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HARD ROCK CAFE PIN

HARD

 ROCK

 CAFE 

ORLANDO

 19TH

 ANNIVERSARY 

PIN

 COLLECTIBLE 

#207

EDITED, REVISED OR COMPILED INTERNET INFORMATION LISTED BELOW

HRC is known for its collection of rock and roll memorabilia. The cafes solicit donations of music memorabilia but also purchase a number of items at auctions around the world, including autographed guitars, costumes from world tours and rare photographs; these are often to be found mounted on cafe walls. The collection began in 1979 with an un-signed Red Fender Lead II guitar from Eric Clapton, who was a regular at the first restaurant in London.

 Clapton wanted management to hang the guitar over his regular seat in order to lay claim to that spot, and they obliged. This prompted Pete Townshend of The Who to give one of his guitars, also un-signed with the note "Mine's as good as his! Love, Pete. Hard Rock's archive includes over 77,000 items, and is the largest private collection of Rock and Roll memorabilia in the world.

Marquee pieces from the collection were briefly displayed in a Hard Rock museum named "The Vault" in Orlando, Florida from January 2003 until September 2004. After the closure, items were disbursed to various restaurant locations.

The London Vault remains open and free to visitors, located in the retail Rock Shop of the original cafe. In 2005, Deep Purple launched its new album Rapture of the Deep in Hard Rock Cafe London. This show at the release party itself was released as a DVD.

The Hard Rock Café is also in possession of a Bedford VAL 6 axle coach used in the 1967 film The Beatles Magical Mystery Tour. The vehicle was completely refurbished after filming.

It is currently displayed in the US, but makes regular appearances in events in the UK, especially at the original Hard Rock Cafe in London. In 2001, a competition was run to win the actual bus, but it was never given away and remained with the Cafe.