Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame’s 25th Birthday Party

The Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame is now old enough to rent a car. To celebrate its 25 anniversary, the Hall is living it up with two nights of concerts Oct. 29 and 30 at New York City’s Madison Square Garden, featuring performances from past inductees such as Bruce Springsteen & The E Street Band, U2 and Metallica.

The shows will include genres from soul to hard rock with artists showing off their own tunes as well as the music that has inspired them.

Photo: John Davisson

Who rocks harder than The Boss? Nobody.

The Oct. 29 show is set to include performances from artists including Bruce Springsteen & The E Street Band, Simon & Garfunkel, Crosby, Stills, Nash & Friends, Paul Simon and Stevie Wonder.

The next night will feature Eric Clapton, Aretha Franklin, Metallica and U2.

Photo: AP Photo

Art Garfunkel and Paul Simon in 2007. The duo’s shows together in Australia and New Zealand will be their first in 25 years.

Proceeds from the shows will be used to fund a permanent endowment for the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Foundation and Museum.

“Twenty-five years ago a group led by legendary Atlantic Records founder Ahmet Ertegun created this foundation to recognize and celebrate the music and careers of artists whose music helped shape and define our generation,” said Jann Wenner, chairman of the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Foundation and founder/editor of Rolling Stone. “These once-in-a-lifetime concerts are designed to celebrate the artists and their music.”

Photo: AP Photo

Camp Nou Stadium, Barcelona, Spain

The anniversary concerts are being presented in conjunction with the American Express Concert series, which means American Express Cardmembers will have the first chance to get their hands on tickets. American Express Cardmembers can purchase tickets through Ticketmaster from 9 a.m. July 27 through Aug. 2 at 9 p.m. Tickets go on sale to the general public Aug. 3 at 9 a.m.

To commemorate the silver anniversary, the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum is releasing a book and a deluxe DVD set. The nine-DVD box set, issued by Time Life and available in August, will include “highlights of the past induction ceremonies, featuring speeches and all-star performances, many that have never before seen by the public.” If you’d rather read about the past 25 years of induction ceremonies, you can wait until September for the release of “The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame: The First 25 Years.”

This year’s inductees to the Hall of Fame included Jeff Beck, Little Anthony & The Imperials, Metallica, Run-D.M.C. and Bobby Womack. Wanda Jackson was honored as an early influence inductee and Bill Black, DJ Fontana and Spooner Oldham were inducted in the Sidemen category.

Click here for the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum Web site.