'It's only rock and roll (but I like it).' Rolling Stones -Unzipped at the Groninger Museum

You Can't Always Get What You Want. After corona threw a spanner in the works in 2020 - the exhibition was on display for only four weeks - visitors will get a second chance to enjoy The Rolling Stones- Unzipped. In the meantime, legendary drummer Charlie Watts passed away at the age of 80. The Groninger Museum is the last stop in the Unzipped tour. It was in doubt whether the exhibition would take the museum to Groningen again, but Hand Of Fate was apparently favourable to the Groninger Museum. It has already been written about the previous edition, but herewith a brief observation on some differences and why the exhibition is definitely worth visiting. 

Start Me Up (again)

The exhibition is practically identical to the cancelled 2020 edition. Fortunately, they still had the photos. Unzipped covers over four hundred original objects from the band's personal archives. One new and interesting object is Keith Richards' hand-painted guitar-a 1957 Gibson Les Paul Custom-which he colourfully crafted in 1967/1968 while awaiting his prison sentence. There is also footage of the bands first performance in Scheveningen. Interesting to see that the behaviour of (music) fans has not changed much over the years.

Let It Loose

One big difference from the 2020 exhibition is the freedom to admire what makes the Rolling Stones so unique and iconic. Without restrictions. No mouthpiece, but again - unfortunately - entering each other's personal space. However, visiting the show about the British band with a laundry list of rules, that is somewhat like swearing in church. The regained leeway makes for a relaxed atmosphere, which makes you more open to the ambiance of the exhibition. To the creativity, inspiration and details.

Not Fade Away

What is (still) lacking are the more controversial elements of the Rolling Stones' history. There is a glut of stories, over six decades of rock'n roll. Keith Richards' excesses alone could fill a room. It is not a rewriting of their history, but it does tend towards cherry-picking. Protecting their reputation. This is human, but not really rock'n roll.

Again, I enjoyed the exhibition and this time I noticed things that had eluded me last time, such as that Sympathy For The Devil was inspired by the novel The Master and Margarita by Russian writer Mikhail Bulgakov. So this book I am definitely going to read. In addition, the returned freedom of movement meant that the concert recording of their dynamic Cuban performance in 2016 resonated much more with me this time. An 'authentic' concert experience.