Rock ‘n’ roll can never die: That’s the resounding message of Craig Inciardi’s new memoir. And as the founding curator of the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame museum, he’s dedicated much of his life to making that statement a reality. The Rock & Roll Hall of Fame: The Outrageous, Definitive, Untold History chronicles Inciardi’s over 30-year career liaising with rock stars and acquiring iconic musical memorabilia to preserve the legacy of rock and roll. Here’s everything you need to know before the book hits shelves on September 30!
Trigger Warning: The Rock & Roll Hall of Fame contains brief mentions of murder, substance abuse, suicide, fatal car and plane accidents, terminal illness, and death. Please exercise personal care while reading.
Synopsis
Craig Inciardi was an up-and-comer at Sotheby’s, acquiring rock and roll memorabilia and making connections with famous collectors, when he was offered his dream job. As the founding curator for the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame museum, he’d be traveling the globe to assemble the greatest collection of rock and roll relics ever seen. The catch? This so-called “museum” was, so far, nothing more than a row of empty shelves. It was up to Craig to craft a collection worthy of the fledgling organization’s grand vision. And he was determined not only to meet but to exceed those sky-high expectations.
With the Hall of Fame’s success resting on his shoulders, Craig got to work. His journey brought him to some unbelievable places: Art Garfunkel’s New York apartment, the famed Abbey Road recording studio, Ozzy Osbourne’s sprawling English estate. He also got to venture behind the scenes at the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame’s earliest induction ceremonies, before they were televised, and the top-secret meetings where each year’s Hall of Fame inductees were decided. In his memoir, Craig gives rock and roll fans a backstage pass to all of these astounding anecdotes — and plenty more.
A Mind-Blowing Rock Odyssey
As I stepped out of the car, I saw a figure in the courtyard dressed in all black—
And holding a rifle.
It was John Michael ‘Ozzy’ Osbourne, the Prince of Darkness himself. He turned toward me with the most marvelous shit-eating grin; but as it turns out, the weapon he was holding was just a BB gun. Ozzy was pretending to shoot birds to try to get a rise out of me. ‘Good fucking morning,’ he said warmly, ‘How ah yah?’
— Craig Inciardi, The Rock & Roll Hall of Fame
The Rock & Roll Hall of Fame details author Craig Inciardi’s storied career tracking down epic musical artifacts and the sometimes extraordinary lengths he went to procure them. His acquisitions include the Gibson J-200 acoustic guitar that The Who’s Pete Townshend used to write Pinball Wizard and the glasses John Lennon was wearing on the day of his death, still sealed in a blood-stained evidence bag, among countless others. Inciardi has lived a life most of us can only dream of: He’s interviewed the likes of Ringo Starr, Mick Jagger, and Bono; he’s witnessed historic performances, like Prince’s legendary guitar solo during the 2004 George Harrison tribute; and he’s made personal connections with everyone from Patti Smith to Jim Morrison’s mother, Clara. In the words of Inciardi himself, “You just can’t make this shit up.”
A Peek Behind the Curtain
One of my greatest pleasures, when walking through the museum, isn’t to marvel at everything I collected, or reminisce about the stories involved. Or to remind myself I was guilty of hagiography. What I love the most is giving a museum tour to an inductee. Most often, they aren’t particularly interested in seeing their own exhibit—they usually make a beeline to see the work of another artist; someone who moved them.
— Craig Inciardi, The Rock & Roll Hall of Fame
Inciardi’s memoir takes readers behind the scenes of the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame’s most memorable moments, including the exclusive early induction ceremonies where artists like Chuck Berry, Keith Richards, Billy Joel, and other rock superstars held live, unrehearsed jam sessions. As Inciardi recalls, there was a unique energy to these events. Unlike other award ceremonies, the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame inductions provided an opportunity for musical pioneers to be recognized not only by the public or a panel of judges but also by their peers, who acted as presenters. The heartfelt, off-the-cuff speeches, joyful reunions, and improvised performances that defined these initial events were something truly special to behold, and here, Inciardi lets readers in on the magic.
A Sensational Origin Story
The exhibit demonstrated just how far the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame had come. This was a far cry from my early days of being ghosted by managers as I tried to fill our fledgling collection. What was once a rag-tag team of industry vets trying to honor the artists who had created rock ’n’ roll was now an internationally known institution—one still run by a rag-tag group of music nerds, but now with a more modern, commercial, and streamlined approach.
— Craig Inciardi, The Rock & Roll Hall of Fame
The genre of rock and roll has long been characterized by an anti-establishment ethos. Thus, in building the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, Inciardi and his colleagues had the unprecedented task of reconciling rock’s irreverent roots with the prestige and formality of a conventional awards ceremony. The concept of a dignified recognition of rock seemed anathema to the genre’s core identity, a fact that Hall of Fame inductee Eric Clapton voiced during his acceptance speech. Ultimately, this dichotomy became the organization’s guiding vision; if the Hall of Fame were truly to pay its respects to the art form of rock and roll, it would have to do so on the genre’s terms. Today, the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame is a modern monument to music history. Its lasting power is undoubtedly thanks to the founders and their eternal commitment to keeping rock’s rebellious spirit alive — an imperative Inciardi carries on through this book.
An Earnest Tribute to Rock and Roll History
In 1965, the Lovin’ Spoonful asked the world, in a song, ‘Do You Believe in Magic?’ But John Sebastian, who wrote and sang the tune, wasn’t really asking a question: He was making a declaration. Sebastian was singing about the power of music—what it can do to you, how it can make you feel, how it can change your mind, free your body and, yes, maybe even make the world a better place.
— Craig Inciardi, The Rock & Roll Hall of Fame
The Rock & Roll Hall of Fame sheds light on the lives, careers, and artistry of musicians such as Jimi Hendrix and Elton John, celebrating their contributions to music and culture. It also honors music critics and historians, producers, record label executives, photographers, fashion designers, and anyone who had a hand in shaping and preserving the rock and roll genre. This book, in extension, is an act of safeguarding music history and all the glorious mythology surrounding rock legends and their enigmatic creative processes. In writing this memoir, Inciardi fulfills the Hall of Fame’s objective of immortalizing the beloved genre of rock and roll.
Final Thoughts
The Rock & Roll Hall of Fame by Craig Inciardi archives the inception of rock and roll’s most enduring monument: the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. Populated with musical icons like Aretha Franklin, the Beatles, and the Rolling Stones, Inciardi’s memoir is bursting with outrageous anecdotes, exclusive insights, and unbridled passion. Whether you’re a hardcore rock and roll aficionado, a casual listener, or a rookie rock fan, this book will ignite your love for the genre anew.
You’ll love The Rock & Roll Hall of Fame if you enjoyed these books:
- Burning Down the House: Talking Heads and the New York Scene That Transformed Rock by Jonathan Gould
- Nöthin’ But a Good Time: The Uncensored History of the ’80s Hard Rock Explosion by Tom Beaujour and Richard Bienstock
- Please Kill Me: The Uncensored Oral History of Punk by Legs McNeil and Gillian McCain
- Season of the Witch: How the Occult Saved Rock and Roll by Peter Bebergal
- Sharing in the Groove: The Untold Story of the ’90s Jam Band Explosion and the Scene That Followed by Mike Ayers
If you want to add The Rock & Roll Hall of Fame to your TBR, you can preorder it on Bookshop, Barnes & Noble, Books-A-Million, and Amazon. Thank you to Diversion Books for providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
To read our review of T.C. Kraven’s spicy Hades and Persephone retelling, Of Prophecies and Pomegranates, click here!
To browse more books like this, check out Bookstr’s Artistic Coupling: The Wonderful World of Music and Books shelf on Bookshop!
