Red Hot Chili Peppers Perform As Rick Rubins At Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame 2026

Rick Rubin was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame on Saturday night, receiving the prestigious Musical Excellence Award from his longtime collaborator Neil Young. Red Hot Chili Peppers paid tribute to Rubin by performing "Give It Away" on stage, with all four members dressed as the iconic producer. The ceremony took place at the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles.

Young's speech highlighted Rubin's influence across various genres, from hip-hop to metal, alternative rock, country, and pop. Rubin's impact on modern popular music is undeniable, as he has helped artists strip away distractions to focus on their core creative essence. This philosophy is encapsulated in his 2023 book, The Creative Act: A Way of Being, where he writes, "The ability to look deeply is the root of creativity."

Rubin and Young had a longstanding friendship, even attempting to record together in the late '90s, though those sessions were never released. Their first official collaboration came with Neil Young and Crazy Horse's 2022 album, World Record, which they co-produced at Rubin's Shangri-La studio in Malibu. Red Hot Chili Peppers honored the producer with a performance of their hit song "Give It Away," featuring all four band members donning Rubin's likeness.

Rubin acknowledged the honor of his induction with a succinct, five-word statement: "Can't kill Rock and Roll." The legendary producer's induction was made possible through the Musical Excellence category, which recognizes artists, musicians, songwriters, and producers who have made a significant and lasting impact on music. Notable inductees in this category include Judas Priest, Chaka Khan, Jimmy Buffett, Dionne Warwick, and production legends Jimmy Jam & Terry Lewis.