Sure the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum is a great source of civic pride. The entire world knows that "Cleveland Rocks." But does the economic impact of the Rock Hall measure up?

Terry Stewart, President and Chief Executive Officer of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum and Joel Peresman, President of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Foundation spoke at the Corporate Club at Landerhaven. Listen to how much the economic predictions have been blown away by the success of the Rock Hall.

And if you are a member of the KISS Army (or a fan of Rush, Yes, etc.) listen to the criteria for selection into the Hall of Fame.

And don't miss the exciting news about a Rock and Roll Walk of Fame where plaques of inductees will be strewn throughout downtown.

Lee Jordan, Joel Peresman and Terry Stewart

More from the Feb 21, 2012 Rock Hall Corporate Club event

I was bummed that Huey Lewis let people convince him to change his song from "The heart of Rock and Roll is in Cleveland" to "The heart of Rock and Roll is still beating."

I have always loved hearing and playing live music and it seemed like there were dozens of places in every neighborhood to go see great live bands. I spent a lot of time at The Euclid Tavern watching Mr. Stress, The Generators, Little Willie and the All Stars, Crown Motors, Aces and Eights, Stutz-Bearcat and others.

I'd watch Wild Horses at the Flipside, the French Lenards and Exotic Birds (Was that really NIN's Trent Reznor on keyboards?) at Turkey Ridge, I-tal and Oroboros at Peabody's and I learned new styles of music at the House of Swing. There were dozens of other great live bands in cool Cleveland-esque locations.

I was a regular at the Agora (on 24th), the Pirates Cove, Brother's Lounge and Bona's - all for the live music.

I worked at or attended all the World Series of Rock concerts at the old Cleveland Municipal Stadium and still have the '82-5, Ain't no jive' jersey from the Rolling Stones concert that attracted 82,500 fans.

NOTE: Please tell us what bands and clubs you remember - at the bottom of the right-hand side of the page

© Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum

So of course I was thrilled when we got the Rock Hall here. I became a charter member of the Hall and am still a member all these years later. If you haven't been there and you live in Northeast Ohio, you need to get there. Non-locals should plan a visit too.

I've always had a few issues with the Hall though. One is that there is nothing around the Museum till you get there. When I tell people to visit, they usually park up on 9th Street and have a boring walk with nothing to do - no shirts, shades or souvenirs to buy!

Sure, the Great Lakes Science Center is next door and the USS Cod is about a block away but there should be a whole slew of things for people to do around the Rock Hall. And a bunch of restaurant choices too.

© Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum

I always thought that a statue on the Rock Hall Plaza would be a great addition too. Like the Bob Feller statue at the Indians' park, a statue of, say, Chuck Berry in mid duck-walk would be a tourist Mecca. I could live with a granite Keith Richards or Jim Morrison too.

© Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum

And that's the problem. I asked Terry Stewart about the chance for a statue on the Plaza and he said it wouldn't happen. The reason? How do you pick one person/group? Though Chubby Checker lobbied for a statue, how can you choose him over Elvis or the Beatles or Little Richard?

They probably need to come up with something like the mural on the wall at the old Flipside. It showed John Lennon sitting at a bar with Bob Dylan, David Bowie, Mick Jagger and Elvis (maybe more, my brain cells are fuzzy)

I also asked Stewart if, as a typical paranoid Clevelander, I should be concerned about the Seattle Experience Music Project, the New York Rock Hall annex and the travelling Rock Hall exhibits. Are they diluting the Cleveland Rock Hall brand?

He replied that he can't do anything about the Seattle Experience Music Project but that I shouldn't be concerned about the travelling shows and Annex. They help satisfy the craving that people have for music and are a great commercial for the Rock Hall here in Cleveland.

The other concern we as Clevelanders always have is the location of the Induction ceremony. Not to worry. The 2009 Induction will be right here at Public Hall.

Joel Peresman and Terry Stewart at Landerhaven

It should be a great event! The 2009 performer inductees are:

• Jeff Beck
• Little Anthony & the Imperials
• Metallica
• Run-D.M.C.
• Bobby Womack

Early Influence Category Inductee:

Wanda Jackson

Sidemen Category Inductees:

• Bill Black
• DJ Fontana
• Spooner Oldham

Just as with the statue on the Plaza, people have different opinions as to who should be in the Rock Hall. Where's AC/DC? How about Lynyrd Skynyrd? But that's part of the fun.

The 2009 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame performer inductees were chosen by the 600 voters of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Foundation. Artists are eligible for inclusion in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame twenty-five years after their first recording is released. Listen to Joel Peresman explain how the voting process works.

Listen to Joel Peresman explain the voting process.

Or listen to Rock Hall CEO Terry Stewart explain why the induction ceremonies are in Cleveland and what to expect that week.

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Listen to Terry Stewart.

In either case, Be There!

Listen to Joel Peresman.

Listen to Terry Stewart.

Terry Stewart, Jules Belkin and Joel Peresman