02.13: What a year, 1961. For Henry Rollins, at least. You see, that year saw Henry Lawrence Garfield take his first breath, and music gained a unique individual. Well, it took a good twenty years for this unique individual to make his mark, but believe us, he definitely did. Rollins joined California punk pioneers Black Flag, who'd gone through a steady stream of singers in its already-four-year career before Rollins joined the band for an impromptu song at one of their shows in New York. In Rollins, who was a huge fan of the group prior to his singing duties (ha, we said duties), they found an intense poetic sensibility uncommon in punk and the stage demeanor of a caged animal, pacing back and forth, waiting to pounce as soon as the music charged up behind him. From 1981 to 1986, Rollins stint in Black Flag tore through every bar, club, and theater they entered, sometimes ending with Henry in a fistfight with one or more audience members. Did we mention he was intense? After Black Flag disbanded, Rollins leapt into a very diverse career, from publisher to actor, from author to activist. He formed his own band, Henry Rollins Band, which recorded and toured from 1987 through 2003, when Henry decided to concentrate on his spoken-word career. Huh, you say? Yeah, Henry's spoken-word routines kill. They are always a weird, amazingly vital and vitriolic hybrid of stand-up comedy and Shakespearian soliloquies, regaling his audiences with tales from the road and tales from the street. Henry Rollins is truly one of a kind. 02.13: Okay, so, many of you kids out there may only know the group Genesis from Phil Collins' frontman stint (he was already the drummer) with the band, which proved very fruitful thanks to the monster pop hits "Invisible Touch" and "Land Of Confusion." And many of you may only know Peter Gabriel from his ubiquitous '80s video for "Sledghammer" (which is still pretty awesoem, btw) or his catchy chorus to "Shock The Monkey," but his music-life goes back much further than that. So, let's hop in the Way-Back Machine and go all the way back to 1967. That's right, rock children, the genesis of Genesis begins in the late '60s, as a group of young lads decided to join forces, forming a little pop band interested in playing simple, original music. Here's where we tie our ramblings together. Peter Gabriel helmed the vocal duties for this first incarnation of the band, taking them from a late '60s pop whatever to an early '70s prog-rock, theatrical, multi-media monster, complete with masks, props, and visual framing devices to accompany Gabriel's increasingly complex lyrics and song structures. Why do we bring this up today? Well, it's Pete's birthday, as, on this day in 1961, he joined us for the first jaunt on this journey's we call "life," and we just wanted to point out that Mr. Gabriel career is much more than goofy videos and is, indeed, attached to one of the most successful bands of all time. Nice work, Peter, and happy birthday, sir.
The Hard Rock Cafe in Seattle hosted the launch of the Jimi Hendrix, Signature Series 29 Merchandise program - to benefit the Jimi Hendrix Park and Fender Music Foundation. For more about the program or to purchase a T or pin click here. ALL IS ONE.
Debbie Harry, who, in case you don't know because you a.) lived under a rock during the '70s and '80s or b.) weren't alive then or c.) don't know about the punk/new wave movement that lit the world on fire in the late '70s or d.) just don't care, was part of this little band called Blondie and had a couple hits and a huge influence on punk and rock and music itself, stopped by Hard Rock Cafe New York for a little get together in support of the Institute For Collaborative Education.
Students and faculty from the school also took part in the evening's festivities, showing of the music skills they've learned in class, as well as their natural talent in front of the microphone. Debbie jumped in on a couple collaborations with the kids, too, making for an incredible night of money raising fun. We just wanted to share some pics and thank everyone who came out in support, as well as the student and teachers and, of course, Ms. Debbie Harry for, well, just being awesome.
National Dance Institute (NDI) is a non-profit arts education organization founded in 1976 by ballet star Jacques d'Amboise. Through in-school partnerships, workshops, and public performances, NDI uses dance as a catalyst to engage children and motivate them towards excellence. Please join NDI for their 35th Anniversary Gala, to be held on May 3rd, 2012 in New York City. For more info click here. TAKE TIME TO BE KIND.
At the 2012 Hard Rock Global Conference, ADI and Pincraft, Hard Rock collaborative partners who created the merchandise items for the UNITE FOR JAPAN merchandise fundraising campaign, met our partners from the American Red Cross. It was a great moment to have representatives from the overall campaign meet in person to talk about additional ways to collaborate for future charity programs. ALL IS ONE.
02.06: This day in 1945 saw the birth of the man who would bring Jamaica, its music, and the philosophy of Rastafarianism to the world's attention. We've got mad love for Robert Nesta Marley, or Bob, as you may know him, as we discovered him in our blurry college years, gathered with friends for good times, listening to Legend, the best-selling compilation (though not complete in its inclusions by any stretch) of some of his best songs. From "Three Little Birds" to "Exodus" to "Is This Love," not only did Legend turn us on to the works of Bob Marley, it also expanded our musical horizon significantly, showing us another side of the world, one which we'd never even bothered to think about. From this point, we ventured out to discover the legend of the man himself, his musical beginnings in the ska movement of the '60s with Peter Tosh and Bunny Livingston and his organic movement into, and shepherding of, roots reggae in the '70s. If ever there is a man who epitomizes the word "icon," it is Bob Marley. Not only does his image and music pretty much represent an entire nation in the eyes of the world, but his influence reaches far, far beyond his country's tiny borders, into the worlds of rock, pop, rhythm & blues, house, philosophy, religion, and stoned college kids everywhere. Even if they don't know his history, his survival of an assassination attempt, his death from cancer at age 36 in 1981, his total embrace of the Rastafari religion, or the talented progeny (11 kids by 9 different women!) he left behind, people know his music and understand his message. In the end, this is what Bob wanted. Bob would've been 65 today, and we miss his presence on this planet, but we are just happier than a pig in you-know-what to go home tonight, put on Uprising, sit down with a glass of wine, and bask in simple beauty of "Time Will Tell." Thank you, Bob.
Orlando, Fla., February 6, 2012 – Hard Rock International is proud to announce the winners of its 2012 Awards in recognition of outstanding accomplishments and dedication of employees, franchisees and partners. Hard Rock selected the top “rock stars” from more than 174 Hard Rock locations in 53 countries and hundreds of partners worldwide. The much-anticipated awards were chosen based on financial performance, unique sales accomplishments, community contributions, creativity, strategic marketing, philanthropy, brand loyalty and leadership. The ceremony included the highly-coveted awards for “Company Worldwide Cafe of the Year,” given to the team at Hard Rock Cafe Venice; “Franchise Cafe of the Year,” awarded to Hard Rock Cafe Buenos Aires; “Franchisee of the Year” given to HRC Colombia; “Hotel of the Year,” presented to Hard Rock Hotel Orlando; and “Hotel & Casino of the Year” given to Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Biloxi. Award highlights also included “Company General Manager of the Year” for 2011, proudly presented to Nicos Charalambous of Hard Rock Cafe Orlando, who received a Harley Davidson motorcycle for his outstanding leadership; and Gordon D’Saouzo of Hard Rock Cafe Mumbai, who took home the award for “Franchise General Manager of the Year,” along with a check for $10,000.
HARD ROCK CAFE PHUKET Local Ambassor team visited the Phuket Special Education Center for the ninth in our “PHILANTHROPY AMBASSADOR PROGRAM series” They donated Milk and healthy snack and cash for helping for Canteen and classroom construction. This project was lead by Khun Gift Hard Rock Crew Leader Rock Shop and philanthropy ambassador. Khun Gift and the team went to Phuket Special Education Center to meet the children and the teachers who has the lead responsibility and representative of the school head master representative and also we raised money for support them as well. The children are very lovely, they gave us so warm welcome and they play with us when we visit them in the classroom. This is another great moment that we all feel so great and appreciated.
Phuket Special Education Center is the Special Education Administrative Bureau Office of Fundamental Education Board Ministry of Education. They arrange and support the education with early intervention and provide the training for disabled people to be prepared for daycare center, kindergarten and mainstreaming school, special needs school, disabled center and related areas. Also, they provide rehabilitation for disabled people from family and community with education procession.
ALL IS ONE
Don Cornelius (1936 - 2012)
Local Ambassadors from the Hard Rock Cafes in Japan hosted a wide range of philanthropic efforts in their community including a catering event at Yokosuka military base. The team served up about 5,000 burgers and provided entertainment, with appreciation, to the sailors who went up north to support and back up the Japanese Self-Defense Forces in disaster-relief activity; Operation Tomodachi, after March 11 disaster last year. USS Blue Ridge, the big ship on the photo was the first ship among 9 naval ships, which headed to the north right after the quake and involved in the Operation Tomodachi as an operation controller. Most of the sailors on the photos are crew from USS Blue Ridge. It was a fantastic moment for the Hard Rock team.
The other photos are taken in Soma city, Fukushima prefecture, where had been damaged by tsunami after the quake. Soma is one of the cities in east coast of Tohoku district, badly damaged. The team delivered the donation, including HRC items, to people of Soma city as Christmas gifts on December 24, 2011. Also donated was $48,000 to Soma city (mayor of Soma city). The amount was raised from ‘Unite for Japan’ shirts sales as well as the fundraising. The money will be directly used as education expenditure for the children those who lost their families from this quake disaster. ALL IS ONE