More Than 12,000 Bands Compete for Your Vote as Part of the Hard Rock Rising Global Battle of the Bands

Orlando, Fla., January 25, 2012 – You vote – They Rock! Hard Rock Rising gives fans the power to decide who performs at Hard Rock Cafes worldwide as the battle of the bands gears up for the local, live music phase of the competition. More than 12,000 bands have entered the Hard Rock Rising competition for the chance of a lifetime, to be on the bill with Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band and additional headlining performers at Hard Rock Calling 2012 in London.

The Rise of a Local Legend
Beginning on Wednesday, January 25, 2012, Hard Rock Rising allows fans to choose the live performance lineup for local events at Hard Rock Cafes around the world. Fans can vote by downloading free tracks from bands of their choice at their local Hard Rock’s city-specific, Facebook page.

After fans choose their favorites, participating Hard Rock Cafe locations around the world will host a series of live competitions featuring the local bands who received top votes. Bands will then be judged live by a panel of local industry experts and participating bands’ representatives, with one winner being selected from each location. For full rules and a list of participating locations visit www.hardrock.com/hrrising.

“At Hard Rock live music is at the core of our brand, in 2011 we put on more than 17,000 live music events across our properties,” said John Galloway, Vice President and Chief Marketing Officer for Hard Rock International. “We are privileged be able to offer the hottest up-and-coming bands a chance to showcase their talent on our local cafes stages and the shot to play at Hard Rock Calling 2012.”

01.23: On this day in 1953, Robin Zander, lead singer of the cheapest trick in all the land, Cheap Trick, was born. Actually, they're not that cheap. They owned the airwaves in 1979, with their still very catchy, and somewhat pleading, song "I Want You To Want Me." You've heard it, you know it, you love it. Admit it, you've actually tried to pick up someone with that song, singing it as you pass them in the hallway at school or the office, hoping they'd pick up on your awesomeness. No? Just us? Oh, well, that doesn't diminish our love for Cheap Trick, for their late '70s porn-stache, their wavy and pretty hair, and their general disregard, even for the times, of all things cool. We think that's why we like them so much. Cuz they just don't care. All they want is for you to want them. That's what we all just want, though, isn't it?

01.25: Mark Wahlberg felt the wrath of litigious action on this day in 1994. Why is Mark Wahlberg in the Musings, you might wonder? Well, before his days as a movie star, he lived the life of a pop star, as the remarkably untalented Marky Mark. Remember? Yeah, we try to forget, too, but those sounds and images are burned into our brains, stained on our retinas forever. He had the hit song "Come On, Come On, Feel It, Feel It" (or something like that) and the other hit song that was a cover/redux of a much, much, much better Lou Reed song. Why'd you let him do it, Lou? Being the younger brother of one of the New Kids On The Block didn't hurt Marky Mark's career, as he opened for said boy band on their 1991 tour, helping to rocket his debut record, featuring his group The Funky Bunch, to the top of the charts. Which brings us to this day in 1994, when a woman claimed that she suffered injuries after being trampled at one of his shows, right after Marky had pulled down his pants, showed off his Calvin Klein tighty whities, and incited the prepubescent and disturbingly not-so-prepubescent crowd to rush the stage. We're really not sure whatever became of this lawsuit, but we don't think we'll ever forgive God or Lou Reed for unleashing (or this day for reminding us of) the "hip-hop" "stylings" of Marky Mark. Damn, now we can't get that song out of our head. BTW, whatever happened to The Funky Bunch? Come on, come on, feel it, feel it, Good Vibrations…

01.26: This day, 1957, saw the birth of one of the greatest guitar players ever to wander the planet, Kung Fu-style (man, we love that show), helping those in need, in their hour of rock 'n' roll desperation, ready to kick some audio-butt when the need arises, ready to rock at the drop of a mullet. We'll give you a hint as to who this mystery guitarist is. His last name is also the name of his band. Take a guess. We'll wait. Nelson? Wrong! Winger? Wrong! Toto? Awesome group, but, huh? Okay, in case you haven't guessed it yet, Eddie Van Halen celebrates his 57th b-day today and we are totally, insanely in love with his finger work. Wait. That didn't sound right. Eddie took guitar playing out of the '70s and into the '80s, playing his instrument in ways people didn't even know possible, setting the bar higher than most people could even see. Yes, we love Eddie's guitar playing, his contributions to rock, hard rock, specifically, and the legend that is Van Halen. From the eponymous Van Halen to the synthesizer-laden 1984 to the recent reunion tour, Van Halen has proven to be a powerhouse in the world of music again and again and again. And don't forget Eddie's solo on Michael Jackson's "Beat It," which stands the test of guitar-time and stands up to the best of the best, any way you look at it.

01.27: "(Sittin' On) The Dock Of The Bay" became Otis Redding's one and only #1 hit, entering the charts on this day in 1968, just a little over a month-and-a-half after he died in a plane crash at the age of 26 (which still blows our mind and makes us sad). Now, get ready for some learnin', kids. Otis actually wrote the bulk of the song while he was staying on a houseboat - in a bay! Richardson Bay to be exact, in-between the beautiful California towns of Sausalito and Strawberry (sounds like a '70s disco duo). The song departed from Otis' deep soul style, flirting with more pop sensibilities, inspired and influenced by The Beatles, allowing his writing partner, Steve Cooper, to pen more personal lyrics. Before Otis' death, they'd planned on recording the last verse, for which lyrics still needed to be written, but which is held now and forever in place with that insanely awesome whistle solo, and adding a horn section or backup vocals by The Staple Singers. These things, of course, never happened. Those plans ended in a cold lake in Wisconsin, two days after the song's recording. This is one of those things that just make us sit up and reflect on not only the nature and frailty of life, but also the beauty of which life is capable, the amazing ability of people to produce lasting art and have that art affect generations. This is Otis. This is his legacy. If "Dock Of The Bay" is your in, then you should take it because to explore Otis' catalog is to explore the history and vitality of not only soul music, but music itself.

01.28: Tying back in to Mr. Van Halen's b-day two days prior, this day in 1984 saw Van Halen's 1984 hit the album charts for an impressive run of rock popularity, churning out hits such as "Jump," "Panama," and "Hot For Teacher," which itself spawned one of the best videos ever to impress impressionable young men everywhere (it doesn't hurt that the song absolutely shreds). Quite a week for the then-recently-turned-27-Eddie and the rest of the guys. 1984 turned out to be one of their most popular albums, both critically and commercially, yet also turned out to be the last recorded with Diamond David Lee Roth. Every album after this one held the Van Halen moniker, but we consider them to be either slightly palatable (the Van Hagar years) or just complete crap (check out the Gary Cherone years, if you don't believe us). Though they've redeemed themselves recently with the reunion tour, nothing can ever go back to the good 'ol days, but that's how it should be. There's no going back, guys, but there will always be the fond memories and fuzzy feelings. And the "Hot For Teacher" video.

01.28: Before and after the American Music Awards on this day in 1985, a group of Super Friends gathered at the Hall of Justice to discuss what they needed to do to combat the evil Legion of Doom, and its evil influence upon third world countries. Ha! Fooled you! There's no such thing as the American Music Awards. Alright, enough messing around. On this day in 1985, a heretofore unheard of supergroup got together for one night and one night only to record one of the schmaltziest songs ever to accomplish the contradictory task of melting our brains (not in a good way) and helping out starving children in Africa, specifically Ethiopia. "We Are The World" eventually hit #1 and raised, along with the adjoining Hands Across America (remember that? No? Ask your parents) event, over $100 million for people in need in Africa and in our own country. We remember very awkwardly slow-dancing to "We Are The World" at a dance in junior high, remember seeing it ad nauseum on MTV, and wish that its chorus weren't burned into our brains until the day we die, but we are glad for the good it did and for the people it helped. One question to ask yourself, though, as you watch the video, is what the hell is Dan Aykroyd doing there? Yeah, we can't figure it out, either. Come on, there's Tina Tuner, Michael Jackson, Ray Charles, Willie Nelson, Paul Simon, Bruce Springsteen, Steve Perry, and such a plethora of mid-'80s superstars that we do a triple double take when Aykroyd shows up (sandwiched in-between Lindsey Buckingham and Harry Belafonte). Yes, Ghostbusters was insanely popular at the time, but, by that logic, Bill Murray, Harold Ramis, and Ernie Hudson shoulda been there, too, singing for the kids. Come on, at least get Ray Parker, Jr. in there. Well, we guess Aykroyd was one of the Blues Brothers, but, really, all he did was provide a little baritone to John Belushi's spastic stylings. We know that's way off topic, but it's one of those things that bounces through our head, so we just needed to release it. Thanks for listening and you should watch the "We Are The World" video right now (Aykroyd is at 4:18). You won't regret it. Unless you don't like having that chorus ring through your skull for the next week.

WE BELIEVE IN MUSIC - St. Mary’s Healthcare System for Children provides care for 4,000 children each day through inpatient, home care and community-based programs throughout the entire New York Metropolitan area. The majority of St. Mary’s children live in New York City, but kids from all over the Globe receive cutting-edge care in our facilities. Our family-centered model of caring for children in the least restrictive environment – their home— enhances the quality of life for children with special needs and their families.

TAKE TIME TO BE KIND.  To donate click here.  To learn more click here.

Hard Rock Cafe Oslo recently had the amazing, awesome, and incredible honor of hosting a pre-party and after-party for the one and only Motörhead! The guys were in town for a show, naturally, and, as always, were looking for a cool place to hang out, have some beers, jam a little, and meet some great people. HRC Oslo has that in spades, so it, of course, is the place for Lemmy, Mikkey, and Phil.

As it turns out, Victory Motorcycles had a little present for the guys, too. Well, actually, three presents, one for each of 'em: a custom Victory motorcycle. Man, it must be nice to be a rock star! We heard that the guys hung out until after 4 in the morning, carousing and having a good ol' time. We wish we coulda been there. We got these pics, though, so we wanted to share them with you, so that you, along with us, can live vicariously through them and pretend that you were having a beer with Lemmy and listening to them jam all night long at Hard Rock Cafe.

The Signature Series T-Shirt line started as a means for musicians and artists to collaborate with Hard Rock, in an effort to raise awareness and funds for deserving charities. Hard Rock International honors legendary guitarist Jimi Hendrix with the launch of the brand's Jimi Hendrix Signature Series: Edition 29 pin and T-shirt, featuring a visual representation of the music legend's most recognizable songs, conceived by Hendrix himself and relayed to Alan Aldridge, famed artist and creator of the iconic Hard Rock Cafe logo.

The limited-edition merchandise will be available in stores and the Online Rock Shop, with 15% of the retail price of both the pin and t-shirt benefiting The Fender Music Foundation and The Jimi Hendrix Park Foundation. The Jimi Hendrix Park Foundation is raising funds for a park in Seattle that will motivate youth and others to achieve in music and art. The Fender Music Foundation provides resources for music programs across America, so that kids and adults alike will have an opportunity to experience the joys of music.

01.18: To tell yet another little tale from the days of disco, we bring you the soaring and sad tale of one Studio 54, perhaps the most famous club in the history of NYC. Every time you watch a documentary about disco or about New York in the late '70s, you hear about Studio 54, about its bacchanalian days of sex, drugs, celebrities, and disco, about the hordes of people attempting entry into its maw, into its pleasure-filled space. Opened in 1977, the club became an immediate hit with celebrities, jet-setters, and ordinary people alike. When Bianca Jagger (Mick's then-wife) rode through the club on a white horse for her 32nd birthday, people wanted a piece of that, wanted to be there just in case they might see something like that, wanted to be a part of something bigger than anything else New York City had to offer at the time. Well, besides the rise of punk at CBGB in the West Village or hip-hop in the Bronx, but those are two entirely different stories, kids, and those two movements, which would leave far more of an impression than disco could ever dream of, received far less press and media attention than the drug-fueled insanity of Studio 54 and disco. Imagine that. Something real and based in human emotion being trumped in the media by a hyped-up seen-and-be-seen flash-in-the-pan party. But we digress. On this day in 1980, disco's beating heart seized and collapsed when the owners of Studio 54 were sent to prison for 3½ years, though they only served 13 months, for tax evasion. The club failed to survive their loss. They'd been skimming off the top for years, failing to pay taxes on much of the club's profit, and the IRS eventually came a callin', especially after Steven Rubell, the face of the club, repeatedly boasted in the press about how much money the operation pulled in. Not smart, Steven, not smart at all. The building was sold in 1981 and reopened under the Studio 54 moniker, but nothing could touch the debaucherous good times oft told about the original incarnation.

01.19: Janis, Janis, Janis…..what have you done to us? Janis Lyn Joplin, you totally captured our soul with your bourbon-and-cigarette-soaked voice, your hippy-dippy ways, with "Me and Bobby McGee." Then, you ripped out our heart with your self-destructive ways, your thirsty liver. That doesn't mean, though, that we won't celebrate your life whenever we get the chance. Like today, for instance. On this day in 1943, your presence on Earth became reality and we just wanted to wish you a happy birthday. We wish we could do it in person. You'd be 69 today. That woulda been awesome. Alas, 'twas not to be. Like all the greats who have gone away, however, we're thankful for what you left us, for those songs we can throw on anytime, remembering the musical goddess that walked amongst us.

"I have a dream...

We hold these truths to be self-evident:

that all are created equal."

- Martin Luther King Jr. (excerpt quote)

ALL IS ONE.

The Local "Ambassador" Program at the Hard Rock Cafe in Munich helped raise funds for the local Munich Children's Hospice, who provide terminally ill children with home based care.  The initiative was lead by our AGM, Oliver, who helped to develop the program and encourage support from Hard Rockers and guests.  TAKE TIME TO BE KIND.

01.09: Songbird Joan Baez flew into this world, and into, eventually, many a dirty hippy's heart, on this day in 1941. While her music and words are held in high esteem by many within the music community, many consider them to be fluff and her delivery to be grating. We dig her. Nuff said on that. We're celebrating another birthday today, as well, and we totally dig the fratastic stylings of one Mr. David John "Dave" Matthews who danced, very goofily, we might add, into this plane of existence on this day in 1967, in a little town known as Johannesburg, South Africa. Yeah, we know, it's not cool, in many music circles, to like Dave Matthews Band, but we do, so nanny, nanny, boo, boo, and get over yourself.

01.09: Jimmy Page. That's it. Jimmy Page. The man, the myth, the guitar god joined us on this plane of existence on this day in 1944. He probably joined us from some far off land, where guitars are the only means of communication, where he was the finest orator in all the land, holding sway over the masses, bidding them do as wished. Kinda like he does here on Earth, too, as a matter of fact. Being that he makes his guitar sing, that he brought a new, sometimes-ethereal dimension to the blues and to rock, alike, Jimmy Page is one of the most influential guitar players of all time. With Led Zeppelin, he brought the blues to arenas and stadiums the world over. Not an easy task, to say the least. Taking a music genre that'd been born in the backwoods of rural America and bringing it to the world, bringing it the the fore of music in the '70s, Jimmy and Led Zeppelin led the rock dominance of that decade. Most guitarists, whether they know it or not, from the late '60s on, have been influenced by his mammoth playing, his epic sweeps around the the auditory canal. Yeah, we said it. Auditory canal. He totally rocks ours, and we are thankful for his presence in music, in rock, in the blues, and in life. Happy birthday, Jimmy!

We've said it before, and we'll say it forever, Hard Rock likes to have a good time. You now what's even better than having a good time? When we are joined by friends and fun people in our good times. And music helps, too. And great food. Music + great food + fun people = good times! We might've stumbled onto something there. You know where you can find that equation in full effect? Hard Rock on New Year's Eve! (Well, anytime, really, but especially NYE.)

This year, Hard Rocks around the globe were joined by some of the coolest people in the world, helping us ring in 2012 in style. We just wanted to share a few pictures with you from some of those Hard Rock's around the globe. Just remember when December 2012 rolls around that Hard Rock is the place you want to be when that clock strikes midnight and the calendar rocks and rolls into a new year.