Rock and Roll Hall of Fame opens rock and roll exhibit

CLEVELAND – The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum has opened Fifty Years of Rock and Roll, an exhibit chronicling the five decades of rock and roll.

This exhibit featuring instruments, stage props and costumes opened May 1 in the museum’s Ahmet M. Ertegun Exhibition Hall.

About the exhibit. “Fifty Years of Rock and Roll traces the history of the art form that the museum celebrates every day,” said Jim Henke, vice president of Exhibitions and Curatorial Affairs at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum.

“It will give our visitors an entertaining perspective on how rock and roll has evolved throughout the decades. This exhibit, in some ways, is an executive summary of the entire museum.”

Arranged by decade, the exhibit will feature many artifacts that have never been previously displayed at the museum.

Featured items. Items on display include Elvis’ jumpsuit and guitar, stage costumes from Elton John, Alice Cooper’s guillotine, Robert Palmer’s suit from his Addicted to Love tour and a drum kit from Green Day, among others.

A special section highlighting 50 years of teen idols is also included in the exhibit. Music fans can take a look at teen heartthrobs throughout the years.

Costumes and merchandise will be on display from teen idols ranging from David Cassidy to ‘N Sync, Ricky Nelson to New Kids on the Block, Jackson 5 to New Edition and Annette Funicello to Britney Spears.

Major change. “This exhibit is the first major change in how the museum displays its collection in over two years,” added Henke. “We thought that rock’s 50th birthday was an appropriate time to update the museum’s galleries with some of the noteworthy artifacts from our collection.”

The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum will celebrate Fifty Years of Rock and Roll throughout 2002.

The museum will honor rock’s birthday with special exhibits and concert appearances from legendary rockers to today’s hottest bands.

There will also be education programs detailing the history and story of rock and roll. For information call toll-free 888-764-7625.