In yet another fuck-you to Clevelanders, the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame has scheduled a 25th anniversary concert for itself … in New York.
The two-night concert — scheduled for October 29 and 30 at Madison Square Garden — stars heavyweights (and inductees) like Bruce Springsteen, Stevie Wonder, Simon & Garfunkel, U2, Aretha Franklin, Eric Clapton and Metallica.
So yeah, even though Cleveland has been home to the actual Rock Hall for the past quarter century and has put up with some shitty exhibits over the years, we’re rewarded for our loyalty by having them throw one of their best bashes out of town.
Then again, since the city has hosted a mere two induction ceremonies in that time, this news about the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Concerts shouldn’t come as that much of a surprise. Still, it stings.
So, OK, Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, we accept your “fuck you” and send a double dose back to you. —Michael Gallucci
This article appears in Jul 22-28, 2009.
The agreement from now on is Cleveland hosts it every three years. We had it in 2008, so we will get it again in 2011. That’s progress forward from the past decade, signaling we have gained some respect.
Also, the owners are out of NYC. And, the money money raised goes right back to the Rock and Roll HOF Foundation–so essentially back here. More money can be made in NYC anyways, that’s another way to look at it.
BUT as a huge Cleveland advocate, I’d still like it here every year.
^^I take back my comment.
This has nothing to do with the inductions. My apologies.
The moron who “wrote” this screed misses a number of BIG points. First, the Museum opened in 1995. It’s 14 years old, not 25. Second, I’ve never seen a “shitty” exhibit there. Neither has anybody I’ve ever met. Third, this is the Foundation’s event, not the Museum’s. Not a small difference. The Rockhall is here every day and you bitch about a two day event that is designed to make it stronger. Boo-fucking-hoo. Get over yourself and your ridiculous provincialism.
@inurmind: 1. The concerts are billed as a Rock and Roll Hall of Fame 25th anniversary concert. Re-read the post and follow the click-through, and you’ll see the facts are correct. 2. You and everyone you meet must be easily pleased, because there have been plenty of crap exhibits at the Rock Hall over the years. Did you really enjoy the Mary Wilson Supreme Legacy Collection? Or Mike McCartney’s Liverpool Life? Good for you. 3. Foundation, museum — whatever. They’re the same company; don’t make them out to be different just to bolster your weak argument. –Problem is, every time something really cool happens with the Rock Hall, it happens in New York, not in Cleveland. These concerts aren’t designed to “make it stronger.” They’re backslapping events held by a bunch of elite power people who think of Cleveland as some backwoods burg. These concerts belong in Cleveland, not in New York. It’s not “ridiculous provincialism,” it’s hometown pride, jackass.
Thanks for your thoughts Scenereader. Like Gallucci, you still get it wrong. 1. The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame is the Foundation. Period. It’s their anniversary, despite the inexplicable way they arrived at the number 25. 2. The Supremes exhibit you so casually deride is currently touring England billed as cooperative project of the Rockhall and the Victoria and Albert Museum. The V&A happens to be one of the world’s leading museums. You’re entitled to your opinion. You expect to like everything they do? 3. If you don’t think the foundation and the museum are separate, I invite you to look at their tax returns. The 990 forms are posted on the internet. Do a little research.
There are numberous events at the Rockhall every year. I’ll bet you have no idea what type of programming goes on there on a weekly basis. Hometown pride? Is this about about bragging rights? You’d spend several hundred dollars on a ticket if it was here? Seriously, man, if you truly believed in the Rockhall as a source local pride, you’d actually support it by becoming a member and attending the events is hosts here. In Cleveland.
Thanks for your thoughts Scenereader. Like Gallucci, you also get it wrong. 1. The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame is the Foundation. Period. It’s their anniversary, despite the inexplicable way they arrived at the number 25. 2. The Supremes exhibit you deride is currently touring England billed as cooperative project of the Rockhall and the Victoria and Albert Museum. The V&A is one of the world’s leading museums. You’re entitled to your opinion. You expect to like everything they do? Does the Rockhall exist to please your taste only? 3. If you don’t think the foundation and the museum are separate, I invite you to look at their tax returns. The 990 forms are posted on the internet. Do a little research.
There are numerous events at the Rockhall every year. I’ll bet you have no idea what type of programming goes on there on a weekly basis. Hometown pride? Is this about about bragging rights? You’d spend several hundred dollars on a ticket if it was here? Seriously, man, if you truly believed in the Rockhall as a source local pride, you’d actually support it by becoming a member and attending the events is hosts here. In Cleveland.
Alas, it’s much easier to piss and moan to the world from the safety of your computer than to actually get involved