There’s an old aphorism that goes “history is what’s happening right now.” But when you are hanging out with your friends at Warped Tour, all the focus is on the moment. Jumping in the pit and getting your crowdsurf on. Trying to capture a band’s set on your phone. Stopping by band tables and buying merch. Seeking sunblock and installing earplugs. Wondering what you just stepped in.
We’re sure there were some things you missed, but it’s no problem. For their exhibit Forever Warped: 25 Years Of Vans Warped Tour, the Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame sought out artifacts from the tour’s quarter-century history, ranging from its most early days to the historic attendance records of recent years. Rock Hall Curator Amanda Pecsenye has been working with Kevin Lyman, the Warped team and a roll call of bands who have graced the grounds the tour has camped out on.
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“It’s really exciting to celebrate the 25th anniversary of the longest-running cross-country concert tour,” Pecsenye says. “Even though it’s wrapped up its cross-country run, it’s still wrapping up its legacy. But also, I think the exhibit is going to educate people that maybe were too young to attend a Warped Tour or be familiar with what it is.”
The Rock Hall had previously installed a Warped Tour exhibit in 2007, which gave them a head start acquiring artifacts for this summer’s major tour retrospective. Lyman worked closely as a liaison with the Hall and various musicians to get items beyond the original exhibit from 12 years ago, as well as things from his personal collection.
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The Rock Hall are going all the way back with the guitar No Doubt’s Tom Dumont played on Warped’s maiden voyage in 1995 before Vans signed on as the major sponsor. Expect plenty of guitars from members of Fall Out Boy, New Found Glory, Reel Big Fish and many others.
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“Everybody we reached out to [wanted] to preserve the legacy of Warped Tour,” Pecsenye says. “There are artists who aren’t necessarily savers or archivists that don’t document their career for posterity. But this exhibit has been an exception: Almost everyone we reached out to was so excited to celebrate the legacy of Warped Tour, saying things like, ‘Kevin Lyman asked me to do this. I’m happy to help.’ People were so enthusiastic about participating.”
The Rock Hall will be streaming tomorrow’s Cleveland show with performances, interviews and more here beginning at 4 p.m. EST. You can also visit rockhall.com for more information on how they’re keeping the Warped vibes coming, post-shows.