A Day of Grunge, Rock, Sci-Fi and Horror at the EMP!

June 23rd, 2012

The Experience Music Project and Science Fiction Museum (EMP) in Seattle has some great special exhibitions happening at the moment from tributes to some of the greatest bands in the world to classic Science Fiction and Horror movies.

NIRVANA: TAKING PUNK TO THE MASSES

A great exhibition with many personal items belonging to the members of Nirvana including demo tapes, photos, clothing and guitars going right back to their early days. The Nevermind and Smells Like Teen Spirit era is probably the most popular but I like seeing the items from their very early days in Washington state before they moved to Seattle.

Nirvana: Taking Punk To The Masses

Nirvana from the early days to MTV

Nirvana: Taking Punk To The Masses

AC/DC: AUSTRALIA’S FAMILY JEWELS

I first saw this AC/DC exhibition a couple of years ago in Australia, but I was pleased to see it has been updated since then with new items covering the history of the band (lots of old photos from my previous home of Melbourne) and also has the addition of a jacket belonging to a friend of mine – Josh “AC/DC Buttonman” Smith. A Seattleite who is well-known for going to 30 AC/DC concerts around the world since 1982, playing air guitar on stage for AC/DC, meeting the band members on numerous occasions and even appearing on MTV with them a few years back. In February 2012 he was named AC/DC Fan of the Month. His jacket has over 1000 AC/DC buttons (badges) on it that he has collected from around the world and weighs about 23 pounds! It is one of the first things you see upon entering the EMP exhibition halls. He is understandably very proud to have it on display!

AC/DC: Australia’s Family Jewels

Bon Scott: The legend lives on forever (RIP 1980)

Angus Young the eternal schoolboy

The Brian Johnson years

Josh “AC/DC Buttonman” Smith & that coat!

ICONS OF SCIENCE FICTION

Props are on display from Star Wars, Star Trek, The Terminator, Superman IV, Dr. Who, AI: Artificial intelligence, The Matrix and much more! For me, seeing anything from Star Wars and Dr. Who is fantastic!

Captain Kirk’s Command Chair – Star Trek TV Series & Darth Vaders Lightsabre – Empire Strikes Back

L-R (top to bottom): Lieutenant Uhura, Data & Darth Vader / Anakin Skywalker – Return of the Jedi; Yoda’s Pendant and Cane – Empire Strikes Back, Christopher Reeve – Superman IV & Neo’s Coat from The Matrix, T-800 Terminator, Teddy (AI: Artificial Intelligence) & Imperial Dalek – Dr. Who (1988)

CAN’T LOOK AWAY: THE LURE OF HORROR FILM

A great collection of videos including interviews with Directors etc. and props from classic horror movies like The Mummy’s Curse, Creature from the Black Lagoon, The Shining, An American Werewolf in London, Alien, Friday the 13th and A Nightmare on Elm Street.

Left to Right (top to bottom): The Mummy’s Curse (1944), Creature from the Black Lagoon (1954), Friday the 13th (1980); Alien (1979), Critters 2 (1986), A Nightmare on Elm Street (1984) & Edward Scissorhands (1990); The Shining (1980) & American Werewolf in London (1981)

AVATAR: THE EXHIBITION

Props and an insight into the workings of the spectacular and colourful 3D that made Avatar such an amazing Sci Fi blockbuster!