On Friday night, Pearl Jam will join the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame. Neil Young, the band’s quasi-mentor and past collaborator, was supposed to give their induction speech. That would’ve been fitting, considering that Eddie Vedder gave Neil Young’s induction speech in 1995. But according to a tweet from the Hall Of Fame, Young has to skip the ceremony because of an illness.

Instead, another famous crank will do the honors: David Letterman, who had PJ on his show many times over the years and who, other than an incredible New York interview, has mostly been out of the public eye since he retired and grew an enormous beard. Other than Young’s illness, this is some pretty awesome news. If anyone knows how to give a speech, it’s David goddam Letterman.