Warped founder Kevin Lyman was on hand along with Rock Hall CEO Greg Harris.
The exhibit includes a range of items, including an autographed tabletop from 2006 tour, a time capsule created in 2007 and guitars from members of Fall Out Boy, New Found Glory, Pierce the Veil, Reel Big Fish and many other acts who’ve played the festival over the course of its lengthy run.
Greg Harris noted that the Rock Hall, like Warped Tour, has attracted 12 million fans over the last twentysomething years.
“It’s a very special moment here,” he said. “There’s so many things that divide us, but music connects us in a big way. The Warped Tour has connected so many people all over this country every summer. We are honored to be presenting this exhibit.”
Lyman said the Warped Tour was always about “community.”
“I always listened to fans and artists,” he said. “We were a community that was never recognized. Our bands weren’t played on the radio. We went to cities where other tours didn’t go. We went to Boise and Bozeman, Montana. Eventually, we were embraced. It wasn’t easy but we learned from our mistakes.”
Lyman, Harris and members of Simple Plan and Meg and Dia then cut the ribbon and opened the exhibit.
Tonight, the Rock Hall hosts a sold-out show featuring Simple Plan, Hawthorne Heights, We the Kings, Meg & Dia, Emery and Chali 2na with Cut Chemist. The Rock Hall will live stream the concert. It begins at 4 p.m.
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This article appears in Jun 5-11, 2019.
