Hard Rock Cafe Opening Night London?:New pictures added

[celtex]

From what I can gather that night in 1971 was the grand opening. Could this be from that event? Maybe from the "pre" opening celebirty night on the 11th of HRC opening in LONDON.

Found in a field near a "fireworks stand". With an ACE 250. Wifey is getting the hang of it for sure!

 

[daroofa]

Re: Need help with this interesting find:Hard Rock Cafe Opening Night London?

JMHO, but I think you guys are reading too much into this. This was a 50 seat diner when it opened. This article from 1971 talks about a lot of the aspects of the restaurant and there is no mention of any bands having ever played there yet. The only reason they even started collecting memorabilia was because Eric Clapton liked the place and ate there often. He wanted a table reserved and asked that a plaque be put up over a booth and the owners laughingly suggested that he give them one of his guitars to put on the wall and he did. Pete Townsend was the next to send a guitar along with a note that said "Mine's as good as his."

Try sending a picture to Hard Rock corporate and see if anyone there recognizes it.

http://tinyurl.com/2fs2asl

Edited to add: It's probably a long shot, but I went to the website of one of the founders and emailed him the picture and asked for help in identifying it. http://www.isaac-tigrett.com/welcome.html

 

[daroofa]

Re: Need help with this interesting find:Hard Rock Cafe Opening Night London?

Well, I must say I was pleasantly surprised (and I stand corrected on the origination ) this morning to see a quick response to my email and I think you may be happy with the answer:

My original email:

Good Day Mr. Tigrett

I am trying to identify an item that was recently found and am having no luck and was hoping you might be able to tell me something about it. It is a small charm that was made to look like a ticket to an event in 1971 at the original cafe. Thank you for taking a few minutes to look at it and any help you could provide in identifying this item would be greatly appreciated.

Regards,
Dennis

His reply:

DENNIS, VERY INTERESTING...AS I DESIGNED EVERYTHING IT LOOKS FAMILIAR...IT MAY WELL BE FRIDAY JUNE11TH PRE OPENING CELEBRITY UNVEILING PARTY...WE OPENED MONDAY JUNE 14TH TO THE PUBLIC....I WILL RESEARCH A BIT MORE .....BUT IT IS PRICELESS TO HRC COLLECTORS AS ONLY 150 WERE MADE ...IF I (OR YOU FIND OUT) I WILL
WRITE LETTER OF AUTHENTICITY FOR YOU...WITH RESPECT, ISAAC TIGRETT FOUNDER AND CREATOR HARD ROCK CAFE LONDON , HYDE PARK CORNER JUNE 14TH 1971 AND HOUSE OF BLUES HARVARD SQUARE CAMBRIDGE MASS. NOVEMBER 23TH 1992


Amazing. Celtex...Just an idea, but you should email Mr. Tigrett your contact info and explain that you are the actual owner and I was inquiring on your behalf so you can receive the COA if it can be authenticated. This might even turn out to be banner worthy if its 1/150.

 

[GopherDaGold]

Re: Need help with this interesting find:Hard Rock Cafe Opening Night London?

By virtue of it's uniqueness AND the email response, I VOTE BANNER!

My ex-wifes sister's hubby is an HRC pin addict and has dragged her from sea to shining sea in a never-ending quest to feed his HRC pin habit.
I can vouch for Mr. Tigrett's statement as I've seen it.

 

[Dano Sverige]

Re: Need help with this interesting find:Hard Rock Cafe Opening Night London?

I also fired off a mail to London...Daroofa's reply is a lot better than mine but hey..i tried!

" Hard Rock did indeed open in June 1971 in London, at this time it was the only Hard Rock Cafe ever. However, as this dog tag shows the dollar value, we doubt that it came from our opening. If you get in contact with our head office based in Orlando, they can shed some more light on this dog tag for you!"



By Phone (within the US): 1.888.519.6683
By Phone (International): 407-445-7649
By Fax: 407-445-7885
By Email: customer_care@hardrock.com

Hard Rock Cafe International, Inc
Attn: Customer Care
6100 Old Park Lane
Orlando, FL 32835

 

[Bigcypresshunter]

Re: Need help with this interesting find:Hard Rock Cafe Opening Night London?

I also fired off a mail to London...Daroofa's reply is a lot better than mine but hey..i tried!

" Hard Rock did indeed open in June 1971 in London, at this time it was the only Hard Rock Cafe ever. However, as this dog tag shows the dollar value, we doubt that it came from our opening. If you get in contact with our head office based in Orlando, they can shed some more light on this dog tag for you!"

dog tag?

 

[nhagan]

Re: Need help with this interesting find:Hard Rock Cafe Opening Night London?

Wow very interesting find! I will be keeping an eye on this one! Great find bud!

Neil

 

[Bramblefind]

Re: Need help with this interesting find:Hard Rock Cafe Opening Night London?

This is fantastic! Great find Celtex! Nice going Daroofa!

 

[Dano Sverige]

Re: Need help with this interesting find:Hard Rock Cafe Opening Night London?

I also fired off a mail to London...Daroofa's reply is a lot better than mine but hey..i tried!

" Hard Rock did indeed open in June 1971 in London, at this time it was the only Hard Rock Cafe ever. However, as this dog tag shows the dollar value, we doubt that it came from our opening. If you get in contact with our head office based in Orlando, they can shed some more light on this dog tag for you!"

dog tag?

My initial reaction on seeing it...gimme a break!!!

 

[Bigcypresshunter]

Re: Need help with this interesting find:Hard Rock Cafe Opening Night London?

Mr. Tigrett's email is very interesting. Im curious as to why it would be in dollars and cents.

 

[Bramblefind]

Re: Need help with this interesting find:Hard Rock Cafe Opening Night London?

Mr. Tigrett's email is very interesting. Im curious as to why it would be in dollars and cents.

That didn't make sense to me at first either - but now I'm thinking it was all part of the style of the place. They were going for a very American themed diner. I read a period article that described the efforts they made for the opening to make it like something out of the USA. I could see them continuing that trend with dollar signs on the ticket.

 

[celtex]

Re: Need help with this interesting find:Hard Rock Cafe Opening Night London?

Well, I must say I was pleasantly surprised (and I stand corrected on the origination ) this morning to see a quick response to my email and I think you may be happy with the answer:

My original email:

Good Day Mr. Tigrett

I am trying to identify an item that was recently found and am having no luck and was hoping you might be able to tell me something about it. It is a small charm that was made to look like a ticket to an event in 1971 at the original cafe. Thank you for taking a few minutes to look at it and any help you could provide in identifying this item would be greatly appreciated.

Regards,
Dennis

His reply:

DENNIS, VERY INTERESTING...AS I DESIGNED EVERYTHING IT LOOKS FAMILIAR...IT MAY WELL BE FRIDAY JUNE11TH PRE OPENING CELEBRITY UNVEILING PARTY...WE OPENED MONDAY JUNE 14TH TO THE PUBLIC....I WILL RESEARCH A BIT MORE .....BUT IT IS PRICELESS TO HRC COLLECTORS AS ONLY 150 WERE MADE ...IF I (OR YOU FIND OUT) I WILL
WRITE LETTER OF AUTHENTICITY FOR YOU...WITH RESPECT, ISAAC TIGRETT FOUNDER AND CREATOR HARD ROCK CAFE LONDON , HYDE PARK CORNER JUNE 14TH 1971 AND HOUSE OF BLUES HARVARD SQUARE CAMBRIDGE MASS. NOVEMBER 23TH 1992


Amazing. Celtex...Just an idea, but you should email Mr. Tigrett your contact info and explain that you are the actual owner and I was inquiring on your behalf so you can receive the COA if it can be authenticated. This might even turn out to be banner worthy if its 1/150.

I too wrote Mr. Tigrett the 29th. But haven't heard from him yet. Thanks for your efforts! I will email him with the contact information you suggested.

 

[turtlefoot13]

Re: Need help with this interesting find:Hard Rock Cafe Opening Night London?

I like Hard Rock items and fired off an email to them the day this post went up (I was thinking it might be a rare piece). Here is their response:

"Dear Doug,

Thank you for contacting Hard Rock Customer Care and for your inquiry. We sincerely appreciate your interest in Hard Rock items. From what we have gathered, the item on the picture is a merchandise tag. Unfortunately, we don't have specific details available at this time regarding the merchandise piece this came with, but we are able to share with you that this has been used as a merchandise tag.

Please feel free to contact us again if we may be of any help to you in the future.

Love All Serve All!

Customer Care Team
customer_care@hardrock.com
(407) 445-7649
1-888-519-6683
Hard Rock International
6100 Old Park Lane
Orlando, FL 32835 USA"


I hope this helps some.
Doug

 

[Bigcypresshunter]

Re: Need help with this interesting find:Hard Rock Cafe Opening Night London?

Brass merchandise tag for a 3 dollar item? Tax included? Interesting idea. The mystery continues...

 

[turtlefoot13]

Re: Need help with this interesting find:Hard Rock Cafe Opening Night London?

Brass merchandise tag for a 3 dollar item? Tax included? Interesting idea. The mystery continues...

Seems a bit strange, doesn't it. I was wondering if it might have been a tag from some sort of 20th, 25th or 30th anniversary item. You know, a higher priced, limited edition type of item or something similar (especially if there was a private party that day in 1971).

Doug

 

[Bigcypresshunter]

Re: Need help with this interesting find:Hard Rock Cafe Opening Night London?

Brass merchandise tag for a 3 dollar item? Tax included? Interesting idea. The mystery continues...

Seems a bit strange, doesn't it. I was wondering if it might have been a tag from some sort of 20th, 25th or 30th anniversary item. You know, a higher priced, limited edition type of item or something similar (especially if there was a private party that day in 1971).

Doug

Yea maybe an anniversary merchandise tag, but not necessarily the price of the merchandise.

 

[turtlefoot13]

Re: Need help with this interesting find:Hard Rock Cafe Opening Night London?

Brass merchandise tag for a 3 dollar item? Tax included? Interesting idea. The mystery continues...

Seems a bit strange, doesn't it. I was wondering if it might have been a tag from some sort of 20th, 25th or 30th anniversary item. You know, a higher priced, limited edition type of item or something similar (especially if there was a private party that day in 1971).

Doug

Yea maybe an anniversary merchandise tag, but not necessarily the price of the merchandise.

The pic that came into my mind when they said merchandise tag was something similar to the old Nike or Converse tags that used to come with some of the higher end shoes. In the 1980's I worked for a sporting goods company in the Chicago area and I remember there used to be "collectible" give-aways with the Air Jordans and the like. If you bought a $150.00 pair of basketball shoes, you would get a brass ticket looking thing with the Nike logo on one side and something on the other side.

Doug

 

[Bigcypresshunter]

Re: Need help with this interesting find:Hard Rock Cafe Opening Night London?

I also fired off a mail to London...Daroofa's reply is a lot better than mine but hey..i tried!

" Hard Rock did indeed open in June 1971 in London, at this time it was the only Hard Rock Cafe ever. However, as this dog tag shows the dollar value, we doubt that it came from our opening. If you get in contact with our head office based in Orlando, they can shed some more light on this dog tag for you!"

dog tag?

My initial reaction on seeing it...gimme a breakk!!!

I googled Hard Rock Cafe dog tag but this was all I could come up with. http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3617/3482744664_6830015a5d_o.jpg

Does the item have any remains of shiny jewelry plating?

 

[celtex]

Re: Need help with this interesting find:Hard Rock Cafe Opening Night London?

"Does the item have any remains of shiny jewelry plating?"

None, it is just brass. Mr. Tigrett (started the HRC in London with his brother) remembers the item so we are waiting on him to get back to us. Other collectors have never seen the item as well. He said there were 150 of them made for the Celebrity Opening the Friday ther 11th before they opened on the 14th.

 

[Bigcypresshunter]

Re: Need help with this interesting find:Hard Rock Cafe Opening Night London?

"Does the item have any remains of shiny jewelry plating?"

None, it is just brass. Mr. Tigrett (started the HRC in London with his brother) remembers the item so we are waiting on him to get back to us. Other collectors have never seen the item as well. He said there were 150 of them made for the Celebrity Opening the Friday ther 11th before they opened on the 14th.

Yes he said it looked familiar and that is very nice of him to research it a bit further for you.
I hope he is correct. That would be great.

 

[Bramblefind]

Re: Need help with this interesting find:Hard Rock Cafe Opening Night London?

It might be interesting to see if any bands might have played at the fireworks stand you found it at. Maybe you can trace it to someone who was invited to that June 11th pre-opening.