By Tris McCall/The Star-Ledger
I thought I would see signed instruments hanging in display cases, gold records by the usual Garden State heroes and relics from the lives of celebrities. Pop music rarely slows down long enough to be caught inside a vitrine, which is why memorabilia displays, as fun as they can be, rarely reflect what makes rock so exciting. Besides that, the Morris Museum also has an exhibition on dinosaurs on display, and all the easy analogies made me uncomfortable.
Would rock music be presented as something fossilized, too? A terrible beast that once walked the earth in glory and power, but is now long gone?
As is so often the case, I was thrilled to discover that all my presumptions were wrong.
Oh, “Jersey Rocks” has plenty of signed instruments and old photos of famous faces among the 300 objects in the exhibition. You’ll see a drum head sporting the signatures of the Asbury Jukes, a vintage Hammond B-3 organ played by the Rascals during their psychedelic transformation, and a wall-size shot of Springsteen at the Upstage club in Asbury Park.
Read more about ‘Jersey Rocks’ from the Star Ledger on NJ.com.
Jersey Rocks
Where: Morris Museum, 6 Normandy Heights Road, Morris Township
When: Through Sept. 5. Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m; Thursdays from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m.; and Sundays from 1 to 5 p.m. Closed Mondays and Tuesdays.
How much: $10 ($7 for children and seniors). Children younger than 3 admitted free. Call (973) 971-3706 or visit morrismuseum.org.
Special events: Will include an opening party with Springsteen tribute band the E Street Shuffle, May 13 at 6:30 p.m.; $75. Appearance by deejay Cousin Brucie, May 19 at 6:30 p.m.; $20 ($15 for members). Doo-wop concert with the Copians, Sheps, 14 Karat Soul, and Nicky Addeo and the Nite Owls, July 15 at 7 p.m. $20 ($15 for members).
Morristown FYI 