The Motown Museum – A Detroit Gem

I finally took my first trip to the Motown Museum last November on the Thursday before the Metallica shows at Ford Field. It just so happens that Pantera/ Anthrax drummer, Charlie Benate had never been there before and wanted to go as well. My friend, Tim, arranged for us to take a tour of the famed museum mid-afternoon.

I've lived in the Detroit area since 1995 and have never been there. I hadn't even ever driven by the place before until a couple of years ago when I just went by it on the way to someplace downtown. At that moment I put it on my "thing to do" list, and I'm glad I did.

I tell everyone who will listen, especially friends in the music business, and friends that come in from out of town that they should visit the birthplace of Motown. It's truly a musical history lesson. I'll be honest, I'm not a huge Motown fan, but I thoroughly enjoyed the tour. It was fascinating to hear how it started. How it became "Motown". Seeing the recording studio where so many hit songs were made. Even seeing the candy machine where a young Stevie Wonder and others would get candy between takes.

Shortly after visiting the hallowed halls, I interviewed Metallica bass player, Robert Trujillo later that day. I asked him if Motown had any impact on his life or playing. “That was 100% in my wheelhouse.” He told me about growing up listening to that music, and then being turned onto rock and metal. “There isn’t a bass player in rock, in metal, and sort of in modern music, that’s serious about their instrument that doesn’t respect those bass lines coming out of Detroit”.

Put the Motown Museum on your list of things to see in Detroit. Heck, next time someone from out of town visits, take them too!