Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band led off an evening of world-class performances by many of rock's royalty on Monday (3/15) with a three-song set of mid-seventies Springsteen classics as Springsteen took his place alongside Paul McCartney, Billy Joel, Curtis Mayfield, Dusty Springfield and several others as inductees into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

Del Shannon, Charles Brown, The Staple Singers, Bob Wills and Beatles producer George Martin were also inducted in the 14th annual ceremony honoring rock icons who have influenced a generation or more of contemporary music.

Springsteen was inducted by U2 frontman Bono, who spoke at length about the cool mystique of the American artist. McCartney was inducted by Neil Young and accompanied on stage by his daughter Stella, who wore a shirt with the words ''About Fuckin' Time'' printed on front.

Joel was inducted by mentor Ray Charles, who Joel credits with shaping his vocal style from an early age. Responding to critics who charge Joel with absorbing too much of his style from his teachers, Joel said, ''I know I've been referred to as derivative, Joel said. ''I'm damn guilty ... If everyone who is derivative was excluded from this institution, there wouldn't be any white people here.''

As the inductions wound down, Springsteen took the stage with the 1999 version of the E Street Band, incorporating both Steve Van Zandt from the 70's to mid-80's era and Nils Lofgren from the mid to late-80's era on guitars. The reunited outfit played three classic Springsteen songs -- Promised Land, Backstreets and Tenth Avenue Freezeout.

The performance, lauded by reviewers as a strong assurance that the band is up to the task of one of the year's most-anticipated tours, led off a series of groupings that are by now traditional at Rock Hall ceremonies.

McCartney performed Blue Suede Shoes and Let It Be, backed by many of the evening's inductors and inductees, including a backing chior on Let It Be that included Bonnie Raitt, Lauryn Hill, the Staple Singers and Melissa Etheridge.

In his acceptance speech, Springsteen nodded to the controversy surrounding the exclusion of his band from induction, based on the labelling of his albums as simply 'Bruce Springsteen' recordings until the release of 1986's Live: 1975-1985. While thanking each member of the band individually, Springsteen said, ''Everyone wants to know how I feel about the band. Hell, I married one of 'em,'' referring to backing vocalist and wife Patti Scialfa.