Visit to the Rock Museum

I was very delighted at the opportunity that one of the founders, Attila Horváth, would personally show me around the prestigious Rock Museum. Not only the rock fan in me broke out in jubilation, but also the me interested in the history of Hungarian and foreign pop music. Not so long ago I came across the concept of ‘anemoia’, which means: a feeling of nostalgia for a time when we were not yet alive. I’m sure that this feeling works when listening to the anecdotes of rock history, looking at its photos, and reading about its events.

Europe’s largest Rock Museum was launched in 2013 thanks to the following four founders: László B. Tóth (music editor, producer, DJ), András Kelemen (guitarist: Old Boys, Liversing), Dr. Csaba Bálint (lawyer and bootlegger collector), and finally, but by no means least, Attila Horváth (owner of the Vintage-52 Musical Instrument Store and Service, organizer of the Vintage Guitar Show). All employees of the museum do voluntary work, so no one is motivated by income, but rather by passion.

The exhibition pieces consist of Hungarian collectors’ own objects, musical instruments, clothes, pictures and other relics donated by musicians and instrument owners. Musicians deposit their instruments here, so they remain officially their property. The objects shown here were regularly featured in renowned exhibitions such as MusicExpo or Hangfoggaló.

The Museum is also considered an educational institution, since for school groups this is living history itself, much more exciting and deeply ingrained if they are not only familiar with the era from the pages of textbooks. Of course, a visit to the museum can not only be a learning opportunity combined with entertainment for young people, moreover: groups of retirees, researchers, and designers often visit it as well.

The institution also serves as an interview and filming location, among others, László Nemes and the biographical report A Nagy Generáció were made here, but it also hosted numerous book and film presentations and biographical discussions.

Several events of the Museum – such as the presentation, dedication and author’s evening of Béla Radics a Rockkorszakban book, the presentation and dedication of the biography of László Zselencz “Zsöci” (former bass guitarist of Edda the “Boots”), and the life journey conversation of Sándor Révész – are distributed by us. It was done using Shure SM58 microphones. These professional microphones greatly contribute to improving the technical equipment of the museum.

Now let’s see where the museum is located and how it is built. In the 13th district, at Kárpát utca 13, there is the Radnót Miklós Cultural Center, within whose walls is the Rock Museum. I entered through the back entrance on impulse, because I am not familiar with the area (and it is very beautiful, characterized by the usual sophisticated, quiet environment of the district), and I thought it better not to wander around much. The garden and building of the Center are also very modern and decorative. Attila Horváth willingly greeted me at the entrance and led me to the Museum gate.

Upon entering, you are immediately greeted by an extremely special wall on the left: the Wall of Hungarian Rock Stars. The initiative inspired by the Hollywood Walk of Fame was started by the Hemingway Foundation back in the ’90s, during which the excellences of Hungarian folk music immortalize their handprints and signatures enclosed in a frame shaped like a guitar body. The wall also contains the handprints and signatures of many celebrities who have since passed away.

Pictures of world-famous musicians with their signatures are located opposite the Hungarian Rock Stars. This construction is aptly named the World Wall of Fame.

The other walls of the lobby are full of copies of old posters advertising concerts and events. These posters are popular objects of observation among designers, because they are perfect impressions of the cultural life of the second half of the 20th century. A huge map of Budapest appears, marking the regular locations and favorite clubs of each band between 1960-70.

Moving on, my eyes caught a display case, in which a giraffe statue stands out the most at first glance, which, as the name suggests, is a Golden Giraffe award, then a Rockstar 30th award emerges, as well as a 1972 Ki Mit Tud medal – Egon Póka and the Hobo Blues Band awards . This is a particularly important element, since we recently lost Teacher Egon Póka, Director, bassist, composer (and I could list his posts and merits).

The wall of the Great Generation preserves the signatures of the artists who visited the Rock Museum in recent years. Searching is facilitated by the names under the signatures. Here, too, are the signatures of many artists who are no longer with us.

The ceiling is also full of scratched portraits and signatures of international stars.

On the right side of the corridor, behind glass, the lyrics of classic Hungarian artists hang framed on the wall, in the original handwriting. Several copies show signs of repair, so they are truly personal, authentic relics.

On a separate wall are those who have a huge responsibility in their hands and a lot of burden on their shoulders, but they usually do not get enough attention, respect and fame – they are indeed the Roads – to whom the Museum has dedicated a separate wall. Pictures of outstanding bands’ excellent roads, 47 in number, were exhibited.

Books by museum workers or people connected to it and music can also be seen behind a glass wall.

In the largest room of the whole museum, there are more than 40 performance clothes donated to the museum by the musicians themselves, a lot of keyboard instruments, and more than 100 guitars, almost all of which are legends, but each of them has a unique and special story. There are also a good number of old speakers, but we can also find echo sounders, amplifiers, and mixing consoles among the legendary items. During my visit, the hall was somewhat emptier than usual, because this room is also rented out for band rehearsals and events, which is why the exhibits are rearranged a little.

Turning to the right of the door, we can admire the performance clothes of famous musicians, dressed on mannequins. Iconic guitars and bass guitars line up next to and opposite them. Personally, I was most impressed by the most shabby ones, the ones that showed signs of use, even missing strings and parts. Among them, you can also find hand-made pieces, including truly unique and funny musical instruments.

The rest of the space in the hall is occupied by speakers, keyboards, electromechanical instruments, radios, and mixing consoles. Among these, one of the most interesting to me was a studio tape recorder, announcer console and mixing console from the collection of Radio Free Europe. One of the Czechoslovak Resonet Grazioso electric guitars, extremely popular in the 1950s, also hangs there, the 346th piece of production, which won the most prestigious prize at the Brussels World Exhibition in 1958.

From the Hall we get to a smaller room called the Hall of Heavenly Musicians. This room commemorates iconic musicians who are no longer with us.

Béla Radics’ lost ’61 Gibson SG guitar, whose whereabouts were finally revealed in 2018 thanks to the persistent work of Kristóf Kosik, is mentioned, although it is not on display.

Finally, Attila showed me the Nemes László room – the room was named in memory of the well-liked and respected sound technician. In the chamber hall, concerts, various events, farewell parties, award ceremonies, and commemorations are held, and a stage also helps with this. The walls are decorated with photos by György Vértes and Tamás Díner.

Another room can be visited from the chambers, which contains radios and posters. Here, for example, you can find the receiver of the former Néprádió, as well as Rákosi’s tube radio. Unfortunately, I did not have the opportunity to view this room due to renovations.

Unfortunately, our time limit was limited, although I would have preferred to spend hours looking at each exhibit, so for this reason alone, I am sure that I will visit the Museum again. Visitors are welcome to the exhibition every Saturday and Sunday from 14:00 to 18:00.Those who visit the MagyaRock Hall of Fame should take a lot of time, there is plenty to see, read and – in case of guided tours – listen to.