The Lovin' Spoonful perform "Do You Believe In Magic" at the 2000 Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony

The Lovin' Spoonful perform "Do You Believe In Magic" at the 2000 Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony.
Looking for more Induction Ceremony memories for Lovin' Spoonful? Visit the group's official Hall of Fame online bio: rockhall.com/inductees/lovin-s...
Dive into the full 2000 Induction Ceremony video collection at rockhall.com/inductees/classes/2000 and watch all videos, read from the official Hall of Fame program bios and view image galleries from the big night and archival materials.

[@duaneho555]

Yes John’s voice was a shell of what it was, but the awesome thing was seeing him, Joe, Steve and (especially) Zal playing together. That’s good times.

[@CritterElectronics]

They’re human beings, remember this.

[@Mr1031964]

@@CritterElectronics We get old and we lose the ability to do certain things, it happens to the best of us. I'm just happy we had a chance to hear him in his prime.

[@66Polarbear]

John has acknowledged voice issues as he's aged....but I've seen him solo, twice, and he can deliver. The thing is, he has adjusted all his songs to better accommodate his voice by doing them in lower keys. It gives his voice a smoky, but interesting maturity. The problem here was that the band doesn't live anywhere near each other now, so they don't play together, and with no rehearsal time, the band couldn't re-learn songs in a different key for a one-off performance. Steve Boone even said in his book that they questioned whether they could---or would---do a live performance on this day, so there was some initial hesitance from the band knowing it was risky. Ultimately, they just decided to go for it, and this is what we have. John thought he was up for it, so imagine his horror early in the song when his voice didn't cooperate. To say John "can't sing" or that he should "hang it up" is extreme. He considers himself a songwriter first, an instrumentalist second, and a vocalist third. So he's not deluding himself that he's going to win any awards as a vocalist. If he comes to your town, I suggest you see the show---the R&R HOF night is not representative of an enjoyable and interesting show he does now. He approaches the songs with a little more subtlety, tells stories, and often brings along a partner or two to help deliver songs that are his first love, folk and jug-band.

[@stewhooey1294]

I saw him live somewhere around 2004- I had the impression he sang everything an octave lower, but his guitar playing was fantastic. Well worth seeing live.

[@voytregnal8031]

wow...RIP Yanovsky..he had only two years in front of him. I love these people.

[@G8GT364CI]

He was a GREAT guitar playr too.

[@duaneho555]

Great to see the four originals together again.

[@jerryejohnson1]

Bummer that John can't really sing this song anymore, but the drummer sure had good background vocals.

[@imagine9132]

yeah ;(

[@tcschenks]

I’ve seen some newer videos of them with that drummer singing lead and playing the auto harp.

[@richardmckinney8354]

Too bad. But he's trying, for that we are glad. Rock on !!!!

[@ricknelson2577]

i was 11 years old in 1965 and The Lovin' Spoonful, as much as, or maybe more than, the Beatles, was the soundtrack of my youth. They called their music Good Time Music and nothing could be more appropriate! Even with JS's voice problems, this misted up my 66 year old eyes.

[@cristianmedina99]

That's for share that. I always thought that the beatles was all in 60's. It's great to find other bands with good music

[@cliffordduzz4342]

Holy shit they tried awesome effort thankyou.The only thing that won't lose its voice is the music you will leave behind

[@stevenhaynes1031]

Joe Butler never got enough credit. Great time, great feel, totally plays for the song. Talented man.

[@hymnsarebeautiful6353]

Actually, given the lyrics, I think this rendition is fantastic. It adds a majestic sense to the song.

[@rickshannep4033]

Great song, and wonderful to see all the original members! Thank you for sharing.

[@kathleenbergeron1292]

Wow, this is great! Joe’s still got it on drums, Steve rockin the bass, and Zallie on guitar. But John, man, it’s SOOO good the see you delivering on the song again. Love you guys!

[@VimVinyl]

Good that his fellow bandmates can help out with the vocals

[@voytregnal8031]

Lovig Spoonful music has been introduced to me through the movie 'You are the big boy now'. Great songs, as for the movie...so, so, as far asI remember..

[@MrPedal88]

Damn, the original band.

[@petersilecchio4417]

Just Perfect! Love that Song!

[@JakeRBlaso-nh7oq]

This is the only song from the late 60's that I really like.

[@stanibol]

Who brought the onions? Thanks for uploading. Great to see the original members of the band performing together once more.

[@TheREALTheMeTvShow]

I seen them at Our casino... was amazing...

[@That_Boi_E]

I missed this 😊

[@BeatlesGirlKaren]

I will always love these guys!

[@debbutcher9087]

I saw them live a few years after this. Without Zak who had passed. John wasn’t with the band neither. They sounded really good. Having seen this I see why John wasn’t singing. Really sad about his voice, but wow what great songs they recorded in the 60s. Great group.

[@grin64]

Much respect. I don't believe in magic.

[@debralau8303]

Sounds great mature love it

[@MoreFormosa]

amazing band and song, feel bad for lead singers voice

[@GalloLandiaTV]

adoro a estos tipos

[@BrisMontiell]

It's so sad that John Sebastian's voice it's gone 😢😢😢

[@wonderming1]

I don't know if it's gone, as much as it sounds like he hasn't been keeping up his chops? The whole band kinda sounds like they maybe play a VFW once in awhile. Now, I haven't researched to see what each individual has been up to, but I dont think its age-just lack of playing live.

[@BrisMontiell]

You're right! Thank you!

[@andrewfurst5711]

Lovin' Spoonful drummer during their 1960's popularity Joe Butler (seen in the video with the white hair and beard) now carries the Lovin' Spoonful's lead vocals most of the time. But for the R&R HoF performance it was best to have Sebastian giving it his best shot, despite the strain. Although Butler's voice is now technically much better than Sebastian's, John was the original singer and the songwriter - it had to be him at the HoF. He has a distinctive voice, and at times you can still hear it for what it once was. Interestingly the 3 remaining members reunited earlier this year (2020) and Joe sang lead vocals on "Summer In The City" while standing next to John, who played guitar: kzbin.info/www/bejne/o6GQfmmmm86Cetk

[@robertbainter2349]

John had throat surgery...not lack of skill...just ruined his voice.

[@jerryejohnson1]

@@andrewfurst5711 Makes sense - the drummer did a great job - both on drums and b vocals.

[@jamescalifornia2964]

John must have a sore throat - but the show must go on 🎭🎼

[@PeridotLioness85]

Performers vocal chords can become damaged over the years. Barbara Mandrell had an issue with her vocal cords along with Julie Andrews. It all depends how much they used them. Smoking can effect the cords ad well.

[@bradleyscarton3931]

Poor Julie Andrews went in for a simple procedure to remove nodules on her vocal cords. The doctors ended up permanently damaging her voice. Such a shame to rob us of one of the greatest voices.

[@markvanderplank2134]

I remember being very young and not really remember a lot of things then but the songs that were coming out of the radio I remember some , it was a few months before we moved I heard this song on the radio and it sent a sensation from my spine to my head and some years later I found out is was Daydream by the spoonful & it still does it 54yrs later.

[@stellaercolani3810]

Love these guys!

[@sannimcable]

Now we do

[@sugarjoe50]

Unfortunatly, John obviously had laryngitis or a major sore throat issue here.

[@shawnarm4858]

Say what ya wanna, but dude's kept an amazing hair line.... Just saying!

[@williamj.sheehan2001]

Hahahahahahahahahaha! Your comment made my day-- March 10, 2024!

[@LegoBatmanTheVideoGame]

This comment section is depressing as hell yeah he doesnt sound as great as he did but it was the act of just re singing something they had done before it wasnt about doing it better i think everyone missed the point

[@anthonyhunt701]

Zally was on fire!

[@josephd5715]

in a word? brutal.

[@erzug]

I've seen more recent videos on this site where the drummer, Joe Butler, is singing lead on this song. John just plays his autoharp.

[@davidharrow9025]

Wonderful performance and great to see the entire band together.

[@doctorjames7454]

The elephant in the room... it's pretty sad to hear John struggling to sing this.

[@bobmalack481]

Sabastion sounds beyond awful, yes, he's in his 60's or so, but my God, hang it up already. Too many past acid trips and bon-bons...E-gawds..help us..

[@pern1044]

@David Hinkle Not true. A singer never loses his sense of key but the question is whether his vocal cords are healthy or damaged. In the case of John Sebastian he damaged his vocal cords. And I read a book that John Sabastian damaged his vocal cords ruining his singing voice. Sorry for tearing down your comment: If you listen to Zal Yanovsky who sang accompany vocals in this video he's on perfect key, and he hasn't toured or sang in years. Since he left the Lovin Spoonful he went off to Canada an opened a restaurant. With an easy search you would of found this: In the early 1990s, John Sebastian has struggled with throat problems that eventually affected and changed his singing voice, but he has continued to perform and tour.

[@pern1044]

Not true, man. It wasn't because of the bon-bons nor acid trips. LOL E-gawds people get affected by their assumption just because John Sebastian was from the 1960's (great music). Fact checking would be a good remedy for you. Peace. Happy Holidays. 😃

[@jasoncarpenter7488]

@@pern1044 why did the Hooker cross the road?

[@oscarantoniomoreno5247]

Even though with damaged vocal chords, it still sounds good to me. It's sort of a unique sound, not unlike Ray Charles.

[@pern1044]

@@jasoncarpenter7488 to hop into your car. :)

[@jjswinn]

woops - ah well

[@EclecticHillbilly]

I've heard John sing more recently and, true, he can't sing like he did in the 60s but he still sings okay. This was obviously a bad night and probably trying to sing in too high a key because of a lack of rehearsal time. You'd think the R & R HOF people would try to see that these people sound as good as they can but they really don't care. They're just putting on a TV show.

[@hollywoodjoe123]

Why did they sing this in the key of D ? - - - WHEN THE ORIGINAL WAS A STEP LOWER IN C !

[@asimo3030]

Probably was to accommodate for the singers voice in some way

[@Nerdtendo6366]

Meet the Pyro

[@TR-vr5pz]

John sounds like Randy Newman

[@jamesdoctor8079]

God, getting old is terrible. This hurts to watch

[@kennyyow8863]

John's dad said where did you get that

[@chalkboy8]

I wish they sang Welcome Back.

[@stevedrums1675]

Wasn't the original band. Just John Sebastian's song.

[@colonelreb1014]

His voice is shot

[@greggminkoff6733]

How sad when people don't know when it's time to stop and retire. I'm embarrassed for him.

[@lastnamefirst4035]

I wonder if John has a health issue that affects his voice

[@jboling513]

Cat sounded gassed from the first bar. This is the only way I can hear this song now. Should have let the Foo Fighters play it for you, respectfully.

[@davidscott8123]

Holy crap what happened to Sebastian’s voice?

[@Mr1031964]

He got old, man. It happens.

[@yesterdayproductions1019]

He should NEVER have tried to sing lead on this song at this Induction Ceremony.

[@jaygold4467]

It's a shame he literally can't sing anymore. He must have blown his voice out.

[@lastnamefirst4035]

Oh nooo john sounds so bad idk why he even sang. Should have let somebody else

[@JustMeandLife]

Wow John can’t sing no more

[@rickyrydell]

Yikes!

[@kerrystehlik7508]

Empty

[@bobmalack481]

Incredible..whole band sounds AWFUL, time to hang it up when your past your prime, especially Sabastian, Robert at 65.

[@jerryejohnson1]

Drummer kicked butt - on drums and background vocals.

[@lenb7275]

Good grief ! What's wrong with John's voice ? Beyond awful !

[@erzug]

He's trying hard, but it just isn't happening.

[@robintaylor680]

Am I missing something here that lead singing guy sounds terrible

[@102scott]

Sad. Why do they do something that can’t be equaled or even come close.

[@countrymann1150]

Imagine a man in a gasmask bust in there And showed a handmade flamethrower And then pulled a trigger

[@TheBassmon]

painful to watch

[@streetballer8675]

This was so freaking bad lol

[@davidharrow9025]

No it wasn't. What the hell are you talking about.

[@vonratibor]

Sucks 😮😂

[@RBerube76]

WTF happened to his voice?! =(

[@tcschenks]

Decades of pot smoke.

[@morgo72]

Pitiful singing

[@kyreepilgrim3766]

Even the old doo wop groups that got in sounded better. This is definitely bad considering that got inducted to the hall of fame. Makes it ironically funny

[@JohnDoe-gk7ok]

When they were rehearsing, did someone tell the singer that he sounded like shit?

[@cardboardheadguy7814]

They should give them a year to practice but what ya gonna do

[@billthestinker]

Do you believe in retirement 👎🏿

[@anthonyrobles1471]

LOL!!!!!!!!!!!!

[@delacroix2007]

no bigger spoonful fan than me but that was SHAMEFUL and embarrassing! how could he get up there sounding like that? have some dignity, man!

[@Nyder]

Theory: he's singing terribly on purpose because he can't stand singing this song anymore. The band agrees.

[@Ebs685]

I think He is beyond his prime. He sounds horrible.

[@winterlandboy]

The magic of his voice died long ago