Devo, the iconic Akron-based New Wave band, is making waves at the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame—but not through an induction. Instead, they are featured in a new exhibit that highlights 50 years of music from Saturday Night Live.
The band first appeared on the show on October 14, 1978, alongside host Fred Willard, a Shaker Heights native. The new exhibit, titled “Ladies and Gentlemen… 50 Years of SNL Music,” celebrates the intersection of Northeast Ohio’s music scene and the groundbreaking comedy of SNL.
“I remember growing up and hearing new bands on Saturday Night Live,” said Greg Harris, CEO of the Rock Hall. “You’d watch it late at night on your TV, feeling like you were part of something edgy because of the comedy and pure rock ‘n’ roll.”
This exhibit, the second major one dedicated to the NBC show, follows a 2017 exhibition at the Museum of Broadcast Communications in Chicago. It features musical performances from every episode of SNL since its debut on October 11, 1975, showcasing around 150 Rock Hall inductees.
Harris began discussions with the late Hal Willner, SNL’s long-time music producer, years ago to bring the show’s extensive music archive to the public. Due to copyright issues, most performances haven’t been available for streaming or on DVD. However, as a museum, the Rock Hall can present these videos for educational purposes, giving visitors a chance to experience performances from legends like James Brown and Taylor Swift. The exhibit also includes stage props and costumes from musical sketches.
“A lot of SNL’s most viral sketches are music-related or digital shorts,” said Amanda Pecsenye, lead curator of the exhibit. “We’ve got artifacts from famous moments like the ‘More Cowbell’ sketch with Blue Oyster Cult’s ‘Don’t Fear the Reaper.’ We also have costumes from ‘Wayne’s World,’ which helped introduce ‘Bohemian Rhapsody’ to a new generation, and even the quirky Dooneese character by Kristen Wiig.”
The exhibit offers a replica of Studio 8H in New York City, where SNL is filmed. This studio was originally designed for the NBC Symphony Orchestra in 1937. Visitors can view iconic items from Paul Shaffer, Quincy Jones, and costumes from stars like Ringo Starr and St. Vincent. A video wall showcases SNL’s famous bumper photos, typically seen during commercial breaks. The exhibit even recreates the signature steamed spinach color of Rockefeller Center’s interior.
But the exhibit isn’t just about celebrating the best of SNL. It also addresses the show’s controversies. One notable moment is Sinead O’Connor’s 1992 performance of “War.” In her dress rehearsal, O’Connor used her performance to speak out against child abuse. When the show aired, she controversially ripped up a photo of Pope John Paul II at the end of her song, urging viewers to “Fight the real enemy,” in protest of sexual abuse within the Catholic Church.
“The collision of live rock ‘n’ roll and live comedy has made SNL stand out for 50 years,” Harris explained. “It was groundbreaking because it mixed great music with offbeat humor. You’d see Patti Smith performing while Gilda Radner was doing a comedy bit. SNL also booked cutting-edge artists like Elvis Costello, offering something live and unpredictable that MTV, with its pre-recorded videos, could never match.”
The exhibit is a tribute to how Saturday Night Live shaped not only comedy but also the musical landscape over the decades.
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