Jimmie Vaughan's '63 Buick,...
Jimmie Vaughan's '63 Buick, Deceiver, is one of the bests customs around and was one of R&C's "Favorite 50 Rods & Customs" in 2003.
If the hot rod is the electric guitar of cars, then the electric guitar must be the hot rod of musical instruments. Fifty years ago, hot rods and rock 'n' roll were derided as juvenile delinquent fads. This summer the Henry Ford Museum is celebrating both.
Rock Stars' Cars & Guitars 2 is an all-new exhibit, on display May 16 to September 7, 2009, at the Henry Ford Museum in Dearborn, Michigan. The exhibit features more than 20 cars, more than 50 guitars, and a wide array of rock memorabilia from the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum, as well as from the Experience Music Project, and the stars' personal collections. If this sounds familiar, it's because the Henry Ford Museum hosted a similar exhibition a couple of years ago.
Remember the Eliminator? This...
Remember the Eliminator? This car was all over the magazines as well as MTV and helped to spike the popularity of hot rods.
"Our visitors couldn't get enough of the first Rock Stars' Cars & Guitars exhibit in 2007," said Patricia Mooradian, president of The Henry Ford. "This year's exhibit is more amazing than the first, with rock memorabilia from the biggest names in the business-Pink Floyd, The Who, Social Distortion, Alice Cooper; it is a really fantastic lineup."
Some of the cars included in the exhibit are the '36 Ford custom owned by Kirk Hammett of Metallica, a'56 Lincoln Continental owned by Pete Townshend of The Who, the '32 roadster driven by Ricky Nelson on The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet, Jimmie Vaughan's '63 Buick Riv custom, Billy Gibbons' Eliminator '33 coupe, and Mike Ness' '40 Ford custom.
But wait, there's more. The Henry Ford Museum has planned several special events to celebrate Rock Stars' Cars & Guitars 2, starting with a kick-off exhibit preview party on May 14 and a full day of rock concerts by local bands on May 16.
Skycraper, the '53 Buick Skylark,...
Skycraper, the '53 Buick Skylark, owned by James Hetfield of Metallica, won the Most Elegant Custom prize in San Francisco in 2007.
Special after-hours 18-and-over programs at the Henry Ford Museum are scheduled on the third Thursday of the month throughout the summer.
June 18-Humorist and author Charles Phoenix presents his Retro Vacation Slide Show Tour of the USA, with kitschy and classic vintage slides and more from the Fifties and Sixties.
July 16-Wanda Jackson, the "Queen of Rockabilly" will discuss her legendary career as one of America's first major female rock 'n' roll and country singers.
August 20-Local artist Mark Arminski, creator of numerous CD covers and concert posters, will share his expansive collection of vintage rock posters.
The Henry Ford Museum is open seven days a week, 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Admission is $15 for adults, $14 for seniors, and $11 for youth; members and children under five are free. For more information please call 313-982-6001 or visit www.TheHenryFord.org.
When Ricky Nelson drove this...
When Ricky Nelson drove this '32 lowboy on Ozzie and Harriet, it raised public approval of hot rods-or public disapproval of Ricky.
This knockout '36 Ford custom,...
This knockout '36 Ford custom, owned by Kirk Hammett, typifies the elegance and style we've always associated with Metallica.
Kiss fans recognize Paul Stanley's...
Kiss fans recognize Paul Stanley's Star guitar, one of the instruments on display at the Henry Ford this summer. Others are Gene Simmon's axe bass, Sammy Hagar's "Red Rocker" Yamaha, and the 5-neck Korina played by Rick Nielsen of Cheap Trick.