‘It’s all the memories of your life jumping out at you, and it’s colorful and fun and insane and everything that entertainment should be,’ Armisen shared with Mike Polk Jr.
CLEVELAND — “Ladies and gentlemen…”
If you’ve heard those three words on a Saturday night, you know what comes next.
For almost fifty years, “Saturday Night Live” has been the platform for unforgettable musical performances, and now the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in Cleveland is celebrating that rich history.
The museum’s newest showcase, “SNL: Ladies & Gentlemen… 50 Years of Music,” welcomed visitors last weekend. The exhibition is a lively and diverse homage, showcasing iconic costumes, props, instruments, and video clips from the show’s musical collection.
Rock Hall president Greg Harris officially opened the exhibit on Saturday, with assistance from 11-year “SNL” veteran Fred Armisen. The comedian and musician shared with 3News’ Mike Polk Jr. what makes this tribute so personal to him.
“It’s been 50 years of ‘SNL’ and it’s connection with music and rock and roll,” Armisen said. “So it’s a perfect combination, because there are sketches that have music in them, characters that were musical, (and) also the musical guests.”
Armisen, who grew up watching “SNL,” recalled the early performances that inspired him.
“I saw Blondie when they did ‘Dreaming’; Clem Burke is my favorite drummer,” he recalled. “And then I saw the B-52s, and when I saw them do ‘Rock Lobster,’ it actually set me on my course for my life where I was like, ‘I could be a weirdo and make something of myself.'”
As someone who has blended both music and comedy throughout his career, Armisen said being part of “SNL” felt like a rare opportunity.
“What’s very fortunate is that a show like ‘SNL’ exists that I could do something like that where I could do part music and part comedy, and then somehow it works together. It was the perfect place for it,” he said. “I’m always amazed that it happened at all, and at this exhibit, it’s been emotional, you know? Like, memories of stuff that I’ve watched and then stuff I’ve that I’ve been in, and also to be in the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame.”
Over the course of 11 seasons, Armisen witnessed hundreds of musical acts take the “SNL” stage. Asked to name his favorite, he didn’t hesitate.
“My favorite was Modest Mouse. There was something about their performance that felt like a lot of my life sort of coming together, like my life in the ’90s as a musician and then my life on SNL. That was my favorite musical act while I was there.”
He also remembered seeing one of music’s biggest legends up close.
“I saw Paul McCartney play. I mean, can you believe it?”
As a professional drummer himself, Armisen revealed which ‘SNL’ musical guest he would’ve loved to tour with — an act with deep ties to Northeast Ohio.
“(Akron’s own) Devo no doubt,” he said. “Their music defined how I learned how to play drums.”
Armisen also took part in a trivia quiz to test his memory on which artists had performed on “SNL.” He correctly guessed that REO Speedwagon had not, and that Def Leppard never played the show.
He was surprised to learn Hootie and the Blowfish hadn’t either, and when told that Rancid had performed but Nickelback hadn’t?
“Wow. Someday,” he remarked. “Gross oversight.”
Of course, you don’t have to be familiar with every musical guest in “SNL” history to enjoy the presentation. According to Armisen, there’s something nostalgic and magical for everyone.
“It’s all the memories of your life jumping out at you, and it’s colorful and fun and insane and everything that entertainment should be.”
“SNL: Ladies & Gentlemen… 50 Years of Music” is now open at the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame.
