Curatorial Column

On the Charts

James Henke

Back in 1994, when I became the Hall of Fame’s chief curator, I was determined that, among other things, the Museum not become a mausoleum for rock and roll. Indeed, there were many people who felt that was inevitable; those folks believed that a museum was antithetical to rock and roll’s spirit, and any attempt to deal with the music in a museum setting was tantamount to a death sentence.

Lennon: His Life and Work (Part 1)

James Henke

It is with great pride that the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum presents LENNON: HIS LIFE AND WORK. This exhibit focuses on one of the true legends of rock and roll: John Lennon. It is the first major exhibit in America to celebrate John Lennon, and it is the largest exhibit the Hall of Fame has ever devoted to one artist.

In the Name of Love: Two Decades of U2 (Part 1)

James Henke

In the Name of Love: Two Decades of U2, a past exhibit at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum, had its genesis about 23 years ago. Back then, in 1980, I was the Los Angeles bureau chief for Rolling Stone magazine. I was also an avid buyer of import singles. Every week, I’d trek off to the record stores in search of new singles, primarily from the U.K.

Collecting the Artifacts

James Henke

Other than, Why is the Hall of Fame in Cleveland, the questions I am most frequently asked by visitors are: Where do you get all the stuff? How do you get it? And, Doesn’t the Hard Rock Café already have everything?

Discover how and where the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum find and rescues the wonderful treasures of rock and roll.