Never been a huge fan of the Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame. To me it always seemed like the Hollywood Walk Of Fame. An advertising gimmick, payed for by record companies & agents, not a genuine “honor.” And I was also dubious of the selection process. How do you induct The Clash & Patti Smith, and The Sex Pistols, but miss Television or The Buzzcocks? Why is Van Halen in, but not The Cars? Why James Taylor and not Cat Stevens? Booker T. & The M.G.s and not The Bar-Kays? See what I mean, it drives me crazy!!!
BUT…
Some of those feelings changed last week when I had the pleasure of visiting the Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame & Museum. I only stayed for a day, but I could have done two, easy. And if they’d let me take my camera in… I’d probably still be there. So, regardless of the stature of the Hall Of Fame itself, there is nothing in dispute over the quality of the museum it has put together for it’s inductees.
And here are just a very few of the very many things that I saw that I will never forget:
- The guitar Pete Townshend composed most of Tommy on.
- Freddie Mercury’s white outfit with the black lightning bolts on it.
- Jimmy Hendrix’s artwork.
- Joan Jett’s red latex halter top & black converse all stars.
- The envelope that John Lennon wrote In My Life on.
- Jim Morrison’s report cards.
- Joey Ramone’s 3rd Grade class picture.
- The actual broken bass that Paul Simonon is smashing on the cover of London Calling.
- James Brown’s red velvet tuxedo.
- A letter Madonna wrote to a friend when she was at the University of Michigan in 1977, saying how bored she is, how she’s gonna drop out and move to New York, and that how when her parents find out they’re gonna kill her.
- A letter The Damned wrote to The Ramones after their first visit to London, telling them how great it was to hang out with them, and that they hope they see each other again soon.
- The actual Schoolmaster from the Pink Floyd: The Wall concerts, reaching out to grab me from behind The Wall.
- Seeing the other side of The Wall, upon which, like graffitti, Roger Waters had written a story that detailed the reasons he left Pink Floyd.
- Bono’s Fly outfit.
- Tom Petty’s Mad Hatter hat from the Don’t Come Around Here No More video.
- Z.Z. Top’s Eliminator car. That’s right… it’s just sitting there behind some velvet ropes with a sign that says “please don’t touch.” Gimme a fucking break.
- A Christmas card Jim Morrison had made for his parents when he was 12, wishing them a “Cool Yule.”
- Elvis’ first recording contract.
- Joey Ramone’s leather jacket.
- Sid Vicious’ leather pants.
- David Bowie’s Thin White Duke outfit.
- The Les Paul exhibit.
- The little kid in The Ramones t-shirt!
- The guy who put his hand on the glass over Jimi Hendrix’s coat as if it were transferring magical powers to him…
- Roy Orbison’s Red & White Corvette.
- Joe Strummers’ guitar, with all the set lists still taped to the side of it.
- The jacket John Lennon wore on the cover of Sgt. Pepper’s.
- Elvis’ Snowflake Jumpsuit.
- The goofy, fringed-leather Indian getup Roger Daltrey wore on a BBC show once.
- Michael Jackson’s Thriller zombie outfit.
- The thought that maybe, someday, someone will buy me the framed & autographed Stevie Nicks scarf hanging in the Museum Store. (it’s only $900.00!!!!)
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