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| - I visited the museum as one of the last things I ever did as a Cleveland resident...I had previously vowed to not ever come here, as something about the very nature of the place just turned me off (not to mention the fact that the induction ceremonies are held elsewhere, and that who they actually induct can be a bit...odd). But, I figured I could not live here for a year and NOT go, and besides, still having my OH driver's license would save me about $4.
From the outside the building is just plain cool looking. Right on the lake, so its just a great sight to take in. The main lobby is a bit odd, as the place to get the tickets is inside and way to the left, and you could very easily walk right past it and head downstairs (hint: If all you want to see are Jerry Garcia's guitars, just go straight down...there they are. Then go back up and out. You only need to show your ticket if you go beyond that point).
So yea...you buy your ticket, and go downstairs...that is where 80% of everything you need to see is located. As a lifelong fan of all music, but rock music in particular, there honestly was some cool stuff in here. Guitars, stage outfits, handwritten lyrics (Steven Tyler can't spell BTW), and so on. The rooms are way too dark and there is no real flow that I could figure out (Hey! Punk Music! And...Motown! Janis Joplin's car!). For all the cool stuff they have to LOOK at, there is nothing to actually interact with other than a few listening stations with headphones. You'd think that with all the displays of vintage recording equipment (cool stuff), they might bother to put together some sort of "DIY" mixing station that would show you how that stuff worked, and how it evolved. You'd think that. Heck, just give me a dial that spins around and some blinking lights and I'll be occupied for a few minutes. No dice.
There are some revolving mini-films you can watch, and while they have some great footage, they make no sense. The one about the "train" in particular was just silly. The whole film felt like an intro to something that would actually do/say/show something, but then it was just suddenly over. Exit in the rear. Oooookay.
It was not completely sanitized as some people mentioned...the one film explicitly mentioned cocaine use, and in the Doors exhibit there were plenty of drug mentions as well. No, you won't see Ozzy's bong nor Elton John's solid-gold coke spoon, but I wasn't expecting to, either. After you leave the bottom floor, it just sorta peters out from there...the rest of it feels very "thrown together" and one whole floor is pretty much just the cafe (which is absurdly priced). The Beatles/Doors stuff at the very top was neat, but while every other floor was wide open, it gets real cramped up there. Still, I saw Jim Morrison's report cards (good student, helped others) and the original recording reels for several albums (well, the boxes anyway...I'd be shocked if the actual reels were still in there).
I spent about two seconds in the gift shop, as the prices were just nuts ($20 for a button?). And then that was it. But all in all, I'm glad I went...you'd be surprised how small a lot of rock stars really are (half of the outfits would not have fit me at age 12), and I left thinking I really should listen to the Clash more often (oh yea, you can see the guitar that was smashed for the 'London Calling' cover). I came in ready to hate the place with a passion, but I didn't. And sure...you won't see mention of Black Sabbath ANYWHERE, but they have plenty of Madonna and Michael Jackson outfits (barf), so that really sucks. But still, worth going to at least once.
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