Henry Rollins opens rock artifact exhibit at RADAR615

Henry Rollins opened Cool Evidence: Captured Moments From the Last Century at RADAR615 on Friday morning in Nashville's Wedgewood-Houston neighborhood. The exhibit displays rock and roll artifacts from the 20th century, including show posters, flyers, photographs, and album art. The collection includes items from bands such as The Damned, Bad Brains, The Cramps, Iggy Pop and the Stooges, and Rollins' own group, Black Flag. Artwork by Raymond Pettibon is also on display.

Rollins, known as a punk musician and historian, invited a team of art handlers to install the pieces earlier in the week. Gallery director Lain York oversaw the setup at the gallery space. Rollins described the final arrangement as a 15-year-old’s bedroom walls meets the Smithsonian. The items have been preserved and arranged for public viewing.

The show is free to the public. It is open from 2 to 9 p.m. on Friday, Nov. 6, and Saturday, Nov. 7. Residents and visitors can view the artifacts without paying an entry fee. This is the first public showing of these specific items in the gallery since they were removed from Rollins' private home in Nashville.

RADAR615 is located in the Wedgewood-Houston district. The gallery hosts various local and touring exhibitions. The current display focuses on memorabilia from influential 20th-century music acts. Visitors can see the physical condition of the posters and photos up close.