The Hard Rock Cafe in Maui hosted a very special community gathering to support an extrodinary Lil' Rocker as part of the Embrace Life for Trek Atlas event on May 12th. ALL IS ONE.
05.14: On this day in 1998, Ol' Blue Eyes, Frank Sinatra, relinquished his position as The Chairman of the Board. He was 82. It's hard to imagine today how big Sinatra was in the '30s, '40s, '50s, and '60s, especially when rock 'n' roll came on the scene in '50s and exploded in the '60s. Still vibrant when Elvis shook his hips, when The Beatles played Sullivan, and when Hendrix closed out Woodstock, Frank got his start during the swing and big band days of the '30s, doing his part to get the U.S. through the Great Depression and World War II. Swing was to that time what rock was to the '60s. That is, everything. Those kids today (shaking our fists in front of our grumpy face) think that jazz, swing, and big band were innocuous and lame. Oh, how wrong they are. Swing and jazz got people on their feet as never before. It got them moving in "libidinous" ways, boys and girls, dancing together, mass hysteria! Well, it wasn't that bad, but jazz hit in a big way, and Frank rode that wave way beyond swing's heyday, taking what he'd learned in the big bands and applying it to his own crooning style. This style hit at just the right time and in just the right ways. Sinatra became a heartthrob in the late '40s, driving girls crazy at the same time The Beatles were still in diapers. Frank was huge. He went through his ups and down, but even in 1969, at the age of 54, he scored a huge hit with "My Way." Think about it. In the age of rock, Frank Sinatra was king again, with a song that sounded like it was straight out of Radio City Music Hall in 1948. Alright, we've rambled on enough. You get the idea. Sinatra rules. He was rock 'n' roll before rock 'n' roll.
05.17: On this day in 1965, his industrial majesty Trent Reznor was born. We still remember the first time we witnessed "Head Like A Hole" on the MTV. We know it wasn't the first industrial song, the first industrial video, and that Trent didn't invent industrial music, but it still rocked our world and opened out mind to that merging of electronic and metal. And, if that first album, Pretty Hate Machine, was the first salvo in bringing industrial to our ears, it was his next album, the insanely detailed, dense and dark The Downward Spiral, that really solidified Trent's vision in our minds. The man is a composer of industrial metal awesomeness and today we celebrate his entry into this world. Huzzah!
Hard Rock Cafe Phuket Local Ambassador Program supported their local “Child Care Center – CHILD WATCH PHUKET” located at Kathu, to help provide necessary items for the children. This project was lead by “TIKKY” Rock Shop Sales Agent who found this house that needed our help and support and the kids were very much happy. Child Care Center – CHILD WATCH PHUKET was established in December 11, 1995 as legal non-government organization, set-up and managed by the local community and has operated up the present. By protecting, assisting and taking care of children’s rights effectively the organization has become well recognized. In 2006, the organization received a Royal Award for its Legal & Protection Emphasis on the Right and Care of Children & Youth from Ministry of Social Development & Human Security. Hard Rock Cafe Phuket team included: Tikky Halinangsana Klapsonk, Philanthropy Ambassador, Rock Shop Sales Agent Extraordinaire and leader of this initiative Jeab Sasichol, Director of Sales and Marketing Paula Buntheurng, Director of Human Resources & Legal Affairs Chalit Polklum, Operations Manager Hard Rock Team : Giffy, Wi, Gina, Sofia, Pla, Pat, Lin Hui, and Nhong Boy Supat,
ALL IS ONE.
Nothing quite defines Rock and Roll like the electric guitar, according to artist Michael Babyak.
Whether it’s ringing with the early riffs of John Lee Hooker, rockin’ with the sounds of the Rolling Stones or blazing with the likes of Jeff Beck, Hendrix or Stevie Ray, the electric guitar has emerged as the world’s common instrument of choice and the messenger of some of the world’s greatest music. It’s only appropriate, Babyak believes, the instrument be immortalized in art. A guitar player himself, Michael’s vibrant, energetic mixed media paintings do the instrument justice.
Hard Rock Cafe Honolulu participated in the local Keiki Day festivities. Keiki Day is the partnership of The Honolulu Star Advertiser and Parents And Children Together (PACT) to raise awareness of their community initiatives and to achieve fundraising goals with full support of the mayor’s and governor’s office. Oahu students from grades 1 through 12 were given the unique opportunity to express themselves through their art and writing and was published in The Honolulu Star Advertiser for all of Hawaii to enjoy! Students were encouraged to submit original stories, poems, or artwork for the Keiki Day Creativity Contest. ALL IS ONE.
The Hard Rock team, along with WhyHunger, visited IMAGINE THERE'S NO HUNGER partner - the Tohono O'Odham Nation in Sells, AZ to learn more about their feeding and sustainable agriculture programs. ALL IS ONE.
The Hard Rock Cafe in Las Vegas helped the Las Vegas Rescue Mission with a cool new set of wheels to help in their efforts in the community. ALL IS ONE.
05.08: On this day in 1990, a Los Angeles court awarded singer/songwriter Tom Waits $2.5 million, upholding his claim the Frito-Lay corporation unlawfully used a Tom Waits sound-alike in promotions for their Salsa Rio Doritos Chips. What advertising company in its right mind uses a Tom Waits sound-alike to hock anything? Don't get us wrong, we adore Tom Waits, but his voice isn't for everyone. Actually, his voice is something only a mother or true fan could love. It is distinct and gritty and awesome. It's just not the most natural voiceover when you're trying to sell bags of chips. A pack of smokes, maybe. A bottle of bourbon, for sure. But chips? Really, Frito-Lay?
05.09: On this day in 1949 the Piano Man, Billy Joel, was born. We heard he came out playing a piano, that's how destined he was to be The Piano Man. We're not sure if that story is true or if we just made it up right now.
Hey Monea! from Cleveland, Ohio, took the top spot in Hard Rock Rising: The Global Battle Of The Bands. Fierce competition during every phase of the contest didn't deter Hey Monea!, as they kept their eyes straight ahead and focused on winner. From creatively motivating and thanking their fans to vote online to getting airtime on Cleveland morning TV, the band really, really, really wanted to win this thing. And they did!
ICONIC ARTISTS INCLUDING LEVON HELM, ROSANNE CASH, CARLY SIMON AND OTHERS PERFORM “TOAST TO FREEDOM” SONG AS TRIBUTE TO AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL’S 50th ANNIVERSARY
RELEASE ON WORLD PRESS FREEDOM DAY ENCOURAGES PEOPLE TO ACT ON BEHALF OF IMPRISONED JOURNALISTS AND OTHERS
Amnesty International today releases “Toast To Freedom,” a new and exclusive commemorative song dedicated to human rights activism around the world and performed by nearly 50 artists, including the late Levon Helm, Kris Kristofferson, Carly Simon, Angelique Kidjo, Ewan McGregor, Donald Fagen, Warren Haynes, Keb Mo, Eric Burdon, Taj Mahal, Florent Pagny, Marianne Faithfull, Jane Birkin, Jimmy Barnes, Rosanne Cash, Shawn Mullins, the Blind Boys of Alabama, among others.
“Toast To Freedom,” which celebrates Amnesty International’s 50th anniversary, is being released to coincide with World Press Freedom Day. It’s available for purchase via online retailers worldwide via www.ToastToFreedom.org. Net proceeds will benefit Amnesty International. For more click here.
LOVE ALL - SERVE ALL.