In downtown Cleveland, US, along the shores of Lake Erie, is a large black pyramid-shaped structure. Much like Egyptian tombs, in it lies priceless treasure and individuals who have ascended to the zenith… of rock music.
Click start to play the Weekend Crossword, which features musicians recognised by that black pyramid – the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame (RRHOF) or the Rock Hall.
The Rock Hall is a museum dedicated to the best musicians and songs from the genre. Jam-packed with memorabilia and history, a visitor to the museum can learn everything there is to know about rock and roll and the people who took it to new heights.
Among the items presented at the museum is a 1979 rejection letter by the former director of a record company. The recipient of the letter was an obscure band from Ireland, by the name of U2. Too bad for the record company! With lead vocalist Bono, by the 1980s, the band had established itself as one of the world's most popular and most innovative bands in rock music. They also won 22 Grammy Awards – more than any other band ever.
In 1986, the museum inducted its first artist into its Hall of Fame, the “king of rock and roll” himself, Elvis Presley. The museum’s first exhibit in 1998 was a year-long tribute to the musician, and it was cheekily called “Elvis is in the Building”.
But the crowning glory of the museum is a permanent exhibit carefully curated by the museum staff, rock critics and music experts. Called “Songs that Shaped Rock and Roll”, the exhibit contains songs recorded from the 1920s to the 1990s and currently has 660 songs that in some way contributed to the development and preservation of the rock and roll genre. According to the RRHOF website, artists become eligible for induction 25 years after the release of their first record.
It probably does not come as a surprise to you that iconic British rock bands The Beatles and The Rolling Stones are the most represented on the song list, with eight songs each. They are followed by Presley with seven.
Which is your favourite rock song and musician? Play the Weekend Crossword and let us know at games@gulfnews.com
