![The Killers Perform Tom Petty’s ‘American Girl’ at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Ceremony](http://townsquare.media/site/295/files/2018/04/GettyImages-946330902.jpg?w=980&q=75)
The Killers Perform Tom Petty’s ‘American Girl’ at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Ceremony
The Killers kicked off the 2018 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction ceremony by paying tribute to Tom Petty with a live performance of "American Girl."
With a huge picture of Petty in the background, lead singer Brandon Flowers, dressed as sharply as ever in a shiny red and gold jacket, implored the crowd to "pay some rock and roll respect" to the "masterful" Petty.
A week after Petty's death in October of 2017, the Killers performed "American Girl" and "the Waiting" during their show at Austin City Limits. Five years earlier, drummer Ronnie Vannucci, Jr. name-checked Petty when asked about the artists who inspired their 2012 album Battle Born: "That Petty flavor is in us."
Petty passed away as the result of an accidental overdose on pain medication shortly after the completion of the Heartbreakers' 40th Anniversary tour. It was later revealed that he had been diagnosed with a fractured hip but refused to cancel the tour's 50 remaining dates.
Flowers is pulling double-duty tonight, as he was previously scheduled to deliver the induction speech for the Cars later in the ceremony. Bon Jovi, Dire Straits, the Moody Blues, Nina Simone and Sister Rosetta Tharpe will also be inducted tonight.
The 2018 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction ceremony will be broadcast on May 5 at 8PM ET on HBO.
Watch the Killers Perform "American Girl" at the ACL Festival
Rock and Roll Hall of Fame 2018 Induction Ceremony's Best Photos
More From 94.9 WMMQ
![All Request Saturday Night Playlist for July 24, 2021 Cover Songs](http://townsquare.media/site/693/files/2021/07/attachment-cover.jpg?w=980&q=75)
![Legendary Michigan Rock Clubs, The Grande Ballroom, The Brewery and The Silver Dollar Saloon](http://townsquare.media/site/693/files/2021/07/attachment-brewery-sign.jpg?w=980&q=75)
![All Request Saturday Night Playlist for July 17, 2021 KISS](http://townsquare.media/site/693/files/2021/07/attachment-gettyimages-1130243172.jpg?w=980&q=75)
![Rock Out With KISS This Weekend On All Request Saturday Night](http://townsquare.media/site/693/files/2021/07/attachment-kissgenesimmonsetal_theboxset_7b6t.jpg?w=980&q=75)
![All Request Saturday Night Playlist July 10, 2021 Chicago](http://townsquare.media/site/693/files/2021/07/attachment-chicago.jpg?w=980&q=75)
![All Request Saturday Night Playlist June 26, 2021 Michigan Bands](http://townsquare.media/site/693/files/2021/06/attachment-rareearth_ecology_17s3.jpg?w=980&q=75)
![This Weekend It’s Michigan Bands on All Request Saturday Night](http://townsquare.media/site/693/files/2021/06/attachment-srcthescotrichardcas_src_2uoa.jpg?w=980&q=75)
![94.9 WMMQ 2021 Classic Rock Concert Calendar](http://townsquare.media/site/693/files/2021/06/attachment-gettyimages-805579984.jpg?w=980&q=75)
![All Request Saturday Night Playlist June 19, 2021 Kansas](http://townsquare.media/site/693/files/2021/06/attachment-kansas_audiovisions_52ds.jpg?w=980&q=75)