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Hard Rock CafeThe Hard Rock Cafe restaurant chain was founded by Isaac Tigrett and Peter Morton, two Americans, on June 14, 1971. Their first Hard Rock Cafe opened on Piccadilly in a former car showroom close to Hyde Park Corner, where they began to cover the walls with rock 'n' roll ephemera. It was reportedly named after side one of The Doors' 1970 album, Morrison Hotel, which was in turn named after a now closed bar in Los Angeles depicted on the back cover of Morrison Hotel. The chain began global expansion in 1982 when the two agreed to develop their own cafes across the world. Morton opened Hard Rocks in Los Angeles, San Francisco, Chicago, and Houston while Tigrett did so in New York City, Dallas, Boston, Washington, DC, Orlando, Paris, and Berlin. Eventually Tigrett sold his interest to Mecca Leisure. In 1990 The Rank Organisation acquired Mecca Leisure and continued expanding the cafes, acquiring the cafes owned by Morton a few years later. There are more than 143 Hard Rock Cafes in over 36 countries at current date, with several more in the works. Hard Rock was most popular in the 1980s when it was a common hobby to visit as many locations as possible and collect a Hard Rock t-shirt bearing their logo and the location name. Now pin collecting is the current rage. Hard Rock is best known not for its food but for its atmosphere. The cafes solicit donations of music memorabilia and have the world's largest collection of such. Things like autographed guitars, outfits from world tours and rare photographs are oft to be found mounted on cafe walls. The collection began in 1971 with the gift of a signed guitar from Eric Clapton, who was a regular at the first restaurant in London. Pete Townshend of The Who got wind of this and sent in one of his guitars, also signed. Attached was a note: "Mine's better! Love, Pete." Hard Rock has now started building hotels and casinos, attracting more visitors around the world. Hard Rock Hotel and Casinos can be found in Las Vegas, Tampa Bay, Hollywood (Florida), and London. In recent years, critics claim Hard Rock's direction has shifted. What was once an independently spirited, musically influenced chain has "gone commercial." Music videos are piped into all cafes from a central location that are more of a pop music nature than rock and roll. Where once you might see a rare Beatles record now hangs Britney Spears' waitress outfit from a music video clip (as in Hard Rock New Orleans.) See also External links
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