ORIGINAL MUSIC REVIEWS
The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame & Museum
1100 Rock and Roll Blvd,
1100 Rock and Roll Blvd,
Cleveland, OHIO U.S.A.
If you have never been to the The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame & Museum, and you want to be surprised by what you may find there, read no further. Otherwise, here are some observations and thoughts about our visit to the Hall/Museum:
NO PHOTOS, PLEASE
Warning... most of the photos that you will see on this post were in fact taken without the consent from The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame & Museum.
During our visit, we failed to realize that they have a strict policy : NO PHOTOGRAPHS ANYWHERE. Not just at certain locations, to protect sensitive old artifacts from light, but nowhere in the entire building (cafe included) can you use a camera or a cell phone to take photos or video. We went to a museum, but failed to realize that we entered the Top Secret Government location known as Area 51.
During our visit, we failed to realize that they have a strict policy : NO PHOTOGRAPHS ANYWHERE. Not just at certain locations, to protect sensitive old artifacts from light, but nowhere in the entire building (cafe included) can you use a camera or a cell phone to take photos or video. We went to a museum, but failed to realize that we entered the Top Secret Government location known as Area 51.
Truth be told, we did see signs posted at certain locations and we did obey them, by not taking photos at those spots. We found out about the ban on the entire building, when a kind lady told one of us to stop taking photos. We did comply with her and did not take any more photographs from that point forward (who wants to be kicked out or have a cavity search). The kind lady could not tell us why everyone is forbidden from taking pictures anywhere in the building. A salesman from the museum's store, who upon our exit was taking our money for the shirts, books, post cards, & magnets we purchased, told us that some of the things on display are on loan and that the owners do not want their prized possessions photographed. Huh?
Why does The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum have such a strict policy preventing music fans from taking photographs or video?
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| GUITARS L-R: Dave Hlubek (Molly Hatchet), Ted Nugent, Leo Fender (1949 Hand Made), Lester William Polsfuss Guitar a.k.a. Les Paul |
Why does The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum have such a strict policy preventing music fans from taking photographs or video?
Is this ban enforced because:
A) Some of the stuff on display maybe a fake and they don't want to get caught.
B) They want to sell more shirts, books, post cards, & magnets with the images of the stuff they tell you not to photograph.
C) They are afraid that you may take the photo and sell it on Ebay without giving them a cut of the money.
D) They don't want to have any photos on that stupid site Original Music Reviews (who can blame them, nobody else does either).
E) All of the above.
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| ZZ TOP's Car from the "Eliminator" Album & Videos |
Some of the more interesting things that were seen
but not photographed during our visit:
but not photographed during our visit:
CLOTHING
Michael Jackson's shiny white glove. (never found out where the other one went)
Michael Jackson's shiny white glove. (never found out where the other one went)
The school uniform that Angus Young of AC/DC wore on stage in concerts.
The Father Time robe, worn by Concert promoter Bill Graham (not the preacher, his name is Billy) and others for many years when the Greatful Dead performed in concert on New Year's Eve.
The Father Time robe, worn by Concert promoter Bill Graham (not the preacher, his name is Billy) and others for many years when the Greatful Dead performed in concert on New Year's Eve.
Costumes from George Clinton (not the former US President, his name is Bill) & Bootsy Collins of Parliament-Funkadelic.
Outfits from Ziggy Stardust (the former David Bowie).
Outfits from Ziggy Stardust (the former David Bowie).
UNUSUAL ITEMS
An Urn with Allen Freed's name on it. We are not certain if ashes were inside. Allen Freed is the Cleveland DJ, who is credited with coining the term "Rock and Roll."
Rejection letters to U2 from both Arista Records (a Clive Davis Company*) & RKO Records. U2 is now one of the largest grossing bands in the world and both labels have been extinct for years.
*Clive Davis is credited with signing or discovering Ace of Bace, Aerosmith, Billy Joel, Chicago, Earth Wind & Fire, Pink Floyd, Whitney Houston and many others. He help launch LaFace Records and also helped Sean Combs (Puff Daddy, P. Diddy, Diddy) with Bad Boy Records. He won 5 Grammy Awards and is a Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Member.
All Original Music Artists take note: U2 was PASSED on by one of the greatest music ears of all time, but they have done quite well in spite of it. U2's success is proof, that if you keep working at your craft you can be successful no matter who does not believe in you. Never give up. Even when rejected by successful business companies, politely move on and find someone else who believes that there is an audience for you.
A copy of the advance to Guns N' Roses from Geffen Records for "Appetite for Destruction." The amount was for $37,500. Everyone in the band, at that time, got a piece of the pie except for someone name "STASH." Since Slash was omitted on the check, one guesses that Stash got Slash's cut of the loot or it's just a typo.
An art collection from a young Jimi Hendrix dated 1958, which include a few drawings of west coast college football teams. Who knew that one of the greatest guitarist of all time was a college football fan?
Rejection letters to U2 from both Arista Records (a Clive Davis Company*) & RKO Records. U2 is now one of the largest grossing bands in the world and both labels have been extinct for years.
*Clive Davis is credited with signing or discovering Ace of Bace, Aerosmith, Billy Joel, Chicago, Earth Wind & Fire, Pink Floyd, Whitney Houston and many others. He help launch LaFace Records and also helped Sean Combs (Puff Daddy, P. Diddy, Diddy) with Bad Boy Records. He won 5 Grammy Awards and is a Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Member.
All Original Music Artists take note: U2 was PASSED on by one of the greatest music ears of all time, but they have done quite well in spite of it. U2's success is proof, that if you keep working at your craft you can be successful no matter who does not believe in you. Never give up. Even when rejected by successful business companies, politely move on and find someone else who believes that there is an audience for you.
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| The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum's Pink Floyd "The Wall" exhibit is larger than life. |
OTHER SECTIONS
The Museum is constantly changing. Different pieces come and go.
During our visit, "What a Long Strange Trip" was a temporary exhibit on display about the Greatful Dead. It had many hand written lyrics, instruments, and touring equipment. Dancing Bears, strobe lights, flashing colors, and Concert footage filled with performances, played the entire time. It made someone so dizzy, that they almost tripped down the stairs.
ELVIS, The BEATLES, RICKY NELSON, JANIS JOPLIN, JIMI HENDRIX all have their sections filled with video of live performances, Instruments, and a few hand written lyrics here or there.
Smaller sections include 50's Soul Music, 60's Hippy Protest Music, 90's Grunge Music, Heavy Metal Section, Punk Section (the Hall accepted the Sex Pistols but the Sex Pistols rejected the Hall), and believe it or not a section titled "Rapper's Delight" featuring Hip-Hop / Rap memorabilia.
INTERACTION
There were a few stations throughout the Hall/Museum that had hands on interaction. One of our favorites was the "One Hit Wonder" (music artist who had one hit and you wonder how the hell they even had a hit) touch screen exhibit. You could look up artists who had only one top 20 hit in the US and it would play the tune for you. Some of the artist and their one hit listed there are 4 Non Blondes "What's Up" Europe "The Final Countdown" Nena "99 Luftballons" Gary Numan "Cars" Wild Cherry "Play that Funky Music" The Archies (Boy, Archie, Reggie, & Jug Head sure could jam back in the day) "Sugar, Sugar." A ton of tunes you may have never heard before are there also.
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| Alex Van Halen's Drum Kit |
WHAT'S OUT AND WHAT SHOULD BE IN
There are a ton of original musicians who are missing from the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum. Alex noticed that Black Sabbath is in the Hall of Fame but Ozzy Osbourne himself is currently missing from the Hall of Fame. Kiss is absent as well. No Kiss clothing, No make up, No Action Figures, Nothing. Cupcake was sadden by the absence of Bon Jovi and Poison. Mr. Mohawk noticed that even though there is a "grunge" section, Pearl Jam and Nirvana are also absent from the Hall of Fame. These are just a few names that pop into our minds.
Speaking of the band Nirvana, we think that it maybe a little early, but someday Dave Grohl should have his own wing at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum. Dave Grohl's music footprints are in many areas of today's original music. He has written, recorded, produced, and preformed live using multiple instruments. His musical successes include: Them Crooked Vultures, Queens of the Stone Age, The Foo Fighters, and of course Nirvana. With that resume of work, it is not "IF" he will be in the hall but WHEN.
Speaking of the band Nirvana, we think that it maybe a little early, but someday Dave Grohl should have his own wing at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum. Dave Grohl's music footprints are in many areas of today's original music. He has written, recorded, produced, and preformed live using multiple instruments. His musical successes include: Them Crooked Vultures, Queens of the Stone Age, The Foo Fighters, and of course Nirvana. With that resume of work, it is not "IF" he will be in the hall but WHEN.
EVERYONE SHOULD HOP ON BOARD
Our last stop before we left the No Photo Zone, know as The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum, was Johnny Cash's old Tour Bus. It is parked just outside the doors of the Hall/Museum. Anyone can go inside the bus, for free, with your paid admission to the Hall/Museum.
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| Inside Johnny Cash's Tour Bus Photo taken WITH permission |
Only 4 people are allowed on the bus at a time and we were told by the guy who let us on that you can not touch or sit down on the bus. When he said this, he reminded me of one of the first things I had learned years ago in the music biz: Never take a dump on a tour bus (Try to hold it and clog up a Hotel in Pittsburgh). Anywho, It was cool to see how this music legend traveled in years past. One of the coolest things about being on the Bus was that we were told that it was ok to take pictures! I guess, somebody forgot to tell the guy on the bus about the no photo policy or maybe David & Esther Wright (the kind folks who lent Johnny Cash's tour bus to the Hall/Museum) want music fans to enjoy memories of their visit with some photos.
If it is true that David & Esther Wright are kind enough to allow photographs of their piece of music history, we thank them for doing what is right. We challenge the other owners of memorabilia at The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum, as well as the Hall/Museum itself, to hop on board with the Wright's and lift the ban on photographs. If something can be damaged by the flash of a camera bulb that is understandable. Ban photos in that area to protect the item on display. To ban photographs and video in the entire building is not understandable to us. Even the Hard Rock Cafe will let you take photos of their music items on display.
We at Original Music Reviews believe that the music fans are the ones who have made the music artist and the art form itself successful. The Fans bought the albums & CDs. The Fans paid for the concert tickets. The Fans pay to download the songs. The Fans buy the shirts and posters. The Fans give money to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum. Let the Music Fans celebrate the history of music by allowing them to take photographs for memories.
We at Original Music Reviews believe that the music fans are the ones who have made the music artist and the art form itself successful. The Fans bought the albums & CDs. The Fans paid for the concert tickets. The Fans pay to download the songs. The Fans buy the shirts and posters. The Fans give money to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum. Let the Music Fans celebrate the history of music by allowing them to take photographs for memories.
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| This Rock & Roll Hall of Fame & Museum photo was taken the next day from the top of our hotel roof. (Photographs were allowed to be taken throughout the Hotel) |
Not just Rock Music Fans,
but Fans of all types of original music, should take some time to
check out The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum.
Just leave your camera home.
but Fans of all types of original music, should take some time to
check out The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum.
Just leave your camera home.
-Alex, Cupcake & Mr. Mohawk
ORIGINAL MUSIC REVIEWS