05.22: Steven Patrick Morrissey sauntered his way into this world on this day in 1959. Better known by his last name, Morrissey went on to become the frontman for The Smiths, one of the most important English alternative bands of the '80s and a brooding symbol of teenage angst to this day. After the breakup of the The Smiths, Morrissey's gone on to great solo success, having released some of his best work in the last few years and still pulling in crowds to his shows worldwide. Happy birthday, Steven!
05.24: Quick! By what nom de plume is Robert Allen Zimmerman better known by? He's only the most important musician of the last 50 years! If you said Bob Dylan you get a cookie. Bobby, as we like to call him, was born on this day in 1941. One of the greatest, if not the greatest, singer/songwriters ever to take up a guitar, Mr. Dylan's contributions to the '60s canon, and well beyond, can never be underestimated. From his early work in folk, leading the way for the protest music that would influence the decade, to his plugging in, leading the way for the electric and psychedelic music that would also inform the decade and rock music well beyond, Bob Dylan's music built on his own emotions, his own stories, and took over popular music. Bob is the man, and without him, for better and worse, music would not have been the same over the last 50 years. We could go on and on and on, but we shan't. If you wanna know more about the man, just use that newfangled interwebs. It's got everything.
Way to go Trace! Hard Rock is proud to serve alongside you to support the American Red Cross. To purchase the limited edition Hard Rock pin to benefit the Red Cross click here. 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 mid-'50s and exploded in the mid-'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 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 our 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!
On March 15th, Hard Rock Cafe Indianapolis kicked off the Count It! For Cat fundraiser. Count It! For Cat was founded by J.J. Debrosse and his wife, when they tragically lost their daughter Catherine to SIDS. Because J.J. is a Butler alumni and dedicated fan, he started a scholarship for a female athlete in Cat’s name and to raise awareness of SIDS. The Hard Rock Local Ambassador team in Indianapolis helped spread awareness about SIDS and raised funds for this deserving cause.
05.08: On this day in 1990, a Los Angeles court awarded singer/songwriter Tom Waits $2.5 million, upholding his claim that 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 voice-over when you're trying to sell bags of chips. A pack of smokes, maybe. A bottle of bourbon, for sure. But chips? Really, Doritos?
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.
As some of you may know, and some of you may not, we started a record label last year: Hard Rock Records. So far, we've got two bands on the label, Rosco Bandana and Flashlights (who've just released their first EP on Hard Rock Records; check 'em out by clicking here!) with a few more waiting in the wings for their time in the spotlight. You might've read the press release or visited the website, but we wanted to delve a little deeper into the label and the reasoning behind its creation. So, we sat down with James Buell, Co-Head of A&R with Blake Smith, and talked to him about Hard Rock Records.
Bite a Legendary™ Burger, Snap a Picture, Post it Socially and Win a Trip to Hard Rock Hotel and Casino Punta Cana Every Day in May
The hamburger has long been considered America’s unofficial food, and since its founding by two Americans in London more than 40 years ago, Hard Rock Cafe has served as a burger ambassador – bringing its “Legendary” selection of delectable American burgers to 57 countries around the world. To celebrate National Burger Month this May, Hard Rock surveyed fans around the globe to determine international burger-eating habits and gain some insights as to why this American-staple has become an international favorite. State of the Burger – Statistics
The Hard Rock Cafe Margarita performed the cleanup and recovery of Narvaez Square in Pampatar, Margarita Island, as part of our Save the Planet program. On Earth Day, with the help of the Town Hall of the municipality Maneiro, the Mayor Darvelis Avila and her staff, the local Ambassador team helped with the recovery of this square with the planting of plants for all the neighboring community. Our commitment along with the Town Hall is to maintain this Square so that this initiative will continue over time. SAVE THE PLANET.
04.30: On this day in 1933 William Hugh “Willie” Nelson was born. 80 years old! Holy cow, what a guy. We could go on and on and on about Willie, but we shan't. Instead, we'll just say that Willie is one of the most down-to-earth, vibrant, original and amazing guys ever to command a stage. And he smoked a joint on the roof of the White House. Nuff said. If you can name the president who invited him there, without looking it up, you are a true fan. Happy birthday, Willie! We love you, man!
05.01: On this day in 1967 Elvis Presley married Priscilla Beaulieu in Las Vegas. And they lived happily ever after.
05.03: On this day in 1969 Jimi Hendrix was arrested on drug charges at Toronto International Airport after officials found heroin and hashish in his luggage. Hendrix was released on $10,000 bail and acquitted of the charges at a jury trial in December. His argument that convinced the jury? The drugs were slipped into his bags by a fan. Right, Jimi. A "fan." Wink, wink, nudge, nudge.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY WILLIE!
HARD ROCK CELEBRATES WILLIE NELSON’S 80th BIRTHDAY WITH THE ANNOUNCEMENT OF A NEW PARTNERSHIP
NELSON AND HARD ROCK PARTNER TO BENEFIT TWO HAND SELECTED CHARITIES: THE SUSTAINABLE BIODIESEL ALLIANCE AND THE ANIMAL WELFARE INSTITUTE, THROUGH AN ARTIST SPOTLIGHT SERIES.
TO LAUNCH ON JUNE 6, 2013 WITH A PERFORMANCE BY WILLIE NELSON AND FAMILY BAND AT HARD ROCK CAFE NEW YORK.
Limited-Edition Bandanna, T-Shirt and 2 Unique Pins available June 6, 2013 Online and at Hardrock.com and at Participating Locations, for more info please click here.
ALL IS ONE.
Original Photo Credit: Danny Clinch