ROCK & ROLL HALL OF FAME ANNEX NYC LAUNCHES A NEW EXHIBITION JOHN LENNON: THE NEW YORK CITY YEARS

ROCK & ROLL HALL OF FAME ANNEX NYC LAUNCHES A NEW EXHIBITION

JOHN LENNON: THE NEW YORK CITY YEARS

The Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Annex NYC is honored to present JOHN LENNON: THE NEW YORK CITY YEARS to open in May 2009. This extraordinary exhibit presents exclusive artifacts from the life and work of John Lennon – a true legend of music and one of the greatest artists and activists of the twentieth century. The exhibit will feature never-before-seen items that uniquely commemorate Lennon’s life in New York City.

“John would have been so pleased that the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Annex in New York is honoring his life and work. It was a city we called home for many years and I so hope it will be a true gift to New York City’s residents and visitors that have been such supportive fans,” said Yoko Ono.

This special feature exhibit is created by Yoko Ono and curated by Jim Henke, Vice President of Exhibitions and Curatorial Affairs, for the New York City Annex. The exhibit will include a selection of rare artifacts, films and photos as well as exclusive New York-centric additions provided by the generosity of Yoko Ono. The Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Annex NYC exhibit in SoHo is expected to make a big impact on the millions of fans who adore John Lennon, telling the story of his time in New York, a place he dearly loved. Additional details about JOHN LENNON: THE NEW YORK CITY YEARS will be unveiled in coming weeks.

"Yoko Ono has been very generous to the Hall of Fame over the years, and we are delighted to be able to work with her on this new exhibit," Henke said. "John Lennon spent the last nine years of his life in New York, and he loved the city. This exhibit will examine those years and the many things John accomplished while in New York."

“We’re ecstatic to bring this John Lennon exhibit to the Annex. New York is an integral part of our music history and holds major significance to John and Yoko. It’s an honor to showcase the life and work of such an extraordinary rock and roll legend,” said Michael Cohl of S2BN Entertainment, one of the producing partners.

A portion of the cost of each ticket to the exhibition will be donated to Spirit Foundations, a charitable foundation set up by John Lennon and Yoko Ono, to further John and Yoko's philanthropic initiatives.

“As a pivotal figure in the history of Rock and Roll, the extraordinary legacy of John Lennon will receive a well-deserved spotlight with this new exhibit. This will be the must-see event for music fans in New York and around the world,” said Arny Granat of Jam Exhibitions, one of the producing partners.



The Rock & Roll Hall of Fame NYC opened its doors in November 2008 to an overwhelming response from visitors and critics alike. As a technologically advanced exhibition that focuses on the greatest moments in rock history, the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Annex NYC takes visitors beyond the typical museum experience and engages people in a dynamic and immersive music journey that recalls some of the defining moments in rock and roll history through the artists that changed our world. The exhibits highlight rock and roll’s impact on music, where visitors can discover, or rediscover, their connection to it all.

“It will be tough for any top history buffs – whether they first encountered the Rolling Stones on the “Ed Sullivan Show,” or in the recent documentary “Shine a Light” – to resist goodies at the Annex like David Byrne’s big suit from the film “Stop Making Sense,” a blue sequined dress from Tina Turner’s final tour with Ike, Michael Jackson’s handwritten lyrics to “Billie Jean” and Prince’s coat from “Purple Rain.” – New York Times

“New York City is steeped in rock history: the Velvet Underground, CBGB, the birth of hip-hop, Bob Dylan – we could go on. And yet there’s no single repository devoted to the history of rock [here]. Now there’s the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Annex NYC, an offshoot of the Cleveland original.” – Time Out New York

“Though the dark, subterranean museum, complete with a gift shop, is in far better shape than the downtown rock clubs it was meant to emulate, its heart is in the right place - as are the artifacts it houses.” – New York Post

“Music fans can relive rock ‘n’ roll’s defining moments at the newly-opened Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Annex NYC, an interactive, total immersion experience.” – Where New York

The Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Annex NYC is proudly supported by official sponsors Citi, Best Buy, Diesel for Bloomingdales, and Gibson. Additional supporting partners include Sony, Sennheiser, Kohler and Brocade Home.

S2BN Entertainment, Jam Exhibitions and Running Subway co-present The Rock & Roll Hall of Fame ANNEX NYC.

Tickets on sale now - $24.50 (Adult), $16.50 (Child 4-12), $22.50 (Senior 65+). For tickets call (866) 9-ROCKNY or (866) 976-2569, buy online at www.rockannex.com or visit the box office located at 76 Mercer Street (between Spring & Broome Sts.), New York, NY 10012. Current Exhibit Hours: Thurs. 11am-7pm, Fri.- Sat. 11am-9pm, Sun. 11am-7pm. Extended Exhibit Hours for Lennon feature: Tues - Thurs. 11am-7pm, Fri.- Sat. 11am-9pm, Sun. 11am-7pm. Last admission is one hour before closing. Open on select holidays. For more information, call (646) 786-6680.

About the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum, Cleveland: The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum is the nonprofit organization that exists to educate visitors, fans and scholars from around the world about the history and continuing significance of rock and roll music. It carries out this mission both through its operation of a world-class museum that collects, preserves, exhibits and interprets this art form and through its library and archives as well as its educational programs.

The Museum in Cleveland is the centerpiece and starting point for the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame’s telling the story of rock and roll. The 150,000 square-foot Museum celebrates the history and impact of rock music with exhibits, films, interactive kiosks, education programs and public events. With the new Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Annex in New York, the Rock Hall is for the first time extending its reach outside of Cleveland and establishing space to house its traveling exhibits and speak to new audiences. A portion of proceeds from the Rock and Roll Hall Annex will go to support the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum’s exhibitions, education initiatives and Library and Archives, scheduled to open in 2010.

For additional information on the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum, please contact Margaret Thresher at (216) 515-1215 or mthresher@rockhall.org. Fans can also learn more about the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum at www.rockhall.com.