Parrots, pirates, Patti and punsters were all in evidence last night at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction ceremony -- but Diamond Dave was not. And TMZ was there to catch all the rocktacular backstage action.

Aretha Franklin delivered some Beyonce "to the left" while Keith Richards apparently remained in costume from his acting gig on "Pirates of the Caribbean 3" -- and is speaking Old Pirate, or some language only he understands. Meanwhile, inductee Grandmaster Flash (along with the Furious Five) called his arrival into the Hall "a flash of brilliance, excuse my pun."

Patti Smith got a huge ovation for her long-overdue induction, and REM and the Ronettes also got their place. Van Halen was celebrated as well, but David Lee Roth boycotted after he reportedly couldn't agree on what song to sing with his former bandmates.