Hard Rock Cafe - Cleveland, OH
One thing quickly becomes clear about Cleveland; the city has strong ties to the history and development of rock and roll. From the trendy and popular Hard Rock Café, to the well known Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, there are many different ways to explore the development of rock and roll while enjoying a relaxing vacation in Cleveland.
The history of rock and roll in Cleveland dates back to the 1950s, at which time the term was first coined in Cleveland by a local radio personality, Alan Freed. Freed was actually one of the first radio DJs to openly approve of the new music genre as it swept the nation. Since that time, a number of rock and roll musicians have emerged from Cleveland, including Trent Reznor of Nine Inch Nails fame, the Eagles' Joe Walsh, the Pretenders' Chrissie Hynde, Tracy Chapman and many more. In addition, Cleveland served as the backdrop for a number of important dates in the history of rock and roll, such as the first performance by Chuck Berry and the first northern concert by Elvis. David Bowie made his first T.V. appearance right in Cleveland, as well.
A trip to Cleveland would not be complete without a stop by the iconic Hard Rock Café. The café features original rock and roll memorabilia and is conveniently located to many of the most popular attractions in Cleveland within the Tower City Complex. Among the memorabilia you will find at the Hard Rock Café are costumes from Devo and guitars owned by Pearl Jam and Led Zeppelin. The menu boasts plenty of variety to keep everyone happy while a full concert schedule offers rock and roll concerts throughout the year.
The Cleveland Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, situated on the banks of Lake Erie, is one of the most impressive sights in the entire city. Pyramids rise up to the meet the sky, while inside visitors will find an extensive array of memorabilia and tributes to some of the biggest names in rock and roll. Just a few of the treasures contained inside the museum are the hand-written lyrics to "Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds" by John Lennon and a Boy Scout uniform that belonged to Jim Morrison. The museum originally opened in 1995 after fifteen years of extensive planning. Since that time it has collected numerous displays and exhibits to fill the 150,000 square feet of space. Today the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame is the top tourist attraction in Cleveland. While some exhibits at the museum do rotate, other exhibits are housed permanently at the museum, including concert handbills, instruments, lyrics, stage props and musical scores. Many exhibits also display mementos from the childhoods of well known musicians. The museum is open daily with the exception of Christmas and Thanksgiving. Visitors may also enjoy the on-site café and music store. If you plan your trip during the summer, you will likely be able to enjoy one of the many concerts are that are frequently held in the plaza in front of the museum.
