On the day I left home for college, my mother presented me with a quilt she had secretly made from all of my favorite T-shirts. That collection of wearable memories, which still fit my personality, even if my body outgrew each one long ago. The 20 lovingly hand-stitched, well-worn panels included soccer jerseys, a marching band uniform, the freebie that came with my university acceptance letter, and two turquoise and purple panels with zippers that I still say belonged to my brother - I swear. But the undeniable theme of the quilt was Hard Rock Cafe. Seven panels in all, I had visited each rock-n-roll Mecca and I wore the T-shirts proudly. London, Paris, Amsterdam, D.C., New York, Chicago and Orlando. I remember how I felt as I passed "Save the Planet" and "No Drugs or Nuclear Weapons" signs walking through the signature gold and glass double doors at each location. It was the closest I had ever come to rock stars and famous people, and the rush from getting smacked by Hard Rock's sights, sounds and sizeable memorabilia stick was an experience I simply couldn't forget.

I remember the first time I felt like that outside of a Hard Rock Cafe, too. It was shortly after joining Klipsch as a marketing specialist when my boss (the lovely and talented Mrs. Christine Haley Pyle) nonchalantly asked me to call Kenny Aronoff to confirm his approval of some ad copy. Yes, world-renowned rock-n-roll drummer and all around cool-as-hell Kenny Aronoff. It's been two years since that call, (Kenny approved the copy) and my current contact list of rock stars and famous people makes me a hit at parties. But the lesson I have learned is this: outside of the music itself, there are only two things in this world that get my rock-n-roll mojo working - the Hard Rock Cafe and Klipsch.

It seems I'm not the only one to sense a connection between these two companies. On March 8, Klipsch Audio Technologies CEO Fred Klipsch and Hard Rock Cafe International President and CEO Peter Beaudrault unveiled a new strategic alliance that places Klipsch loudspeakers in Hard Rock Cafe restaurants and retail locations; Hard Rock Hotel and Casino "high roller" suites and Hard Rock live performance stages and other venues around the world.

According to Fred Klipsch, the alliance could blossom into a multi-year, multi-million dollar business relationship that creates what he calls "ultimate entertainment-based experiences."

"Our relationship with Hard Rock Cafe is much broader than selling premium loudspeakers alone, Fred Klipsch said. "We are working together with Showorks Entertainment Group to offer Hard Rock Cafe and their 28 million annual customers more for their entertainment dollar. With our recent acquisition of Mondial Designs, the Acurus and Aragon brands, we expect to provide Hard Rock Cafe with complete systems solutions, too. From high end electronics to ultradynamic transducers, this is big, really big."

Hard Rock Cafe is celebrating its 30th anniversary in 2001. As the originator of theme restaurant dining, Hard Rock Cafe continues to be the dominant rock connection for music enthusiasts worldwide. Hard Rock Cafe is one of the most globally recognized brands known for rock music memorabilia as showcased throughout its signature cafes, live concerts, Hard Rock Live performance venues, collectible and fashion merchandise, hardrock.com, the Hard Rock Records music label and Hard Rock Hotels. Each Hard Rock Cafe facility is built around an entertainment principle that immerses guests in a fun, exciting audio/video environment that constantly stimulates the senses.

The Hard Rock Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas, which is operated by former Hard Rock Cafe co-founder Peter Morton under a licensing agreement with Hard Rock Cafe International, is already featuring surround sound systems using Klipsch Synergy Custom in-wall loudspeakers in its "celebrity" suites and Klipsch Synergy All-weather models with KSW-10 subwoofers in its "high roller" suites. Panasonic Corporate Systems chose Klipsch for this installation.

The original Hard Rock Cafe, established in London in 1971, was recently remodeled. Showorks Entertainment Group designed and installed the legendary nightspot's new state-of-the-art audio/video system, which includes Klipsch KI Series professional loudspeakers for its live performance stage and distributed sound. Next, Hard Rock Cafes in Paris, France and additional European locations will undergo upgrades to Klipsch sound systems. Audio/Video retrofits are also planned for several U.S. properties, including Hard Rock Cafes in Washington D.C., New Orleans, Las Vegas, Orlando, Fla., Myrtle Beach, S.C. and Honolulu.

President and CEO Beaudrault said: "Hard Rock is undertaking an aggressive development program that will position us as the dominant music-centric brand in the areas of restaurants, cafes, hotels, casinos, retail stores, clubs and the Internet. By establishing Klipsch as the preferred loudspeaker brand of Hard Rock Cafe, we're telling our guests that we are serious about offering visitors the most dynamic entertainment experience available."

According to Lance Jones, senior vice president of corporate development for Klipsch, both companies are exploring independent and cross-promotional marketing opportunities that maximize Hard Rock's positioning as the "dominant music-centric brand" in all of its entertainment markets. He said the Internet will play a large role in how both Klipsch and Hard Rock leverage the new strategic alliance.

More about Hard Rock Cafe

Hard Rock Cafe International Corporate Overview:

For the past 30 years, Hard Rock Cafe has embodied the spirit of rock music. As the originator of theme-restaurant dining, Hard Rock Cafe continues to be the dominant rock connection for music enthusiasts worldwide. Hard Rock Cafe is one of the most globally recognized brands known for rock music memorabilia as showcased throughout its signature cafes, live concerts, Hard Rock Live performance venues, collectible and fashion merchandise, hardrock.com, the Hard Rock Records music label and Hard Rock Hotels. Hard Rock Cafe has always provided a forum for new and legendary performers through live cafe performances and concerts, such as Hard Rock Live presented by American Express and Hard Rock Cafe Rockfest. Since its founding in 1971, Hard Rock Cafe has become a leading entertainment and leisure company through music-related ventures relevant to all generations.

Hard Rock Cafe International, Inc. is a wholly owned subsidiary of London-based The Rank Group Plc and owns and/or franchises a worldwide network of more than 100 Hard Rock Cafes in more than 36 countries. Of the more than 100 locations worldwide, more than 50 are company owned and more than 45 are franchised. Hard Rock Cafe is scheduled to open two new locations in the year 2000 and one hotel in the year 2001. Hard Rock Cafe International oversees two full-service hotels in Las Vegas and Bali. The company will open a hotel in Orlando in January 2001.

History

Peter Morton and Isaac Tigrett established the first Hard Rock Cafe in London in 1971. Hard Rock Cafe began its global expansion in 1982 when Tigrett and Morton agreed to develop their own Hard Rock Cafes in various parts of the globe. Morton opened Hard Rock Cafes in Los Angeles, San Francisco, Chicago and Houston. Tigrett opened locations in New York, Dallas, Boston, Washington, D.C., Orlando, Paris and Berlin, eventually selling his interest to Mecca Leisure. In 1990, The Rank Group, Plc. acquired Mecca and continued expansion of the concept in their geographic territory. Rank then acquired Hard Rock America from Peter Morton, consolidated worldwide control of the Brand, and with it, one of the most universally recognized trademarks.

The story of the birth of Hard Rock Cafe's memorabilia collection is itself a part of music history. The collection started when Eric Clapton, a regular customer at the original Hard Rock Cafe London, asked the staff if he could hang his guitar on the wall to mark his favorite bar stool as "his spot." They did, and one week later, a package from The Who's Pete Townsend arrived with a guitar and a note bearing the message, "Mine's as good as his! Love, Pete."

Hard Rock Cafes

For more than a quarter century, Hard Rock Cafes around the world have come to epitomize the timeless energy, originality and unifying spirit that have helped shape rock music over the last 50 years. Every Hard Rock Cafe offers a unique experience, from specific memorabilia that pays tribute to legendary and new musicians rooted in each area to authentic, collectible merchandise that reflects the spirit of the city. Visited by more than 28 million guests each year, Hard Rock Cafe offers high-quality American fare and great service in a high-energy music atmosphere featuring music memorabilia that celebrates new and legendary artists.

With more than 100 cafes in more than 36 countries, Hard Rock Cafe has become a truly global phenomenon. From its first cafe in London, England, to locations in major cities, including New York, Los Angeles, Paris and Tokyo, and exotic settings such as Kuala Lumpur and Taipei, Hard Rock Cafe continues to offer the ultimate music experience to guests around the world.

Hard Rock Memorabilia

Hard Rock Cafe is the world's original curator of music memorabilia with the most far-reaching collection that includes 63,000 pieces worth nearly $32 million. Celebrating new and legendary music icons, the Hard Rock Cafe collection is showcased at Hard Rock Cafes, Hard Rock Live venues and Hard Rock Hotels around the world. A full-time staff oversees all aspects of the Hard Rock collection - from the initial procurement of an artifact to its maiden installation at a Hard Rock Cafe location. Among the pieces in the collection are photos, guitars and other instruments, clothing and costumes, platinum and gold LPs, posters and album art, and other rare music artifacts. Hard Rock Cafe updates the memorabilia displays in its cafes every five years to ensure customers have the best rock music memorabilia and entertainment experience.

Hard Rock Cafe Merchandise

Hard Rock Cafe is known for its collectible and fashion merchandise. Sales of merchandise featuring the Hard Rock Cafe signature logo, including T-shirts, sweatshirts and sweatpants, pins, plush jackets, bears, sunglasses, key chains, watches, baseball caps, shot glasses and more, account for a large part of company revenues. Hard Rock Cafe merchandise, which has taken on an almost cult-like status and is sought after by collectors throughout the world, has become the authoritative memento of the rock experience enjoyed at each unique Hard Rock Cafe location.

The Hard Rock Cafe T-shirt and its sweatshirt counterpart are the most popular selling items and account for a majority of merchandise revenues. City-specific Hard Rock Cafe merchandise can be purchased only in that city and this exclusive quality enhances each item's appeal.

Hard Rock Cafe's line of limited-edition and collectible items include the Hard Rock Cafe Collectible Bears Series and special Hard Rock Cafe T-shirts, such as the Signature Series T-Shirt line which showcases artwork from a featured artist, with sales benefiting various charities.

Another popular collectors item is Hard Rock Cafe's limited edition and commemorative pins, including the Millennium pin, Calendar Girls pin, Hard Rock Cafe city-specific anniversary pins, the Earth Day pin and more. Members of the official Hard Rock Cafe Pin Collector's Society swap and trade collections at Hard Rock Cafes across the country and on the web at www.hardrock.com. Four devoted Hard Rock fans known as "The Four Traders" created an official pin collectors guide, and the first edition book is available in most Hard Rock Cafe merchandise stores.

Hard Rock Hotels and Casinos:

Hard Rock Cafe International, Inc. has licensed rights to three full-service hotels. The 670-room Hard Rock Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas, which opened in 1996, is owned by former Hard Rock Cafe co-founder Peter Morton. The 418-room Hard Rock Hotel and Beach Club in Bali, Indonesia opened in May 1998. Scheduled to open in January 2001, the 650-room Hard Rock Hotel Orlando at Universal Studios Escape is a joint venture between Rank, Universal Studios and Loews.

Hard Rock Productions

The company established Hard Rock Productions in 1998 to develop and produce live concerts, television and radio programming and Hard Rock special events. Hard Rock Cafe's music-centric activities include the production of more than 400 live performances annually at Hard Rock Cafe and Hard Rock Live locations worldwide, Hard Rock Records, television's longest-running weekly live music series Hard Rock Live Presented by American Express and Hard Rock Cafe Rockfest, the company's annual one-day music festival, featuring headliners that draw more than 100,000 fans from across the country.

Hard Rock Cafe Rockfest is an annual outdoor, full-day music event hosted in motor speedways in large, metropolitan cities. Hard Rock Cafe Rockfest launched in Atlanta, Georgia in June 1999. The 12-hour event featured 13 bands performing for a crowd of over 127,000 and was one of the largest one-day concerts in the United States. The company hosted its second Hard Rock Cafe Rockfest at Chicago Motor Speedway in July 2000 with performances by Metallica, Kid Rock and more.

From 1996-2000, Hard Rock Cafe, in partnership with Warner Brothers Domestic Pay TV, produced Hard Rock Live Presented by American Express, a weekly music video program featuring one headline band per episode. The show aired on VH-1 for the past 3 years, reaching an estimated 900,000 households per week. Videos from the performances currently run in Hard Rock Cafe locations worldwide.

Hard Rock Cafe continues to offer guests the ultimate music experience through four Hard Rock Live concert facilities located near Hard Rock Cafe locations. Hard Rock Live music amphitheaters are located in Orlando, Mexico City, Guadalajara and Bali.

A 3,000-capacity concert venue, Hard Rock Live Orlando, located at Universal Studios CityWalk, showcases music nightly from national acts to emerging artists. Hard Rock Live and the 600-seat Hard Rock Cafe Orlando - which is also designed for live music - are situated in a 140,000-square-foot building designed as a retro interpretation of the Roman Coliseum.

Inaugurated in December 1997, Hard Rock Live Mexico City is a two-story construction and features state-of-the-art technology, providing one of the most advanced lighting and sound experiences.

In a joint venture music label with Rhino Records, Hard Rock Cafe launched Hard Rock Records in 1997. Through Hard Rock Records, the company has produced six compilation albums, including "Classic Rock," "New Wave," "80's Heavy Metal," "Modern Blues," "Party Rock" and "Surf" and has sold more than 250,000 CDs through cafe retail stores, hardrock.com and Rhino Direct.

hardrock.com:

In 1998, Hard Rock Cafe cranked up the volume on the Internet through www.hardrock.com, the first and only "official" site that extends the Hard Rock Cafe experience online. The site features information and imagery of Hard Rock Cafes, Hard Rock Hotels and Casinos and Hard Rock Live concert venues worldwide; daily rock, concert and event news; concert webcasts; and offers visitors the opportunity to purchase limited edition Hard Rock Cafe collectible and fashion merchandise. The site is a favorite among die-hard Hard Rock Cafe pin collectors who swap and trade online. The site also brings to life Hard Rock Cafe's 63,000-piece music memorabilia collection - the original and most far-reaching collection worldwide, celebrating music artists past and present. The company plans to re-launch a new music experience through hardrock.com in 2000.