Rock History's ''Indiana Jones''

Craig Inciardi has been called the Indiana Jones of rock history.

The New Yorker used to handle pop memorabilia on a daily basis while at Sotheby's. That's where he met Eric Clapton, who tried on Buddy Holly's motorcycle boots. Another time, then-13-year-old Sean Lennon, stopped in, wanting to try on a jacket worn by Jimi Hendrix. Both Eric and Sean discovered that the apparel fit them perfectly.

Craig previously worked for Phillips auction house, and was ready for something different when he was asked to help with the new Rock And Roll Hall of Fame. 

There were some awkward moments in the early years. At one dinner, waiters with oversized platters kept bumping into Mick Jagger and Little Richard! 

Craig's initial encounter with Ozzy Osbourne didn't go well either. In his new memoir (available from the 30th of September), The Rock And Roll Hall of Fame: The Outrageous, Definitive, Untold Story, the author says he brought up Ozzy's bandmate, Randy Rhoads. It had been 15 years since Randy died in a plane crash, but the star was too distraught to continue their conversation.

Craig was more successful when talking with moms. These included Voletta Wallace, who donated stage clothes worn by her son, the late Biggie Smalls. 

Others who made Rock Hall contributions were Jerry Lee Lewis (a piano), David Cassidy (clothes, photos, and a guitar), and Keith Richards (one of his old cars, which kept stalling when they tried to film it).  

Patti Smith donated a couple of signed poetry books and a tote bag, but not for the museum. These were for Craig's wife, who was a huge fan of the performer's first autobiography, Just Kids (another memoir is due in November).