Cars and guitars rock The Henry Ford this summer
Written by Michael Stainbrook | | news@toledofreepress.comCorrection: Elvis has not left the building.
Neither have the ’80s.
Nor the Jonas Brothers … yet.
Well, at least not their stuff.
This summer, the stars will align as some of the most recognizable music artifacts in history are on display just one hour north of Toledo.
ZZ Top's Eliminator
The “tour of cool” will return for an encore when Rock Stars’ Cars and Guitars 2 opens on May 16 at The Henry Ford in Dearborn. This exhibit will feature more than 20 cars and 50 guitars used by artists such as KISS, Metallica, Pink Floyd, The Who and ZZ Top. According to a statement issued by The Henry Ford, the second rendition of this exhibit is a response to the success of the initial display in 2007.
“[Rock Stars’ 1] was very successful back in 2007,” Henry Ford Senior Program Manager Tom Varitek said. “It seemed like a great fit for us; a lot of people associate us with cars.”
This summer exhibit also features live performances by Detroit area talents and presentations by legends in the industry. Highlights include pop culture expert Charles Phoenix (June 18), Recent Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee Wanda Jackson (July 16) and renowned CD cover and poster designer Mark Arminski (August 20).
This year’s exhibit is different from the one displayed two summers ago. Varitek encourages music and automobile enthusiasts to visit Dearborn to experience the second “tour of cool.”
“All of the cars are different, but the theme is the same,” he said.
The preview party on May 14 is an additional luxury for fans who cannot wait for the May 16 opening. Besides a sneak-peek of the exhibits, fans will be able to enjoy cocktails and cuisine prepared by The Henry Ford and a performance by the Rolling Stones tribute band, Hot Rocks. Tickets for the preview party are $125 and include food and entertainment.
Opening Day will bring the tribute band 80’s INC., which will play a mix of hits from Bon Jovi, Def Leppard, Duran Duran and INXS. Also playing will be Candy Band, four Detroit area moms who rock to renditions of children’s songs and nursery rhymes, and the Grunt Lincolns, who, according to Varitek, “literally look like Abraham Lincoln.” Temporary tattoos will also be available for no charge.
The “tour of cool” includes musicians of multiple generations for every age group. Various items on display pertain to artists ranging from Elvis to the Jonas Brothers. In between these extremes are Alice Cooper, Kid Rock, Sheryl Crow, Snoop Dogg and Ted Nugent.
“We’re hoping for something that will appeal to all ages,” Varitek said. “For anybody who’s a fan, we’ll have something you have not seen.”
The Henry Ford remains optimistic despite the economic times. The park expects many local music enthusiasts to flock to Dearborn to see this assembly of rock history.
“Last year, when gas prices were high, we benefited from stay-cations,” Varitek said.
The Henry Ford is open every day from 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Admission is $15 for adults, $14 for seniors and $11 for children. Members and children under the age of 5 are admitted free. This exhibit runs until Sept. 7. More information can be found by calling (313) 982-6001 or by visiting the Henry Ford Web site at www.the henryford.org.
