ARTICLE: Hard Rock Cafe Guitar Smash

Downtown Nashville was rockin' on Wednesday Dec. 30th when the Hard Rock Cafe celebrated its Grand Re-Opening featuring a guitar smash and live performance. The V.I.P. event included a star studded red carpet with special guests such as country hit makers Rodney Atkins, Bucky Covington and Cowboy Troy along with renowned bass player and hit songwriter Tommy Sims. Jordin Tootoo of the Nashville Predators also donned a construction helmet, along with cheerleaders from the TN Titans and dancers from the Nashville Predators. Members of the Seminole Tribe of Florida (owners of the Hard Rock International chain) were among the demolition crew smashing the guitars to commemorate the occasion, as were members of local sports teams and television personalities.

The crowd was welcomed by host Jon Anthony of Sirius/XM No Shoes Radio who introduced Nashville’s very own HARD ROCKERS, a band comprised of employees of the Nashville Hard Rock Café. Anthony made note that during the months of renovation, employees of the Hard Rock Café continued to receive pay as long as they actively participated in donating time to charities in the Nashville area. The Hard Rock Café has adopted the creed “Love All, Serve All”; and the song that was performed during the grand re-opening ceremony was one shared by the employees as they performed for various groups during the time of renovation.

Michael Wozniak, the Area Vice President of Hard Rock International thanked event sponsors as well everyone in attendance for their contribution and support. He also brought attention to the three charities receiving benefits from the Grand Re-Opening Celebration; Holston Home For Children, W.O. Smith School of Music and CMA’s “Keep The Music Playing”. Gibson Guitars donated defective guitars especially for the “smashing” and new guitars will be donated to the charities to keep the music alive and playing.

Before the white construction crew hard hats were secured, a very special thank you was sent out on behalf of the Seminole Tribe of Florida, represented by Andy Bowers who gave a warm welcome on the cold December day to everyone and promised the finest food, entertainment, merchandise and finest service to the Nashville community.

President of the Nashville Convention and Visitors Bureau, Butch Spirydon brought laughter from those in attendance with his welcome to SMASHVILLE comments in regards to the re-opening activities and encouraged the guests to take part in all of the festivities surrounding the Hard Rock Café’s celebration.

In true Rock n Roll fashion, the Hard Rock Café opted to forego the traditional ribbon cutting and instead gathered some of Nashville’s well known faces to smash thirty-eight defective guitars to represent the thirty-eight years that Hard Rock has been in business since opening its doors in London in 1971. Ten guitars each will be donated to the three charities earlier mentioned to continue the tradition of music in the Nashville area.

For more information on the Hard Rock Café visit www.hardrock.com

Additional photos of the event can be seen on http://www.flickr.com/photos/momentsbymoser/sets/72157623138169516/