February sees the opening of 'In The Name of Love: Two Decades of U2', a unique retrospective at The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum.

The exhibit will run from February 8 to September 2003 and feature a host of intriguing artifacts for fans - but you need to be in Cleveland, Ohio to catch it.

Among the items featured over three floors will be:

• The leather jacket worn by Bono during the Super Bowl XXXVI half-time performance in 2001.
• Studded jeans and #7 shirt that The Edge wore during the Elevation Tour 2001
• The first U2 shirt, made by drummer Larry Mullen, Jr.
• The Irish Falcon Gretsch guitar Bono used during much of the Elevation Tour 2001
• First place trophy for a battle of the bands U2 won in 1978
• Stetson Bono wore during the Joshua Tree tour and featured on the cover of Rattle & Hum.
• Original lyric manuscripts including 'The Ocean', 'Bad', 'Indian Summer Sky', 'When Love Comes to Town', 'Stay (Faraway, So Close!)' and the revised lyrics to 'New York' following the events of September 11, 2001.

'U2 is one of the most important rock bands of the past two decades.' said James Henke, Vice President of Exhibitions and Curatorial Affairs. 'They have made brilliant music and they possess a unique kind of integrity and social conscience. I'm delighted that they are being so cooperative, and I think this exhibit will be a special treat for their fans.'

Exploring U2's journey from formation at school in Dublin the exhibit will include the first U2 T-shirt (made in a school art class), a bio of the Hype (one of the band's early names), rejection letters from two record companies, a trophy from a 1978 battle of the bands, Bono's first guitar, and posters from early club shows in Dublin.

As well as two dozen pieces of clothing, going back to outfits from the 1983 War tour to costumes from U2's most recent tours and videos, the exhibit will include instruments from all band members, stage set designs, personal correspondence and video and animation cells. The Museum also has a large collection of artifacts from the band that have been on loan to the Museum since it opened in 1995, as well as costumes from Bono featured in the Rock Style exhibit in 2000.

From February until May the fourth floor will feature an exhibit of U2 photographs by Anton Corbijn taken between the early 1980s and today. From June through September, the fourth floor will house an exhibit dedicated to the 'look' of U2 over the years, including artwork from longtime designer Steve Averill.

Much more here
www.rockhall.com