Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Photo by Palonsotcco. Wikimedia Commons.

Originally published by Diana C on April 2022. Edited by Charity K on May 2023.

Top 13 Amazing Facts about the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame


 

The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in Cleveland is a museum that celebrates rock music and artists. It features a documented history and significance of rock music.  It is located in downtown Cleveland, Ohio in the United States. The facility is built along the shores of Lake Erie.

The museum depicts the history of rock music, its artists, producers, engineers, and other people who have influenced the growth and development of rock music. Millions of people have visited and continue to visit the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Let us look at thirteen amazing facts about the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

Click here to read more about famous exhibitions.

1. It was established by prominent figures in the music industry

The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame was established on 20th April 1983. Those who took part in its establishment include the founder and chairman of Atlantic Records, Ahmet Ertegun, and the publisher of Rolling Stone magazine Jann S. Wenner.

The Hall of Fame and the museum were created by the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Foundation. Later in 1986, the foundation began inducting artists.

2. The Rock Hall building’s footprint is a record player

This was designed by the renowned architect I.M. Pei and structurally engineered by Leslie E. Robertson Associates. From above the building looks like a glass pyramid.

On close inspection, however, the building has the shape of a record player. The round plaza in front of the museum serves as the record. The architect giving tribute stated that he intended to echo the energy of rock and roll.

The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame was recognized with the 1998 Engineering Excellence Award by the New York Association of Consulting Engineers. It also received the Award for Innovative Design and Excellence Architecture Using Structural Steel. This was from the American Institute of Architects and the American Institute of Steel Construction.

3. Many items on display in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame are loaned

Advertisement for Elvis Presley’s album release How Great Thou Art, featured on Cashbox magazine. Photo by RCA Victor. Wikimedia Commons.

The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame began featuring exhibits in 1997. The exhibits are temporary. The first major exhibition took place on 10th May 1997.

It was named I Want to Take You Higher. The exhibits were memorabilia from artists like Janis Joplin, John Lennon, John Sebastian, and Jefferson Plane. Elvis Presley for instance loaned his items to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2013. This included his rings, wallet-size Army induction portrait and a white suit he wore when he performed ‘If I Can Dream’ on a TV special.

4. The Beatles is the only band whose members were inducted as solo artists

Trade ad for Beatles’ 1964 Grammys. — This is a version with just the Beatles isolated from the ad. Photo by EMI. Wikimedia Commons.

While the band was inducted in 1998, John was inducted first in 1994 as a solo artist. Paul was the second in 1999. This was his first public appearance after the death of his wife Linda McCartney.

On the other hand, George was inducted in 2004. This was three years after he had passed on. His sons Dhani, Prince, Steve Winwood, and Jeff Lynne performed ‘While My Guitar Gently Weeps’ together. Lastly, Ringo was inducted in 2015. Interestingly, the band members were not inducted simultaneously.

5. There are strict requirements for induction to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame

The prerequisite for induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame is that one has to have had a major impact on the industry. He/she has to have been active in the music industry music world for at least 25 years.

This is a ticket for one to be nominated. Once a nomination happens, a group of music fraternities votes for them. Over 600 people working in the music industry are given the ballot list for voting.

Click here to read more about famous exhibitions.

6. It has a library and archives

The Rock and Rock Hall of Fame hosts a library and archive with the world’s most comprehensive repository of materials related to the history of rock and roll. It is the mission of the library and archives to collect, preserve and provide access to such materials. It offers a space for serious scholars who can access the archival collection.

Further, people can also read books and magazines, listen to music and watch videos in the library and archives. The library contains dissertations, books, magazines, research databases, scholarly journals, and video and audio recordings. While the archive contains music-business-related records.

This includes records of historic venues, long-running concert tours, stage designing, lighting specialists, managers, and labels.

7. Only one person has been inducted into the Hall of Fame thrice

Living legend Eric Clapton in concert with Steve Winwood at the Königsplatz in München, Germany on June 5th, 2010. Photo by Majvdi. Wikimedia Commons.

Eric Clapton is the only musician who has been inducted into the Rock and Rock Hall of Fame three times. He was first inducted in 1992.

This was during the period when Clapton was a member of the Yardbirds band. A year after, he was inducted as a member of the band Cream. The three members of the band performed together for the first time during the induction. In 2000 Clapton was inducted as a solo artist.

8. The physical Hall of Fame and Museum was opened in 1995

Rock and Roll Hall of Fame museum. Photo by Erik Drost. Wikimedia Commons.

Even though the Rock and Roll Foundation began in 1983, the physical building was opened later on. The opening of the museum was announced on 12th January 1995.

This was done at the Waldorf-Astoria Hotel in New York City where the foundation had been holding its ceremonies annually. On 2nd September 1995, the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum was opened to the public with a blockbuster concert.

9. The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame was rejected by some artists

The Sex Pistols band wrote a letter posted on the band’s website on the day of its induction. The post claimed that the band would not be compared to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

They failed to show up at the ceremony. This was also done by the band Guns N’ Roses.

Read more about more famous exhibitions here.

10. Its 25th anniversary was celebrated with a two-day concert

The anniversary was held on the 29th and 30th of October in Madison Square Garden. The concert series is one of the largest ever seen in New York City. The tickets to the event cost between 75 and 2,000 U.S. dollars.

11. The Different Awards In The Rock Hall

The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame has different award ceremonies for the inducted artists. Some of the awards include the Ahmet Ertegun Award for Lifetime Achievement which is for the people who work behind the scenes in the music industry including record producers, songwriters, music journalists, and record label executives. The award was formerly known as the Non-Performers Award but it was renamed in honor of the co-founder Ahmet Ertegun.

The Award for musical excellence formerly known as the Sidemen Award was introduced in 2000. The award honors veteran session and concert players who are selected by a committee of producers. This category was dormant from 2004 to 2007 and was re-activated in 2008. 

12. The New York City Annex

The branch museum was opened in November 2008. It had archetypal display pieces like Elvis Presley’s motorcycle jacket and Bible, Prince’s coat from Purple Rain, and David Byrne’s big suit from Stop Making Sense.

However, the success of the Annex was short-lived due to the financial crisis of 2007-2008. The museum closed with a final major exhibition on John Lennon and his years in New York City. On January 3, 2010, the museum was completely closed.

13. The Museum’s Exquisite and Memorable Exhibits 

v343790, CC BY 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Over the years, the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame museum has hosted numerous exhibits that are focused on all the famous artists that have been inducted into the hall of fame.

The museum also has photography and artwork exhibits. Some of the featured photographers include Alfred Wertheimer, George Kalinsky, Janet Macoska, Mike McCartney, Tommy Edwards, Linda McCartney, and Robert Alford. 

Read more about more famous exhibitions here.

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