Our chronological tour through rock history culminates in the "2000s" section, and brings us up to our own 21st century. The Internet age has had as a soundtrack the ringing chords of U2, the high-octane rock of Oasis and the sonic poetry of The Cult. Names like these would reach their own musical maturity by adapting to the increasingly daring tastes of an ever more demanding public.
Images of U2, guitars from The Cult and Bon Jovi and gold records from Pearl Jam and The Black Crowes are among the symbols of this fascinating musical journey's most recent phase. Attempts to predict the future of rock music are as difficult as they are unnecessary; but, if any one thing has characterised rock in all of its periods, it is that it belongs to the people.
Of the objects in the permanent collection, some are notable for their rarity; others for recalling an entire discography or musical era; still others for their size, and these deserve a special mention.
The most conspicuous examples are perhaps our Elton John and Rolling Stones pinball machines, but there is also Elton's unusual bathtub, on display in the Museum's restaurant, Happy Rock, or the inflatable Beatles submarine which is visible from everywhere in the shopping centre. Such objects represent the most ostentatious and exhibitionist side of the rock star, for whom discretion has never been strong point.
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