Went home to Cleveland for the Christmas holiday and on the way back checked in at the Rock n Roll Hall of Fame on some "things." Got in touch with DJ AMP of Cleveland, formerly of SoCal, who is planning on an afterparty for the Rock Hall Induction on March 15. She also called over the Rock Hall to get some advance word on the special March 15 night.

What we found out, besides having HMV music store move all of Prince's catalogue (no Gold Nigga or Black Album or NEWS or NewPowerSoul or Exodus, but pretty much EVERYTHING IN STOCK including Girl 6 soundtrack, ONA LIVE 4-cd box set, Rave Un2 and The Rainbow Children), was that the 19th annual simulcast WILL NOT HAPPEN. Well, at least presently it will not take place on March 15 in Cleveland.

There is some issue about corporate sponsorship of the simulcast that the Rock Hall cannot get presently. When the Rock Hall in Cleveland did do the simulcast -- from 2002 previous -- they only had about 500 or so attendees show up to the all-evening-into-night simulcast. It seems kind of weird that the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame need a corporate sponsor for their own induction simulcast, but so be it. The 2002 induction ceremony cost around $20 through Ticketmaster.Com that included food and drink.

The Detroit-Cleveland connection is working on this, and we hope to have a lot of Prince fans who cannot attend the New York City induction at the Waldorf-Astoria.

We need your help. In our discussions with some of the Rock Hall staff this past week and a half, the Rock Hall might be able to do something for us Prince fans that will come to Cleveland for the simulcast.

For those that are interested in coming to Cleveland for the simulcast to have your voice heard and attend an afterparty on March 15, you can do one of two things, or both.

Please contact the Rock Hall's offices in Cleveland and express interest in the simulcast. You can call the Rock Hall at 216-781-ROCK. You can also email a member of the Rock Hall staff in Cleveland. You can contact Tim Mersek at Tmesek@Rockhall.org .

If there is any reason to bring back the induction simulcast from New York, this is it. Look for additional news here if the simulcast will go on as planned.

I will totally look into this! I think it sucks Cleveland gets screwed in this every year!

I take it you're coming back home for this?

Yeah, I'm coming home again ... grew up in Cleveland for 25 years of my life.

Hopefully something cool will happen if there is enough of a voice from the Midwest for the simulcast.

Some of the Detroit Crawlers are already emailing and phoning the Rock Hall.

Cross your fingers.

Oh, and just to clarify .. HMV moved Prince's collection from the normal alphabet list to the special "induction" section on the far walls. There is a Prince label that says "Inducted in 2004."

HMV also has a induction ceremony display near a cash stand and it only has in it the recent "Best of Prince" WB collection. Prince's "Best Of ..." collection is right next to Bob Seeger and above ZZ Top.

HOLY NIGHT!! Thanx for the info!

I thought these ceremonies were held right at the R&R HOF in Cleve.

Seeing as I have special interest in this. You may remember that I posted before that some of my Prince records will be used in the exhibit at the Hall of Fame. Anyhow, Cleveland is only home to the museum, whereas the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Foundation is in New York City. The foundation is the group that inducts artists, therefore, it makes sense to hold the induction ceremony there. I would be more than interested in going to Cleveland March 15th as I only live a hop skip and jump away in Erie PA. I don't know if it would interfere with my work schedule though.

As for the Prince CD's in the Hall of Fame store, a2grafix is absolutely correct. In fact, when I dropped off my records there I ended up buying the box set, which I never had because I could never find it before.

As of today, Thursday, Jan 8, the Rock Hall says they are still working on the simulcast option from New York City, but from talking to a few friends in Cleveland, the simulcast more than meets the eye due to the large cost of getting the simulcast ready to air.

Regardless, the Cleveland contingent is moving on with plans for a party on March 15. Maybe before March 15 a sponsor will come through of the Rock Hall will find a way.

To all those who have emailed and/or called, thanks and continue to do so. Every little bit helps. Looks like a lot of Prince fans will be in Cleveland to celebrate Prince's induction.

simulcast edit
[This message was edited Thu Jan 8 8:55:50 PST 2004 by a2grafix]