus Prince, who was en route to a late-night concert) took the stage for Chuck Berry's ''Sweet Little Rock and Roller'' and Traffic's ''Feelin' Alright.''

David Letterman sidekick Paul Shaffer served as conductor, while Keith Richards traded solos with Steve Winwood, Kid Rock harmonized -- nicely! -- with Jackson Browne, and ZZ Top's Billy Gibbons contributed his trademark guitar squeals. Kid Rock even inserted a little ''Rapper's Delight'' into ''Feelin' Alright,'' rapping: ''Just clap your hands everybody/ Everybody clap your hands.'' Everybody did.