Music
Father of rock and roll's ashes removed from Hall of Fame for Beyoncé exhibit
by Tyler Munro
August 5, 2014
While not a household name like Chuck Berry or Buddy Holly, iconic radio DJ Alan Freed is known as the Father of rock’n’roll not only for his contributions in popularizing the genre, but for literally inventing its name. Fittingly, he’d long been honoured at Ohio’s Rock And Roll Hall of Fame, which housed his ashes in plain view until they were removed on Sunday to make room for a fashion exhibit on Beyoncé, who doesn’t even play guitar, UGH, right?
Freed’s ashes had been prominently displayed in the hall of fame for the last 12 years until his son got the call this weekend to come pick them up.
The Hall of Fame’s executive director Greg Harris told CNN that the decision came because the “museum world” is moving away from exhibiting remains because they “don’t tell a story.”
Understandably, Freed’s son Lance was less than impressed that his dad’s remains were moved, calling the move “disrespectful” and claiming he was misled.
“I’m a little bit emotional right now, because this is the third time I’m moving my dad,” said Freed. “But hopefully it will be the last.”
The Hall of Fame promises to continue honouring Freed in its own way, noting that there are many “touch points” throughout the museum that relate to him.
“Rock and roll isn’t just about yesterday,” said Harris in defence of the Beyoncé exhibit. “It continues to evolve, and we continue to embrace it and refine our operations.”
Born in 1921, DJ Alan Freed, known to many of his listeners as Moondog, was instrumental in breaking down barriers, racial and musical, with his 1950s radio show. He was famously fired in 1958 after it was discovered he’d taken payouts from major labels to promote certain records in a scandal that also uncovered he’d taken songwriting co-credits to make money off musicians like Chuck Berry, whose “Maybellene” no doubt lined Freed’s pockets with more than a fair share of cash.
His family plans to create a “modest memorial” in his honour, though they haven’t decided on where just yet.
