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Behind the Scenes: Rage Against the Machine's Tour Van
In early 2013, the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum in Cleveland, Ohio, unveiled a new collection of Rage Against the Machine artifacts, including this Chevrolet Astro van owned by Tom Morello and used by the band in its earliest days. In this behind-the-scenes video, Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum's director of collections management Jun Francisco shares the making of the exhibit, from its arrival at the Rock Hall's secret storage facility to collecting Rage Against the Machine instruments to moving the van into the Museum in Cleveland to readying everything for exhibition. Tom Morello shares the backstory of the van.
Behind the Scenes: Rage Against the Machine's Tour Van
Recently, Tom Morello of Rage Against the Machine, who are celebrating the 20th anniversary of their debut self-titled album's release, donated the 1985 Chevy Astro van that he and his bandmates used as a tour vehicle in the earliest days of their career. Set to go on exhibit at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum in Cleveland, Ohio, in early 2013, the Rock Hall's curatorial team got a first look at the van and its contents in preparation of it being exhibited.
In a letter to the Rock Hall's curatorial department, Tom Morello wrote:
"Rage toured with this vehicle from 1991-1993, opening for Pearl Jam, Public Enemy and Ice T, and countless shows of our own. From desperate escapes from Tijuana to fomenting riots in Bakersfield, the Astro was always there. The Astro was also my ride at Harvard taking my various cover bands around the campus and the Boston area. And of course it ...
Concert Radar: Felix Cavaliere
This weekend, don't miss the opportunity to catch an evening of music with 1997 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Inductee Felix Cavaliere, who long fronted the Rascals. Cavaliere is a great friend of the Museum, and has supported us with his presence and performances on numerous occasions. Cavaliere and his band will play two shows (7 pm and 9 pm) on Saturday, December 3 at the Tangier in Akron.
The Rascals were paragons of "blue-eyed soul," achieving commercial success beyond that of their peers – among them, the Righteous Brothers, Steve Winwood, Van Morrison and Joe Cocker. The group's indelible originals and energized covers were lead by Cavaliere's Hammond B-3 organ and expressive lead vocals.
These days, Cavaliere typically performs songs from a playlist of 19 chart-topping hits from his years as leader of the Rascals. Expect to hear the Rascals' famous uptempo cover of the Olympics' "Good Lovin'" (Number One in 1966), the soul-pop reverie of "Groovin'" (Number One in 1967); and the Rascals' biggest hit, "People Got to Be Free," a powerful response to the assassinations of Sen. Robert F. Kennedy and Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr. that topped the Billboard charts for five weeks ...
Today In Rock: Tom Petty Is Born
For more than 30 years, Florida native Tom Petty has been the charismatic frontman and voice of among the most durable, resourceful, hard-working, likable, unpretentious and capable rock bands of all time. Together with the Heartbreakers – which has include bassist Ron Blair, guitarist Mike Campbell, bassist Howie Epstein, drummer Stan Lynch and keyboardist Benmont Tench – he mastered rock and roll's fundamentals and digested its history, leading a band of the people, writing of everyday struggles and frustrations – and offering redemption through tough-minded, big-hearted, tuneful songs. The 2002 Hall of Fame inductee turns 61 today.
Although they were not punk-rockers per se, Petty and the Heartbreakers did their part to revitalize rock in the mid-to-late Seventies with their first three albums: Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers (“Breakdown,” “American Girl”), You’re Gonna Get It! (“I Need to Know,” “Listen to Her Heart”) and Damn the Torpedoes – the latter one of the essential rock albums of the decade.
Strong from start to finish, Torpedoes contained the classic tracks “Refugee,” “Even the Losers,” “Don’t Do Me Like That” and “Here Comes My Girl.” It also revealed Petty’s depth of conviction and fighting nature. When his record company changed hands, Petty ...
Van Halen's Seat of Power
Van Halen burst on the rock scene in 1978 like a larger-than-life, hard rocking, non-stop party, and channeled that energy into a seminal debut. Ostensibly, the band had two frontmen: leonine lead vocalist David Lee Roth and volcanic guitarist Edward Van Halen. Both possessed the charisma and talent to be the focal point of a solid rock band, but together, they created an undeniable dynamic that quickly captivated legions of loyal fans. Anchoring the unit was the powerhouse rhythm section of bassist Michael Anthony and drummer Alex Van Halen, Eddie's brother. By the time Van Halen arrived in the studio to record their debut, they had honed their skills honestly, playing nightclubs, parties and high school gymnasiums across Southern California. It was during those formative years of touring that the band learned the value of showmanship – and how to win audiences all over the world with it.
As Van Halen grew in popularity, the production quality of their stage show followed suit as an increasingly flamboyant rock and roll spectacle. Alex Van Halen used the drum kit not only as a percussion instrument, but also as a visual art form. Working with various drum manufacturers, Alex custom designed enormous ...
Five Minutes with Fame: Travie McCoy
The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum is pleased to partner with Microsoft Zune for Five Minutes with Fame, an exclusive video series on the Zune Marketplace featuring singers, songwriters and bands at the forefront of today's music. After a behind-the-scenes tour of the Museum, we sit down with artists to talk about their music, their road to success, inspirations, being on tour and of course, some of their favorite artists and artifacts highlighted in the Museum. This week's featured artist is Travie McCoy.
Born Travis Lazarus McCoy in Geneva, NY, Travie McCoy first made a name for himself as the lead vocalist of the alternative rap group Gym Class Heroes. Outside of the band, McCoy is a rapper in his own right, having won the MTV Direct Effect MC Battle as well as having guest spots on tracks by Kelly Rowland and Tyga. After releasing four albums with Gym Class Heroes, McCoy began work on a solo record. In 2010, he released his first album without his band, Lazarus, on Fueled by Ramen. Blending elements of hip-hop, indie rock and soul that reflect his own eclectic musical tastes, McCoy enlisted the services of an equally ...
Five Minutes with Fame: Dierks Bentley
The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum is pleased to partner with Microsoft Zune for Five Minutes with Fame, an exclusive video series on the Zune Marketplace featuring singers, songwriters and bands at the forefront of today's music. After a behind-the-scenes tour of the Museum, we sit down with artists to talk about their music, their road to success, inspirations, being on tour and of course, some of their favorite artists and artifacts highlighted in the Museum. This week's featured artist is Dierks Bentley.
At only 35 years of age, Dierks Bentley has released seven albums, won numerous CMT Awards, been nominated for Grammy Awards and already has a Greatest Hits album. But the road was long and not always easy. A love of country music inspired Bentley, a native of Phoenix, to move to Nashville at the age of 19. He was soon discouraged by what he considered his new community’s indifference to music, but his mind changed after a late night hang at the Station Inn bluegrass bar, and he decided to give music another go. Pursuing and playing gigs, Bentley landed a job at the TNN television network doing research on classic ...
Five Minutes with Fame: My Chemical Romance
The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum is pleased to partner with Microsoft Zune for Five Minutes with Fame, an exclusive video series on the Zune Marketplace featuring singers, songwriters and bands at the forefront of today's music. After a behind-the-scenes tour of the Museum, we sit down with artists to talk about their music, their road to success, inspirations, being on tour and of course, some of their favorite artists and artifacts highlighted in the Museum. This week's featured artist is My Chemical Romance.
WATCH:
Here the band talk about Joey Ramone's leather jacket, Jim Morrison's cub scout shirt, Kurt Cobain's guitar, Pink Floyd's the Wall.
Formed in New Jersey following the events of September 11, My Chemical Romance came to be through a collaboration between singer Gerard Way, bassist Mike Way, guitarists Frank Iero and Ray Toro, and drummer Matt Pelissier (later replaced by Bob Bryar).With their lineup in place, the bandmates began touring and making plans for an album.
One year later, My Chemical Romance's debut, I Brought You My Bullets, You Brought ...
