PLAY IT LOUD: INSTRUMENTS of ROCK and ROLL at the MET -Yes, the MET!

PLAY IT LOUD: INSTRUMENTS of ROCK and ROLL is the first major exhibit at a leading art museum consisting of musical instruments spanning the era of early rock & roll in the 50s & 60s through the 20th C.  The MET's musical instrument curator Jayson Dobney organized this show over 5 years along with Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Museum.   One may approach this exhibit with  skepticism of its significance alongside the halls of MET.  But there is plenty of awe to be found with regard to the iconic instruments and the legendary artists who performed them.   Starting with Chuck Berry's  guitar he first played "Johnny Be Good," the Everly Brothers guitar they recorded "Wake up Little Susie," Elvis Presley's original acoustic guitar, Jimi Hendrix's Flying V guitar used to record "All Along the Watch Tower," and Ringo Starr's drum set used on the Ed Sullivan Show.  Innovative instruments include John Lennon's 12 string guitar, Don Feldor's double neck guitar and early innovative synthesizers.  I found it interesting the exchange of instruments between the artists and whom the iconic musicians paid reverence.   The decimation of the guitars that was a destructive trend seems especially onerous; a wasteful use of instruments for showmanship.   Pete Townsend's smashed guitar from a pictorial spread by Annie Leibowitz lead to copies of this rebellious act just as Rock and Roll itself was one considered a revolutionary form of expression belonging to "a young generation."  More contemporary items include Prince's love guitar and images of Lady Gaga atop her piano.  This lady found the show subdued.  Row upon row of silent guitars gently wept.  And, without live performances this lady was not gaga for the stoic display of instruments which come alive only when being played.