Post by OldFred on May 29, 2009 19:48:29 GMT -5
Just got back from the John Lennon NYC Exhibit at the Rock Annex here in New York. As you enter the museum you're led into a small dark room with silver plaques listing all the signatures of the artists who are currently inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. As the music of a particular artist is played, the specific signatures start to light up, then fade as another artist's music is played. This culminates into a collage of music that climaxes with the final chord of 'A Day In The Life'. Then you are led into a small theater where you view a short film that basically gives the history of Rock with many different artists represented. The sound system is incredible and the selections of clip astounding. The Beatles are represented in a clip from the Shea Stadium concert, enhanced with crowd noise which gives the illusion of being in the center of the concert. Many favorites are represented so you'll definitely see a favorite artist in the film.
When the film is done, you are led into the Museum proper. It's a self-guided walking tour and you're given a small, iPod-like hearing device, and when you stand in front of a particular video screen or exhibit you'll hear the music of the artist represented. Among the many artifacts are Buddy Holly's stage suit, his guitar and an autographed single, one of Elvis' jumpsuits and his personal Bible with his own hand-written notes in the margins, actual memorabilia from CBGB's including it's iconic awing, the Bottom Line Club sign, an actual master reel from Bob Dylan, a personal promo copy of the 'Freewheeling Bob Dylan' album with his own written edits of what songs were to be cut and added, one of Bruce Springsteen's cars, and the guitar Billy Joel smashed on stage at last years' final Shea Stadium concert when Roger Daltrey came on. Among the Beatles items exhibited are the jacket Paul wore on the set of 'Help!' and Ringo's 'Beatles' drumhead also featured in 'Help!'. I'm listing just a small sample of what you'll see exhibited at the Museum, and believe me, it's a lot of stuff!
Now, onto the John Lennon exhibit. Before you enter you see one of John's piano's and a sample of one of John&Yoko's 'Hair Peace' art pieces and the glasses he wore in 'How I Won The War' (The lenses are thick folks, so it proves his eyesite was pretty bad!). Before entering the actual exhibit there's a mural listing many of John's songs and the year they were issued. When you enter the exhibit you walk on a sticky surface that cleans the bottom of your shoes because you then step onto a white carpet. In the exhibit itself you'll see John's actual clothes and outfits, including the iconic one of him in the New York City shirt.
Among other outfits is the suit he wore at the Grammy Awards, the Army jacket worn at the One To One Concerts. Samples of his actual handwritten lyrics are spread throughout the exhibt. Large screens show films samples of the art films John&Yoko made, John as a peace activist, the 'Imagine' video, John performing at the One to One concerts in Madison Square Garden, etc. One exhibit I really appreciated seeing since I work there were the actual guitars John played at the 1971 One to One concerts and his final concert with Elton John on Thanksgiving 1974 at Madison Square Garden. There are nice pictures from the concerts showing John playing those guitars. There's a white telephone which represents Yoko's Phone Peace, and if it rings, you answer it. It didn't ring while I was there, but I stuck close by it in case it did.
The most controversial parts of the exhibit is a large size photo of John's bloodied glasses featured on the cover of Yoko's 'Season of Glass' album and the actual brown paper bag that hold the clothes John wore the night he was killed. It's very moving to look at this bag and what it represents. The bag is wrapped in plastic and is behind a plexi-glass window on the wall to prevent folks from touching it. It's definitely a thought provoking item.
When you leave the exhibit you're led in the Rock Annex's gift shop with lots of T-Shirts, posters, books and memorabilia. There's a very nice book of John in New York City which, while pricey, looks like it's worth checking out.
I only mentioned a small sample of the Lennon exhibit, there is just so much to take in to really do it proper justice. I definitely recommend folks to visit it. I think you'll come away feeling closer to John than you've ever have before.