Prince [ tickets ] led the charge of artists who joined the ranks of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame during a Monday night (3/15) ceremony in New York City.

Also honored were the late George Harrison [ tickets ], ZZ Top [ tickets ], Bob Seger [ tickets ], Jackson Browne, Traffic and The Dells.

Singer/multi-instrumentalist Prince opened the ceremony--highlights of which will air on VH-1 this Sunday (3/21)--with three of his '80s-era hits: "Let's Go Crazy," "Sign O' the Times" and "Kiss." Rappers OutKast and singer/pianist Alicia Keys subsequently handled Prince's official induction.

Bruce Springsteen inducted Browne, who performed two of his hits: "The Pretender" and "Running on Empty."

Kid Rock inducted fellow Detroit-area native Bob Seger, who recruited his Silver Bullet Band to perform with him for the first time in nine years during the hits "Turn the Page" and "Old Time Rock 'n' Roll."

Tom Petty and Jeff Lynne--who, along with Bob Dylan and the late Roy Orbison, were bandmates with Harrison in The Traveling Wilburys--inducted Harrison. Steve Winwood and Harrison's son, Dhani, joined Petty and Lynne for a performance of The Traveling Wilburys hit "Handle With Care" and the Harrison-penned Beatles hit "While My Guitar Gently Weeps."

Keith Richards took the podium to induct ZZ Top, and gave what the Associated Press described as a "semi-coherent induction speech," after which the Texas rock trio performed its hits "La Grange" and "Tush."

Dave Matthews inducted Traffic, and the group--featuring Winwood, but sans Dave Mason, who was on hand to accept the group's induction award, and later performed during the show-closing, all-star jam--performed "Dear Mr. Fantasy."

R&B vocal quintet The Dells gave a nod to fellow vocal groups the O'Jays, The Manhattans and The Whispers during their acceptance speech, and expressed hope that the Rock Hall would add such acts to the its ranks.

Rolling Stone magazine founder Jann Wenner received a lifetime achievement award.

The Rock Hall's nominating committee--which is composed of "rock and roll historians," according to a press release--selects nominees each year in the artist category. Ballots to determine the inductees are then sent to an international voting body of about 700 "rock experts."

Criteria that the nominating committee and voting body use to select inductees include "the influence and significance of the artist's contribution to the development and perpetuation of rock and roll."

Artists become eligible for induction 25 years after the release of their first record. Black Sabbath, widely recognized as one of heavy metal's most-influential acts, has been overlooked for the ninth year since becoming eligible. Other acts waiting in the wings include Van Halen, The Sex Pistols and Lynyrd Skynyrd.

The Rock Hall's class of 2003 included The Police, AC/DC, The Clash, Elvis Costello and the Attractions, and The Righteous Brothers.

More information is available at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame's website.