Legendary Tale Stems From Rock Video and Guitar Solo

 By Jami Morain

    There is a theater on the third floor of Cleveland's Rock and Roll Hall of Fame called the  Connor Theater. It hosts the Power of Rock Experience, a 12 minute video of Rock Hall induction performances every 20 minutes for 10 hours a day. 

    Guests wait on the bridge entry way where they watch the preshow, different footage of speeches from induction ceremonies over the years. Alongside the preshow is a small countdown until the show begins. When the timer runs out, the doors open for guests to walk into the small black room that seats 130 people.

    The experience is practically a concert with it's 100,000 watts of surround sound, 12 foot high independently moving screens, light cues and smoke machines. 

    While I sat in this theater watching the 30 years of rock montage, I couldn't help but notice how intimate it was. This was almost three years ago, but I still remember how it felt and how it impacted my life. 

A screenshot from a video
of me crying post theater.

    As I watched the different concerts, I was overwhelmed with the power of music because I could feel it. Those musicians play so passionately that it becomes more than just a guitar solo. My heartbeat changed with every song, my eyes flashed back and forth between moving screens and my ears rang with how loud the speakers were. It truly felt like I was front row at each performance. 

    This link will take you to the Rock Hall's website where they show the theater and clips from the show. It also explains, in more detail, how it works. I highly recommend watching it.

    In 2004, the late George Harrison was inducted for his solo work. As he was not able to perform, his close friends and only son performed in his honor. One particular performance from that induction, and was chosen to wrap up the montage, still stands out, even to people who haven't been to the Hall. 

    Tom Petty, Dhani Harrison, Jeff Lynne and Steve Winwood sang "While My Guitar Gently Weeps" from the Beatles' 1968 album, The White Album. As the song comes to an end Prince walks out of the shadows and owns the guitar solo making it truly the epitome of swagger. Eric Clapton plays lead on the original track, but Dhani's face while Prince plays confirms his approval for this version. 

    While the performance is great with Petty's and Lynne's vocals, Prince definitely steals the show. He knows it too because at the end he throws his guitar into the crowd and struts off the stage as if to say, "Yeah, I just did that." 

    The comments on the video read: "Prince with the greatest 'hold my beer moment' in rock history." "Who's seen this an ungodly amount of times over the years, and STILL gets the chills when Prince strolls out to conjure up spirits." "I love how Prince is hidden in the dark before his solo; like he is the secret weapon to make this song into a banger."

    Recently I came across videos on TikTok about it being the best guitar solo in history and took it as my sign to make this post. 

    I hope you felt something during this performance, because this is the perfect way to start off 2024.