We had the amazing opportunity to be part of last Friday night's Opening of the "Rick's Picks" exhibit at Rockford IL's way cool Burpee Museum.
Rick Nielsen (here showing his grandkids one of his classic guitars) has never been shy about his affinity for his hometown and, indeed, still lives there (as was chronicled in the first and second installments of last year's "Hideaway in Rockford" YouTube campaign). And, he has graced the community (and us all) with a stunning view into his "lifelong affair with guitars and music."
Hey...the dude never threw ANYTHING away. In addition to the guitars, his trademark picks, the buttons, the videos, the sweaters, the baseball caps, the concert posters and flyers...there are drawers upon drawers of developing lyrics scrawled on hotel note pads while on the road, concert contracts and profit and loss scratchings on a loose leaf binder page that shows they each made $12 on an East High show. One of our faves, though, was a set of notes, apparently affixed to his apartment door by a landlord, imploring him to "turn it down." Too funny.
The exhibit is a masterpiece, currated in part by our ubber-creative friend Jay Graham, and runs until April 10th. For Midwesterners, it is so completely worth the drive (and to hang out in Rockford's newly hip downtown by night...where you just might catch Rick's (not surprisingly) sensationally talented son Miles and his band playing one of the clubs. And, if you're on a coast...it's worth the drive on your next Chicago, Madison or Milwaukee getaway.
So...what to feature on this Music Friday? How 'bout "If You Want My Love?"
While Cheap Trick isn't the only band that channeled the Fab Four (hell, even Angel did)...they always did it lovingly.
Plus, Rick was showing off a bunch of guitars and picks even then.
Enjoy...and GO!
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