The 1980s witnessed a creative explosion in rock that brought new genres, loyal fanbases, mega-selling albums, and massive concert tours. Loud guitars, booming rhythms, big hair, and eye liner ruled the day. But yet, many of the bands who were catapulted to superstardom during the decade lacked one essential component — respect. In their new special exhibit titled ’80s Rock: The Wildest Decade in Music, GRAMMY Museum® Mississippi tells the story of one of the most under-appreciated eras in rock history, exploring how genres like hair metal and glam metal became so popular and why their fans remain so loyal to this day.
Sponsored by The Maddox Foundation, the ’80s Rock: The Wildest Decade in Music exhibit will open to the public on Friday, September 26, 2025, and feature artifacts and memorabilia from bands who made a huge splash during that decade, including Twisted Sister, Mötley Crüe, Poison, Skid Row, Warrant, Ratt, Guns N’ Roses, Cinderella, Def Leppard, Lita Ford, Vixen, and more. Contributing Sponsors for this exhibit include Entergy, South Delta Planning and Development District, and Visit Mississippi.
On display through 2026 the exhibit will feature artifacts, instruments and memorabilia from bands of the ’80s hair and glam metal scene, and bands from the pre-glam ’70s scene, including:
- Twisted Sister’s Love is for Suckers album themed guitar
- Stage worn Twisted Sister jacket
- Ozzy Osbourne stage costume
- Mötley Crüe’s drum kit
- Def Leppard Washburn bass
- Guns N’ Roses smashed bass and Appetite for Destruction lithograph
- Pink bodice worn by Nancy Wilson of Heart
- Lita Ford’s Black Widow guitar and outfit
- Poison autographed guitars and signed memorabilia
- Guitar played by Ratt
- Warrant drumhead
- Iconic photographs from the era by Mark Weiss
Fans will even have the opportunity to have their photo taken in front of the popular Sunset Strip in Los Angeles venue, the Whisky a Go Go. Supporting Sponsors for this exhibit include Ergon, Gertrude C. Ford Foundation, Planters Bank, Quality Steel Corporation, and Visit Cleveland. Participating Sponsors include Ten One Strategies and Hammons and Associates.
A special thank you to our partners at GRAMMY Museum Los Angeles, Hard Rock International, Mark Weiss, MTV, and Mo Pop Museum for their collaboration and support.
