NEWS FROM THE HARD ROCK CAFE

HARD ROCK CAFE LONDON UNCOVERS RARE BAND AID DEMO
HARD ROCK CAFE, OLD PARK LANE - WEDNESDAY 18 MAY 2011

An original demo of the famous Band Aid single ‘Do The Know It’s Christmas’ was discovered today at the Hard Rock Cafe during the restaurant’s ‘Antiques Rockshow Event’.

The DAT tape was brought in by a member of the public and contains vocals from only Sting and Midge Ure. Sent over from America specifically for valuation by Bonhams at the London event, the tape still plays and is thought to be one of the first ever recordings of the song in existence, recorded during 1984 in Ure’s kitchen.

Estimated that it would auction for over £100,000, the tape was the definite highlight of Hard Rock’s first ever Antiques Rockshow. Today marked the start of the brand’s 40 Days That Rock which celebrates Hard Rock’s 40th birthday and culminates in the three day Hard Rock Calling Festival in Hyde Park. Other activities planned for the celebratory period include a guitar amnesty where the public are encouraged to bring old, used and damaged guitars to be fixed up and given to Barnardo’s for the Rock Stars of the future.

And on 14th June the Old Park Lane establishment will play host to the 1971 menu. The food will be available for the same price it was when the Cafe first opened its doors on 14th June 1971.

Other items uncovered at the Antiques Rockshow include an original signed Sting T Shirt, several Bob Dylan Bootlegs, Roger Daltrey’s signed microphone and an original piece of Pink Floyd stage backdrop. One of the day’s more interesting finds was bought in by Joel McIver of Total Guitar Magazine, a guitar smashed by Dimebag Darrell of heavy metal band Pantera during an interview with the magazine. Dimebag was shot dead on stage in 2004 during a gig in Ohio, USA, only six months after the interview took place. Valuations for the broken guitar came in around £3,000.

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About Hard Rock International

With a total of 163 venues in 50 countries, including 126 cafes and 15 Hotels/Casinos, Hard Rock International is one of the world's most globally recognized brands. Beginning with an Eric Clapton guitar, Hard Rock owns the world's greatest collection of music memorabilia, which is displayed at its locations around the globe. Hard Rock is also known for its collectible fashion and music-related merchandise, Hard Rock Live performance venues and an award-winning website. In addition to the two flagship Seminole Hard Rock Hotels and Casinos in Tampa and Hollywood, Fla., Hard Rock Hotels/Casinos are located in Las Vegas, Biloxi, Orlando, Chicago, San Diego, Pattaya, Bali, Macau, Penang, Singapore and Punta Cana. Additional hotel and casino projects have been announced in Panama, scheduled to open in 2012; and Hungary, Dubai and Abu Dhabi, scheduled to open in 2013. Hard Rock International is owned by Seminole Hard Rock Entertainment, Inc. For further details on Hard Rock Hotels and Casinos, visit www.hardrockhotels.com. For more information on Hard Rock International, visit www.hardrock.com.

Bonhams, founded in 1793, is one of the world's oldest and largest auctioneers of fine art and antiques. The present company was formed by the merger in November 2001 of Bonhams & Brooks and Phillips Son and Neale UK. In August 2002, the company acquired Butterfields, the principal firm of auctioneers on the West Coast of America. Today, Bonhams offers more sales than any of its rivals, through two major salerooms in London: New Bond Street, and Knightsbridge, and a further five throughout the UK. Sales are also held in San Francisco, Los Angeles, Carmel, New York and Boston in the USA; Toronto, Canada; and France, Monaco, Hong Kong, Australia and Dubai. Bonhams has a worldwide network of offices and regional representatives in 25 countries offering sales advice and valuation services in 57 specialist areas. By the end of 2009, Bonhams had become UK market leaders in ten key specialist collecting areas. For a full listing of upcoming sales, plus details of Bonhams specialist departments, go to www.bonhams.com (May 2010).

For further information please contact:

Frank PR– 0207 693 6999