The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in Cleveland, where the 2016 Republican National Convention will take place July 18 through 21, is offering a new, timely exhibition, “Louder Than Words: Rock, Power and Politics.”
Photo by George Rose/Getty Images
On display until November 27--and then running at the Newseum in Washington, D.C., from Jan. 13, 2017 (in time for the inauguration of the next president) through July 31, 2017--the exhibition covers eight topics: civil rights; LGBT issues; feminism; war and peace; censorship; political campaigns; political causes; and international politics.
It is organized by presidential administrations—from Eisenhower through Obama—and employs historical context to illuminate how the issues it explores are viewed today. It also has a continuously updated digital screen that connects music’s impact to current issues, such as cancellation of appearances by performers protesting North Carolina’s Public Facilities Privacy and Security Act.
Also featured are exclusive video interviews with Bono, David Byrne, Dee Snider, Tom Morello, Lars Ulrich, Gloria Estefan, Gregg Allman, Jimmy Carter and others.
In addition, it includes Jimi Hendrix’s “Star Spangled Banner” Fender Stratocaster from Woodstock; John Lennon’s acoustic guitar from the 1969 Montreal and Amsterdam “Bed-ins for Peace”; handwritten lyrics for songs by Bob Dylan, Chuck Berry, Neil Young and Bruce Springsteen; original Village People stage costumes; and artifacts related to the May 4, 1970 shooting at Kent State, the 1989 fall of the Berlin Wall, and the Black Lives Matter movement.
Other artists and political figures featured in the exhibition include Beyonce, Eric Clapton, Bill Clinton, Sam Cooke, Melissa Etheridge, Aretha Franklin, Lady Gaga, Cyndi Lauper, Queen Latifah, Madonna, Bob Marley, N.W.A., Public Enemy, Prince, Elvis Presley, Little Richard, Keith Richards, Pete Seeger, Nina Simone, Rod Stewart, Sid Vicious and Stevie Wonder.
Describing the exhibition and its collaboration with the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, the Newseum said, “From the moment rock and roll hit the airwaves, it has played a crucial role in politics and social movements around the world. Two iconic museums – the Newseum and the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame– are partnering on a one-of-a-kind exhibit that explores the power of rock to change attitudes about patriotism, peace, equality and freedom.”
