Time to Rock

After a wonderful Thursday night in Independence (Michael slept like a champ), we drove into downtown Cleveland for a visit to the Rock 'n' Roll Hall of Fame and Museum. Upon our arrival we learned that the term "rock 'n' roll" was coined in Cleveland, as this sign indicated.
Here's a picture of Em and Michael in front of the Hall of Fame. It is a cool building that overlooks Lake Erie. Michael is wearing his Aerosmith onesie in honor of his Uncle B.

Alas, we were not allowed to take any pictures inside the museum, so we can't post any of its cool memorabilia. The building is not a Hall of Fame like Cooperstown, i.e., there's not a booth devoted to each person/group inducted into the Hall. Instead, upstairs is a wall of autographs by inductees, and this wall encircles a small theater where a film features a brief spot about each inductees.

Downstairs is really a museum and the best part of the building. Along the outer edges was a chronology of major eras in Rock 'n' Roll beginning with early influences and then an exhibit devoted to Elvis, to the British invasion, to the San Francisco scene, to punk rock, to grunge, etc. Inside this outer loop were exhibits devoted to individuals and bands that have had a major influence on Rock 'n' Roll.

Em and I agreed that the best displays were the costumes worn by various artists. Her top three were (1) Michael Jackson's red leather jacket from the Thriller video;

(2) outfit worn by Bruce Springsteen on the "Born in the USA" album cover; and

(3) the entire Beatles exhibit, which featured those grey collarless suits that they wore in their early years and the uniform worn by Lennon on the Sgt. Pepper album cover.

My top three were: (1) Michael Jackson's white glove;

(This jacket was also on display, I think.)

(2) John Lennon's hand-written lyrics for "In My Life" with various lyrics crossed out and others added; and (3) the ZZ Top "Eliminator" from the album of that name and which they drove in the "Legs" video among others:
After two hours in the museum (we easily could have spent three or four), we drove the five and a half hours to Chicago where we spent the weekend with our friends Ben and Claire and their two kids, Charlotte and Carter. I'll save weekend report for another posting, but here is a preview of Michael in the middle of his morning prayer last Saturday: