Memorabilia

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Hard Rock is famous around the world as a haven for all things rock ‘n’ roll, and our jaw-dropping memorabilia collection sets the tone. It all started in London, in 1971, when Eric Clapton wanted to reserve his seat at the original Hard Rock Cafe. He gave the restaurant one of his guitars and asked for it to be put up on the wall, and it wasn’t long before The Who guitarist Pete Townshend followed suit. Today, Hard Rock boasts the largest private collection of music memorabilia in the world, with over 80,000 items.

Just like the other famous Hard Rock destinations, Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Sacramento at Fire Mountain has a music memorabilia collection that would impress any aficionado. Here you’ll find priceless moments in music history, with one-of-a-kind items from famous local artists and stars known around the world. You can check out the collection for yourself and admire the iconic instruments, outfits, and unique items that helped put them on the map.

Eddie Van Halen

This stunning Harley Davidson Softail was customized for Eddie Van Halen by Carlini Cycle Creations. Eddie only put 811 miles on the odometer before deciding four wheels suited him better than two. He signed the gas tank and auctioned it in 2004.
John Lennon

In the early ‘70s, John Lennon was facing an aggressive deportation campaign by the U.S. government. Richard Nixon feared that John’s influence among young people might cost him the 1972 presidential election, so he attempted to have him kicked out of the country on dubious grounds. If not for the Watergate scandal, Lennon may very well have been deported. This tweed suit was worn by John to one of his immigration hearings.
Lady Gaga

Quite possibly the single most naturally talented pop artist of the 21st century, Lady Gaga has effortlessly moved from genre to genre throughout her career, enjoying massive success in everything she’s done. This neoprene dress was designed by Rebecca Short, exhibited at London Fashion Week and then worn by Lady Gaga in 2011.
Steven Tyler

Quite possibly the greatest American rock ‘n’ roll band of all time, Aerosmith has seen and done it all over a career that has spanned five decades. Legendary frontman Steven Tyler is one of the truly singular voices in rock music and his style has been copied countless times. This outfit is from Steven’s inimitable stage wardrobe. He also personally selected the stage-used scarves and mic stand in this display. A scarf-draped mic stand is one of Steven’s many stylistic innovations that have been copied by thousands of upstart rockers.
Nicki Minaj

Born in Trinidad and raised in New York City, hip hop diva Nicki Minaj is one of the dominant artists of the genre with her unusual flow and unique fashion sense. She wore this outfit on stage while performing at the 2011 iHeartRadio Festival in Las Vegas.
Prince

The word “genius” is overused in relation to pop artists, but in the case of Prince, it’s the only term that applies. Wildly creative and gifted as a singer, songwriter, producer and multi-instrumentalist, the man was simply a once-in-a-generation artist. This coat was made for Prince in the early ‘80s during the Purple Rain album cycle.
Gene Simmons

When the rock ‘n’ roll superheroes of KISS took the stage in San Antonio, Texas on August 5th, 2012, this “Punisher” bass was Gene Simmons’s weapon of choice. He signed and donated it to the Hard Rock collection personally.
Elton John

The one and only Elton John owned and wore this British palace guard-style jacket. Throughout his long career, Elton has pushed the envelope in rock ‘n’ roll fashion. From his completely over-the-top costumes of the ‘70s to his more subtle approach of the 21st century, he remains a trendsetter and fashion icon.
Elvis

The King was a passionate practitioner of martial arts and even earned an 8th-degree black belt over his years of study. He owned and wore this patriotic karate gi in 1974. Elvis personally paid for the U.S. martial arts team to travel to Europe that year and outfitted the entire team with elaborate uniforms like this one.
Belita Woods

Led by funk pioneer George Clinton, Parliament-Funkadelic is one of the most important and influential groups of all time. Their theatrical, wild performances are the stuff of legend and samples of their music form the backbone of hip hop. Longtime vocalist Belita Woods wore this jacket on stage when the group performed on The Arsenio Hall Show in 1993.
James Brown

Every single artist today – regardless of genre – has been influenced by the genius of James Brown. James’s music formed the basis of contemporary pop, funk and hip hop; while his cultural contributions transcended the music world. This cape and crown were part of his stage wardrobe in the mid ‘60s. A fitting outfit for a true king.
David Cassidy

‘70s teen heartthrob David Cassidy wore this absolutely amazing jumpsuit on stage while performing at Empire Pool in Wembley, U.K. in May of 1973. These shows were incredibly successful for David. He sold out all six performances and the hysteria these shows generated was documented in a television special entitled David Cassidy: Weekend At Wembley.
Whitney Houston

In 2012, the music world lost one of the greatest voices of all time – Whitney Houston. Much more than just a talented artist, Whitney changed the face of pop music and every contemporary female singer is, to some degree, influenced by her. She set the standard for vocal virtuosity in the pop field and is one of the biggest-selling artists in history. Whitney wore this outfit on stage in the ‘90s.
Felix Pappalardi

Though forever associated with the classic jam “Mississippi Queen”, hard-rocking trio Mountain had an impact that went far beyond one song. Their uncompromising sound was a huge influence on the development of heavy metal and their bassist, Felix Pappalardi, was a brilliant producer and songwriter. Felix owned this unique suit designed by Nudie’s Rodeo Tailors.
Jimi Hendrix

In addition to being the greatest electric guitarist of all time, Jimi Hendrix was a true icon of ‘60s fashion. He frequented the hip London boutiques of the late ‘60s and crafted a style that helped define the hippie era. Jimi picked up this tux shirt on London’s Portobello Road in 1967. He performed at the Cal Expo in Sacramento in April of 1970, just a few months before his untimely passing in September of that same year.
Jerry Garcia

This Hawaiian shirt belonged to the late, great Jerry Garcia. Few artists in history have inspired the level of loyalty and obsession that Jerry and the Grateful Dead instilled in their millions of fans. Being a Deadhead is much more than fandom – it’s an all-encompassing lifestyle. The Dead performed many times in Sacramento over their long career, including multiple appearances at Cal Expo in Sacramento.
Scott Ian

In the 1980s, four groups – Metallica, Megadeth, Slayer and Anthrax – combined the weight of heavy metal with the speed of punk and gave the world thrash metal. This Jackson guitar was used both on stage and in the studio by Scott Ian of Anthrax in the late ‘90s and early ‘00s.

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Memorabilia

GET FACE-TO-FACE WITH HARD ROCK HISTORY