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One word: beards.
No AI deepfakes were needed to turn the Red Hot Chili Peppers into imitations of legendary producer Rick Rubin at the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony.
Performing at Saturday’s ceremony, all four members of RHCP took to the stage to honour Rubin, the recipient of the Musical Excellence Award.
Wearing outlandishly large, bushy white beards and wigs, the alt-rock band performed ‘Give It Away’, from 1991’s Blood Sugar Sex Magick, the first album Rubin produced for the band.
The look wouldn’t be complete without some Rubin-esque orange-tinted sunglasses, creating an – almost – uncanny likeness. Drummer Chad Smith’s drum kit also featured a portrait of Rubin.
Running across the stage manically, beards flailing wildly, the band ripped through the tune in their signature high-energy style.
It’s nice to see the band revisit a track from the beginning of their creative partnership with Rubin; since Blood Sugar Sex Magick, he has produced all the band’s albums except 2016’s The Getaway.
‘Give It Away’ is one of the Red Hot Chili Peppers’ most iconic tracks, winning ‘Best Hard Rock Performance and Vocals’ at the 1992 Grammys.
In many ways, the Peppers are the perfect choice to honour Rubin, whose producing efforts are as wide-ranging and spirited as the band themselves.
Accepting his Musical Excellence Award, Rubin’s message was simple.
Taking the stage, he held up his prize and stated simply, “can’t kill rock and roll”.
Alongside Rubin, many beloved music figures were honoured at the ceremony.
The 2026 Hall of Fame inductee class features an impressive lineup of artists, with Phil Collins, Billy Idol, Iron Maiden, Joy Division/New Order, Oasis, Sade, Luther Vandross, and Wu-Tang Clan all receiving recognition.
The Peppers weren’t the only performers of the night; St. Vincent, Metallica (and Jack Black!) paid tribute to Iron Maiden with ‘The Trooper’.
Meanwhile, members of Deftones and Chvrches performed Joy Division and New Order classics.
Unfortunately, no one quite committed to the costume bit like RHCP. But it doesn’t matter.
What’s better than seeing the artists we love honour the artists they love?
Watch the Peppers in their bearded glory below.
