Help Our Kids Radiothon – Donate Now: The 2023 Help Our Kids Radiothon will be held on September 21 & 22, 2023 at Nemours.  This marks the 13th year.  Mix 99.5 WJBR will broadcast live over two days,…

Music News

‘Tis the season…graduation season, that is.

While the coronavirus pandemic has prevented many graduation ceremonies to be delayed, canceled or take place online, all graduates deserve recognition for their hard work. In honor of graduation season, check out these four great commencement speeches from some of the biggest names in rock.

Bono (University of Pennsylvania, 2004)

Weird ginger hair phase aside, Bono was self-deprecating and uplifting.  He told the graduates, “That’s what this degree of yours is, a blunt instrument. So go forth and build something with it. Remember what John Adams said about Ben Franklin, ‘He does not hesitate at our boldest Measures but rather seem to think us too irresolute.’ Well, this is the time for bold measures. This is the country, and you are the generation.”


Jon Bon Jovi (Rutgers University Camden, 2015)

JBJ delivered a moving speech in which he said, “Class is over, learning isn’t. Your diploma is a key – to open doors of possibility not only for yourselves, but for others.” However, he also wrote the graduating class a song for them.

 

Alice Cooper (Musicians Institute in Los Angeles, 2012)

While we kind of wished Alice would’ve been in full stage makeup and costume during his speech, Alice still delivered an incredible speech with this brilliant reminder: “If you succeed, you become a genius. If you fail, you become an idiot. You can always start again.”

 

Annie Lennox (Berklee College of Music, 2013)

The Berklee College of Music is one of the most prestigious art institutions in the United States, so they have significant pull when it comes to getting amazing commencement speakers.  Annie Lennox’s address in 2013, however, is one of the standouts in recent years especially with insight like, “Consider this, wherever you think you’re heading right now might turn out to take a completely different path.  What looks like an ending might actually be the start of a brand new beginning.”

 

13 Rock Stars with College Degrees

 

Erica Banas is a rock/classic rock news blogger who's well-versed in etiquette and extraordinarily nice. #TransRightsAreHumanRights

Sign me up for the WJBR email newsletter!

You love Mix 99.5 WJBR, so join the Insiders Club! Be the first to know about our awesome ticket giveaways, the latest updates with your favorite artists, and more delivered right to your inbox.

*
*
By clicking "Subscribe" I agree to the website's terms of Service and Privacy Policy. I understand I can unsubscribe at any time.