From the surprisingly not-so bustling streets of Cleveland stands a towering glass pyramid actively surrounded by the dust of construction, but yet it still shines in the light. Inside you’re met with intense colors adorning the formerly black walls in the front hall, as you enter a large room booming with rock hits from nearly every decade. Six floors of vast music history, delicious & iconic Cleveland bites to eat, and a huge gift shop where poor financial decisions are readily made; this is the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame
The bulk of the Hall’s collection lies on the bottom floor, floor zero. Down there lies the primary exhibits along with special exhibits that rotate out from time to time. Display cases upon display cases of iconic music relics ranging from Rock & Roll’s humble beginnings in the 50’s and traveling the soundwaves through decades leading to today’s artists. From Chuck Berry’s guitar to iconic outfits of the Jimmy Hendrix Experience, to Skrillex’s laptop? I’m telling you, this collection is crazy.
For Alternative junkies, there were large display cases featuring things from the punk and early alternative of the 80’s followed by an exhibit adorned with iconic Seattle grunge memorabilia from a guitar broken by Mike McReady of Pearl Jam to Claymation dolls used for the I Stay Away MV. There was additionally a separate showcase dedicated to the band Soundgarden as they recently got inducted into the Hall last year. It features a drum set and multiple guitars used by the band and at the very front of the bass drum lies a small photograph of the late frontman Chris Cornell as a kid. Also belonging to Soundgarden was their tour van, a 1986 Chevrolet Beauville, adorned with red and black paint, and covered in stickers.
The HoF is currently featuring three special exhibits along with their normal repertoire: 1984 – Pop Music’s Greatest Year Ever, Revolutionary Women in Music, and SNL: 50 Years of Music. Those exhibits were small but full of extraordinary music artifacts from Michael Jackson’s Jacket from the Thriller MV to another iconic jacket with Joan’ Jett’s pink one from the I Love Rock ‘N’ Roll album, and the original SNL Wayne’s World Outfits (Excellent!).
Just when you think the glass pyramid has it all, there’s another special exhibit soon to arrive on May 15th of this year for Paul McCartney and Wings featuring supposedly “The most memorabilia McCartney has ever lent out” to quote from an employee.
These aren’t all the place has to offer. Theres so many pieces of memorabilia its incredible. I cannot stress how amazing this experience was. If you ever find yourself up north and looking for a fun place to see breathtaking relics of music history, then the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in Cleveland Ohio is the place to go. Music nerds unite!
