Legendary Rocker Joan Jett's 1983 Jaguar Arrives At Long Island Music Hall Of Fame

STONY BROOK, NY — Legendary rocker Joan Jett's first car — a 1983 Jaguar XJ -S H.E. — made a big move this week.

The souped-up retro ride rolled up on Wednesday to its new home at the Long Island Music and Entertainment Hall of Fame in Stony Brook where it will remain on display for the next few years.

The car, donated by the Long Beach-raised music pioneer, had been on display at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum in Cleveland, OH. Jett got her start as a teen with all-girl rock group, The Runaways, making hits like "Cherry Bomb," and then later moved on to a solo career. Her iconic solo hits include "I Love Rock n' Roll," "Bad Reputation," I Hate Myself for Loving You," "Dirty Deeds," "Crimson and Clover," and "Light of Day."

Jett's car is expected to be on display in Stony Brook for at least a few years, according to the Long Island Music and Entertainment Hall of Fame's chairman Ernie Canadeo.

The car is also a part of the museum's first exhibit on the club scene on Long Island from the 60s to the 80s, he said.

That's not to say that Jett has a special place in the exhibit.

"There's not one musician that really has prominence," he said, adding, "I mean this isn't about one or two artists. It's really about the era, so looking at the era, there's a lot of artists."

Zebra and a lot of the bands that played the clubs have a presence, according to Canadeo.

But the exhibit is only a part of what will be on display.

Hall of Fame will feature 120 inductees ranging from Billy Joel, Mariah Carey, and Debbie Gibson to LL Cool J, Taylor Dayne, Run DMC, The Ramones, and Twisted Sister.

"We are displaying memorabilia that we have acquired from these artists and then that will also change over the years," Canadeo said, adding that the exhibits will change twice a year with the current one changing sometime in the summer.

Future exhibits have not been confirmed.

In his day job, Canadeo, a music lover, is the president and chief executive officer of an advertising agency, the EGC Group, in Melville.

The Hall of Fame's board is made up of musicians and educators, who have "tremendous passion," but not "the business acumen to grow the organization," so they reached out to Canadeo for help about 10 years ago, he explained.

He said one of the additions that he is looking forward to is the recreation of a stage with equipment from the 1970s and it's being put together with the help of Randy Jackson from Zebra.

"It's really as authentic as it can be, and that's a centerpiece of this exhibition," Canadeo said, adding that it was part of a stage that has appeared at multiple clubs and will feature old amplifiers.

"I mean it really just brings you right back," he said. "I really think that people will get very emotional and nostalgic walking through this exhibition. We have a lot of stuff that really sits on its own from our youth, and people are really going to walk away very impressed."

Of course, music will serve as the backdrop.

There's a surround-sound theater, which will be playing rare videos and documentaries, Canadeo said.

There is also a gift shop with t-shirts, hoodies, Christmas ornaments, some rare signed posters, books, and vinyl.

"It's in the process of being assembled and kind of curated now," Canadeo added.

Gift cards will also be available for purchases at the gift shop and tickets alike.

The venue will open its doors to the public on Nov. 25, but tickets go on sale on Thursday.

Canadeo says he has a hunch the venue will be crowded over the opening weekend, so he encouraged visitors to purchase their tickets online to avoid lines.

For more information or to purchase a ticket, click here.