British Music Experience opened in March 2009 at The O2, London. This unique permanent exhibition celebrates the history of popular music in Britain from the 1940s to the present day. The BME looks at how popular culture has influenced British music history through more than 500 items of memorabilia, first-hand accounts and hands-on interactive displays. The O2 exhibition includes a Ziggy Stardust costume, Noel Gallagher's Union Jack guitar, Roger Daltrey's Woodstock outfit and a vintage dress once worn by Amy Winehouse.
The exhibition explores the big names of the music industry from Lonnie Donegan to Cliff Richard, from Sandie Shaw to Estelle, from The Beatles to Black Sabbath, Arctic Monkeys and The Cure. The British Music Experience also features international artists who were inspired by British music and who British audiences enjoyed.
BME is curated by Paul Lilley, formerly of the EMI Group Archive Trust, and sponsored by The Co-operative, one of the UK's largest retailers. Additional support is provided by Gibson, Sennheiser, Getty Images and Planet Rock.
Smarticket – The Smart Way to Enjoy the BME
A ticket to the British Music Experience is not just any old ticket. As you explore the exhibition, watch out for 50 Smarticket Sensor Points. Touch the points with the ticket, wait for the 'beep' and the green light. The ticket will automatically store content and recordings to be enjoyed at home.
Register at BME if you haven't already done so, and go to your MyBME page. Register the number on your ticket to access the content and media recordings saved during your visit.
British Music Experience - Layout of the Exhibition
The BME is divided into two main areas: the Core and Edge Zones. Core is arranged in six sections: Playback, Transmission, Where it's At!, HeyDJ!, Dance the Decades and The Beat Goes On. Each section explores an aspect of British Music History.
For example, Playback looks at how music has been stored and played since the 1940s, while Transmission examines the development of the BBC since the 1920s and the invention of television in the 1930s. At Where it's At! visitors can discover what happened and where. What happened in your street? Who were the famous names in your town or city?
HeyDJ! celebrates Britain's dance music with the ultimate virtual jukebox of classic 12″ records by artists such as Aphex Twin, Carbaret Voltaire, and Chemical Brothers, while Dance the Decades looks at popular dances. Visitors can record their efforts on the Smarticket as they learn The Twist, Disco Dancing, The Loca-Motion, or even Rave Dancing from a virtual dance instructor.
The Beat Goes On is an audio-visual presentation showing scenes from concerts and famous acts since the 1950s. The presentation features artists such as The Stones, Bowie, Led Zeppelin, Oasis, Radiohead, The Clash and many others.
The Edge Zones form a timeline of British popular music, exploring important cultural events and the musical styles they inspired. During the Second War, American GIs popularised big band music. In the 1950s we had skiffle, rock 'n' roll, Bill Haley, Elvis Presley, Chuck Berry and Little Richard. The display progresses through the 60s with ″Swinging London″ and artists such as The Beatles, The Rolling Stones and Petula Clark. The installation explores the British musical scene right up to the present day and even poses questions about the future: How will we listen to music and who will be the stars of the future?
Gibson Interactive Studio
Edge Zones includes the Gibson Interactive Studio where visitors can experiment with musical instruments including Epiphone and Gibson guitars, Slingerland Drums or Baldwin and Wurlitzer digital pianos. A variety of tuition materials are also available together with audio visual guest lessons by artists such as K. T. Tunstall, Blur, the Magic Numbers and Amy Macdonald. (Content is supplied by Nowplayit.com). In the sound booth, sponsored by Sennheiser, budding singers can try their skills and save their efforts on the Smarticket, to show their friends later.
British Music Experience Programme of Public Events
The BME offers a wide range of educational and public events designed for all ages. Further information about the exhibition, and organised activities, can be obtained from the British Music Experience.
Frances Spiegel - Frances Spiegel, B.A. Hons. (Open)., Dip.Eur.Hum., read Art History/European Modern History at the Open University.
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