The Illinois Rock and Roll Museum along Route 66 in Joliet has been a busy place these days.
"It's been a great summer. The museum's first floor is open. We've had people from 48 countries over the last year and from every single state come visit us. We have bus loads of people stop and visit many weekends. Many of them are Route 66 visitors and tourists," said Ron Romeo, Founder, CEO of Illinois Rock and Roll Museum.
Romero's dream of a space that honored and showcased Illinois-based musicians began more than 10 years ago.
"I visited Cheap Trick's Rick Nielsen's 'Rick's Picks' exhibit at the Burpee Museum in Rockford in 2012 and thought to myself: Illinois needs an exhibit like this but it soon evolved into a museum concept in a space along the Historic Route 66." he recalled.
Ever since then, his dream has become a reality, when he acquired the building at 9 W. Cass St. in Joliet in late 2019. After significant renovation and a pause during the COVID-19 pandemic, the museum officially opened its doors to the public in 2023.
On September 14th at the Rialto Square Theater, the organization will hold its Fourth Annual Illinois Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Induction and concert.
"We have an incredible lineup this year. We were forced to combine the 2024 inductees with the 2025 inductees so we have a very long list of performances being inducted this year," said Romero.
Inductees for the 2025 class include:
Enuff Z’Nuff
Head East
Disturbed
Tim Drummond
Delmark Records
Mitch Michaels
Q101 Chicago
2024 class inductees include:
Richard Marx
The Smashing Pumpkins
Howlin’ Wolf
Little Walter
Bo Diddley
Vee-Jay Records
Bob Stroud
Big 10 WCFL
"It's everything from Blues, to Pop, to Metal. This is going to be the only place that you're going to see such an eclectic people in one place. There will also be lots of live performances from Richard Marx and a Blues Tribute."
The evening will also feature Columbia College Chicago’s live musical/dance tribute to “Grease”, one of the world’s most successful movie-musicals of all time based on the book, play and songs written by Chicago-born songwriter Jim Jacobs and the late Warren Casey.
The Illinois Rock & Roll Museum on Route 66 is a 501(c)(3) charitable organization. All proceeds from the concert go toward the further construction and curation of the museum and toward it's music education program.
"This is our major fundraiser. Other non profits and corporations have black-tie events but we're Rock & Roll so we have a big concert. We have a big induction ceremony so it's very important to us. All the money goes to help with building renovations and operations of the building." said Romero.
Inductees are chosen from the museum's charter members.
"The method is simple. It goes out to the general public. We get thousands of nominees from around the world. Then it goes to a committee to see if they are eligible, it has to be some kind of tie to Illinois, have to be born here, lived here, recorded here, something significant. Then it goes to our charter members who vote for who is going to be inducted. We currently have 1100 charter members from 37 states." said Romero.
This is the first year, the museum has been open to the public six days a week. Construction and it's opening were derailed last summer when a tornado moved through downtown and ripped off the building's roof. Romero says that's been his main focus of late, getting all the repairs need and moving forward with further construction.
"We suffered about 2 million dollars of damage. We're still fixing the roof. We're in progress but we're still moving ahead strong and still need help toward our mission.
The entire first floor is on full display for visitors. The second-floor renovations are well underway, and Romero hopes to have the second floor finished this year. When the second floor opens, it will feature country and bluegrass. The first floor pays tribute to rock & roll as well as jazz, blues and gospel.
"We have received three major grants from the State of Illinois to finish off the sprinkler system and the elevator."
Route 66 celebrates its 100th anniversary in 2026, with the official national festivities kicking off in Springfield, Missouri, on April 30, 2026. Romero says the museum will be a big part of the celebration.
"Next year is going to huge for us. Besides the 100 year anniversary of Route 66, it's also the 100th year of The Rialto Square Theater which is just down the street from us. Downtown Joliet has been under construction for a long time so next year, We've got a brand new city center park, new streets and sidewalks. We cannot wait to unveil next year to our visitors. It'll be a big year for us and all the people and places around us," he said.
The Illinois Rock & Roll Museum Hall of Fame Induction Award Ceremony will be at the Rialto Square Theatre at 5 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 14. Tickets are still available here. For more information about becoming a charter member or the museum click here.
