Cleveland’s Rock & Roll Museum is for real hipsters

Travel blog by Travels of Adam (Hipster Blog)  – Travels of Adam (Hipster Blog) - Travel & Lifestyle Hipster Blog

Cleveland. If, like me, you grew up in the 90s, you’re probably familiar with the phrase “Cleveland rocks!”—an old rock song that was used in the intro for The Drew Carey Show . I suppose I always knew Cleveland had some sort of history with rock & roll and music, but until I lost myself inside Cleveland’s Rock & Roll Museum , I didn’t realize how extensive of an history it is.






The Rock and Roll Museum is located, fittingly at the end of Rock & Roll Boulevard. Because the museum famously inducts musicians (and other notable industry rockers), I think there’s this assumption that the museum caters to an older crowd. Especially because it’s an historical museum.



But that theory didn’t hold up on my visit. This museum isn’t just for hard-core Deadheads. If you’ve ever believed in the power of song, the political movements from the past 65 years or had a fleeting interest in the radio, then the Rock and Roll Museum will prove to be not only enlightening and interesting, but fun and informative. This museum is for real hipsters.






Visiting the museum



I found Cleveland’s Rock & Roll Museum to be an excellent place to spend a few hours. The visit starts downstairs where you can a brief history of rock and roll— where the term comes from , initial reactions to the music and how it has evolved over the years. Early in the exhibit was an area all about the backlash against the rock and roll movement.



Three video monitors showed footage from protests against the music genre. Attack words like “rebellion,” “communist ideology,” “degrading,” and “just blatant, raw sex.” Reverend Jimmy Snow famously derided rock & roll for its “beat.”







Learning about the many controversies surrounding rock music, it’s hard not to feel a bit of pride for those that changed music as we know it. Music is a powerful thing and the Cleveland Rock & Roll museum celebrates it in all its glory.



The museum is full of quirky artifacts and relics from the history of rock and roll—everything from costumes and cars to guitars and concert wristbands. You’ll see whole exhibits on the punk/new wave scene in NYC , Jimi Hendrix’s 1967 TWA luggage (for which he was a brand ambassador), Atlantic Records and the indie scene made popular by bands like New Order and Joy Division. Oh, and, Elvis was there too .



Alan Freed & the definition of rock and roll




Freed—the Moondog, a crazed hipster who talked over the music, howled, pounded on phone books and banged on a cowbell.




Alan Freed, a Cleveland, Ohio disc jockey, was one of the first inductees to the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. He’s also the man who is most credited with coining the term “rock and roll” to describe the black rhythm and blues records he began playing in 1951.



The music proved popular regardless of race and it was the Moondog Coronation Ball on March 21, 1952. The oversold music gig is generally regarded as the world’s first rock concert but a riot prevented the show from even happening at all. Freed eventually relocated to New York City where he promoted rock music as the genre grew and grew.






And because Cleveland just keeps on keeping cool, even the Ritz-Carlton has embraced the city’s rock and roll history. The sixth level of the downtown Cleveland Ritz offers martinis and other cocktails designed in the rock and roll theme .



Everything from an AC/DC Martini to one called “Bad Romance.” And the appetizers were mighty fine, too! Cleveland—undoubtedly the city that rocks.






My visit to the Rock and Roll Museum & Hall of Fame was sponsored in part by Cleveland Tourism , as well as the state of Ohio . On my trip, I also visited the Cleveland Art Museum which was a real highlight.
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