Stars Come Out for Re-opening of Boston Hard Rock Cafe

By Dave Schreiber Jr.

Aaron Lewis (Staind) performs at grand re-opening of Boston's Hard Rock Cafe. (Photo credit: Hard Rock International/Jess Gatley)

The new digs are huge - 16,000 square feet that include a restaurant with seating for over 500 diners and a live concert area. There’s also a gift shop for those wanting to pick up something to take back home as a reminder of their visit.

Despite a cool evening breeze, the event simmered with partygoers such as Aerosmith drummer Joey Kramer, David Hall of the J. Geils Band, Scott Ian of Anthrax, Gary Cherone and Pat Badger of Extreme, The Click Five, Darryl "DMC" McDaniels, Barry Goodreau of Boston and drummer Nicko McBrain from Iron Maiden. A special treat was a visit by the “Original Hard Rock Waitress” Rita Gilligan.

After an hour of red carpet arrivals the party moved inside where some of the celebrants gave a high toast to the Café’s grand opening. A short time later Aaron Lewis (Staind) grabbed an acoustic and performed a set for admiring fans and fellow rockers.

The tradition of the Hard Rock Café has always been to pay homage to rock ‘n’ roll, to acknowledge the achievements of performers and to recognize their contributions to popular culture. And whenever you walk into one of the company’s café’s you're sure to be blown away by the rock artifacts that adorn the walls and the Boston Hard Rock Café doesn’t disappoint.

Visitors to the Boston Hard Rock Café can view a rare ’59 Gibson Les Paul that in and of itself is worthy of adoration, but this '59 belonged to Rolling Stone’s axe master Keith Richards. Then there’s the lefty black Stratocaster that was smashed by Nirvana’s front man Kurt Cobain at the 1992 Reading Festival, U.K., as well as that functionally bizarre “cone brassiere” worn by Madonna during her 1990 Blond Ambition Tour pokes out in a most pointedly peculiar fashion. Joe Perry’s Gretsch Duo-Jet that he used on stage for Aerosmith’s early hit “Dude Looks Like A Lady” helps round out the Boston Café’s collection.

Hard Rock International boasts 138 Hard Rock cafes, hotels and casinos in 42 countries and one of the largest rock memorabilia collections in the world with an inventory of over 70,000 pieces. The Boston Café’s move to the Faneuil Hall area will certainly delight both locals and hungry rock fans visiting Beantown.

Photo Gallery

Aaron Lewis, front-man for the highly-acclaimed alternative-metal group Staind performs during the star-studded grand opening of Hard Rock Cafe Boston’s new location near Faneuil Hall, August 7, 2007. (Photo credit: Dave Schreiber Jr.)

Guitarist Scott Ian of Anthrax (center) poses with his wife Pearl (left) and Rita Gilligan, Hard Rock Cafe’s first waitress, on the red carpet during the star-studded grand opening of Hard Rock Cafe Boston’s new location near Faneuil Hall, August 7, 2007. (Photo credit: Hard Rock International/ Darren McCollester)

Guitarist Scott Ian of Anthrax sign autographs for fans during the star-studded grand opening of Hard Rock Cafe Boston’s new location near Faneuil Hall, August 7, 2007. (Photo credit: Hard Rock International/ Darren McCollester)

Drummer Nicko McBrain of Iron Maiden and wife Rebecca pose on the red carpet during the star-studded grand opening of Hard Rock Cafe Boston’s new location near Faneuil Hall, August 7, 2007. (Photo credit: Hard Rock International/ Darren McCollester)

Drummer Joey Kramer of Aerosmith poses with wife April on the red carpet during the star-studded grand opening of Hard Rock Cafe Boston’s new location near Faneuil Hall, August 7, 2007. (Photo credit: Hard Rock International/ William Plowman)

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Hard Rock Café