If Rock Rolls and Rebels, it Doesn't Do it at the Waldorf Astoria

Rock and roll is about rebellion, anarchy, playing really loud music...and apparently, about putting on a tuxedo and sitting politely in one of New York’s priciest and most famous hotels.
The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction ceremony took place last night in Manhattan’s Waldorf Astoria Hotel, in front of a moneyed crowd, and was carried live on TV's Fuse. The inductees included performers such as Genesis (four of the original members showed up, but Peter Gabriel was nowhere in sight), ABBA (Mama Mia, anyone?), popsters The Hollies, reggae great Jimmy Cliff, and punk rockers the Stooges, along with their fearless leader Iggy Pop. (Would you ever see these people on the same stage at any other time??) Some of the winners performed--members of ABBA (along, for some reason, with country singer Faith Hill), and Jimmy Cliff among them--he sang a rousing version of “Many Rivers to Cross.”
Non-performers from the music business were inducted as well: They included mogul David Geffen (can he be described any other way?), as well as songwriters such as Otis Blackwell, Jesse Stone and writing team Ellie Greenwich and Jeff Barry. Rob Thomas, Chris Isaak, and Ronnie Spector were among those who performed in the tribute to the songwriters, ad Carole King, one of the all-time greats, saluted them as well.
And why the art-deco, world-famous Waldorf Astoria Hotel as a venue, instead of some grungy, grass roots, underground hole?
Well, given that rock stars are pretty much treated as royalty, why not?

Cleveland Rocks More Than New York? Say It Ain't So

New York, you didn’t rock--so the Hall of Fame is rolling on out.
Just a year after opening up in New York City, the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Annex, located in SoHo, is gone. The doors closed on Sunday for the last time.
While the original Rock & Roll Hall of Fame is still going strong in Cleveland, the satellite just couldn't make a go of it in the Big Apple. The stagnant economy and fewer tourists over the past year are most likely to blame. (Surely it couldn’t be New Yorkers’ inherent lack of rock-fabulousness? Let’s hope not.) More likely were the pricey tickets ($26.50, $4.50 more than the price of admission in Cleveland.) In a time when attractions are competing for tourist dollars, the not-that-well-known museum in a somewhat-out-of-the-way location (Mercer Street, not necessarily a mecca for tourists) clearly suffered.
The museum had a wide array of memorabilia, ranging from the king’s jumpsuit (that would be Elvis, folks) to a tribute to John Lennon’s years in New York and Bruce Springsteen’s Chevy. It opened to huge press in 2008, and was hailed by Mayor Bloomberg as another must-see stop for tourists.
The Cleveland museum employs more than 900 people and adds $100 million to Cleveland’s economy every year.
Those of you who missed the wooden phone box from the music club CBGB at the New York branch need not despair—opportunities to take the objects on tour are currently being reviewed.

Tribute to John Lennon's New York City Years Features Rare Artifacts, Bloody Clothing From Death

A new exhibit created by Yoko Ono on John Lennon’s life in New York City is currently on display at the Rock & Rock Hall of Fame Annex in Soho. The exhibit is named “John Lennon: The New York City Years” and features rare and never-before-seen artifacts, films and photos capturing a time when Lennon was politically and socially active and he put out some of his best work.
New York City was Lennon’s adopted home from when he left England and moved stateside in 1971 until his death in 1980. Some highlights on display include the original handwritten lyrics of 10 songs like “Luck of the Irish,” “Nobody Told Me,” and “Whatever Gets You Thru the Night,” as well as the New York City T-shirt Lennon wears with the skyline behind him in a famous photograph by photographer Bob Gruen. Another item is Lennon’s green card that expired in 1972, leading the Nixon administration to seek his deportation, but he remained in the U.S. thanks to the support of many like John Lindsay, who was the mayor of New York City Mayor from 1966 to 1973. Most controversially featured are the bloody clothes Lennon wore on the evening he was murdered.
A portion of the ticket cost is donated to Spirit Foundations, a charitable foundation created by John Lennon and Yoko Ono. Extended exhibit hours are Sunday through Thursday from 11:00am to 10:00pm, and Friday and Saturday from 11:00am to midnight with last admission one hour prior to closing. For tickets call 866-9-ROCKNY or 866-976-2569, go to www.rockannex.com, or visit the box office located at 76 Mercer Street.