u2 stars enter rock hall of fame singer bruce springsteen has inducted irish rock band u2 into the rock and roll hall of fame  in new york.  the lavish ceremony  celebrating the 50th anniversary of rock  n  roll  also saw the induction of the pretenders  percy sledge  the o jays and buddy guy.  this was a band that wanted to lay claim to this world and the next one  too   said springsteen. bono  the edge  adam clayton and larry mullen jr  who formed u2 at school in 1977  begin a world tour on 28 march. introducing the band  springsteen mocked bono as the man who  single-handedly pioneered the irish mullet   poking fun at  one of the best and most endearingly messianic complexes in rock  n  roll . but he also spoke of the group s enduring stature  adding that it was the only band of the last 20 years where he knew all four members  names.  u2 s contemporaries  the pretenders  led by chrissie hynde - took to the stage to perform my city was gone with inductee neil young.  we are a tribute band   said hynde  53.  we re paying tribute to james honeyman-scott and pete farndon  without whom we would not have been here   she said  referring to the premature deaths of two of the band s guitarists from drug overdoses.  britain s rod stewart introduced percy sledge  citing his best-known hit when a man loves a woman as  one of the best performances i ve ever heard . justin timberlake introduced soul group the o jays  a gospel-style quartet from ohio  who performed a medley of their best-known songs including back stabbers  love train and for the love of money.  anyone who s ever written  produced or performed something soulful stands in the shadows of these giants   said timberlake.  joining the ceremony at new york s waldorf astoria were legendary r&b star bo diddley  who performed with eric clapton and robbie robertson.  clapton  alongside bb king  also introduced fellow guitarist buddy guy and recalled seeing him play as a teenager in england.  he was for me what elvis was probably like for other people   he said.  my course was set and he was my pilot   said clapton who joined guy and king in a performance of let me love you baby. also performing at the ceremony was veteran musician jerry lee lewis who continued his reputation as a rowdy piano-pounder despite his 69 years  kicking over his stool and sitting on the piano during a rendition of whole lotta shakin  goin  on.