Everyone knows the Hard Rock memorabilia collection is chock-full of amazing instruments, handwritten lyrics, incredible clothing and other traditionally “important” bits of history, but we’ve also got quite an assortment of exceedingly bizarre stuff. A comprehensive list of the weirdness in our collection would take up all of your computer’s bandwidth, so let’s just take a look at some of the goofiest pieces currently on our interactive memorabilia website.
It’s safe to say that folks wouldn’t normally expect to go into a Hard Rock and see a toaster on display, but we like to defy expectations. Here’s an absolutely inexplicable wedding gift from mega producer Chris Thomas to Elton John. Elton shocked the world in 1984 by marrying a woman – German recording engineer Renate Blauel. The marriage only lasted four years until Elton decided he could “no longer deny my true nature.” This toaster was engraved to the couple and reads, “You can choose between muffins and crumpets”. Make of that what you will.
This piece of psychedelic “Mad Hatter” artwork is more than just a groovy picture. It’s a perforated sheet of L.S.D. There are 900 tiny squares that were intended to be dipped in the drug and probably distributed at some horribly psychedelic Grateful Dead show. Acid blotters are a unique art form, and we own some pretty amazing examples. Don’t narc us out, man.
This is a fantastic example of fan art. It’s a drawing from the mid-‘60s that depicts a sort of composite character who has individual traits of all 5 Rolling Stones – Mick’s hair, Brian’s face, Keith’s eyes, Charlie’s nose, and Bill’s mouth. A teenage girl in England created this masterpiece and managed to get the Stones to sign it. In its own weird way, this is one of the most endearing Stones pieces in our collection.
Here’s a completely over-the-top pencil sketch from a teenage Jim Morrison back when the future Lizard King was a high school student. We’ve got a bunch of these adolescent Morrison drawings, and they’re all prime candidates for psychoanalysis.
Here’s one that can be filed in the “We Have No Idea” folder. It’s a plaque that was presented to Sammy Davis, Jr., by Caesar’s Palace in ’77. Yes, it’s a recipe for Milano sauce and Milano meatballs. No, we don’t know why. The cryptic “Good Luck, Bobby” on the bottom only makes this thing more of a head-scratcher. We like to think that the “Bobby” mentioned is Robert Goulet – because that would be awesome – but we honestly have no idea what’s going on with this kitschy bit of Vegas weirdness.
The King had a lot of toys. This display of slot cars and a control stick came straight from Graceland. Elvis and the Memphis Mafia could kick back and enjoy a little racing action in the comfort of the King’s gold gilt and leopard skin parlor. Rest assured the Memphis Mafia always let Elvis win.
Holy moly. A bedazzled rotary phone? Yes. A bedazzled rotary phone. It was Jefferson Airplane/Starship singer Grace Slick’s personal communicator, so a non-bedazzled phone just wouldn’t do for a giant rock icon such as Grace. Strangely, this phone will only call someone named “Rollo” who picks up and says, “How much you need, baby?”
A few years before they formed Apple Corps, The Beatles did this poster in conjunction with the U.K. Dental board. Its purpose was to encourage kids to eat an apple after every meal because, “It’s nature’s toothbrush!”
This thing gives the phrase “shoot your mouth off” a very literal meaning. It’s a microphone/gun thing that Prince used on his 1997 Jam of the Year tour. The idea of Prince pointing this thing directly at his mouth is disturbing on about 23 different levels.
We’ve seen more bizarre guitars than you can possibly imagine, but this thing right here is the holy grail of weirdness. It’s a custom (obviously) Hamer “sax guitar” that was built for Cheap Trick’s Rick Nielsen. This guitar has a functional sax mouthpiece that makes a strange little honking noise, but it also has synthesizer electronics installed. So – it’s a guitar/sax/synth. Never ask why, ask why not. Click the photo to see a short video of Rick with this crazy thing.
We’re going to keep on digging up some of the hidden oddities from our gigantic collection to share with you, so check back with us often. Also, be sure to check out our memorabilia website and our fancy new Facebook page. It’s the second most fun you’ll ever have sitting at a computer – especially if you’re at work.