Whether it’s the Hard Rock Café Madrid, Hong Kong, Miami or Amsterdam, the t-shirts are identical, just like the bars and restaurants. For this reason, the brand name is world famous and the rock’n’roll memorabilia lends an air of charm to these establishments. The International President and Chief Executive of these cult establishments will soon cease to be of English origin: the new boss is the leader of the Seminole Indian Tribe headquartered in Florida (United States).

The chain’s more than 100 restaurants, hotels, casinos and live venues will be transferred to the tribe, comprised of 3,300 Indians, for the sum of 725 million euros at the current exchange rate.

At present the Seminole Tribe, pacesetters in the world of Indian gaming and focused on diversifying their current business operations, own two Hard Rock Cafés. More than 90% of the tribe’s income comes from their gaming revenues, while citrus fruit and tobacco production only accounts for 10%.

The Seminoles intend to finance the Hard Rock Café empire with loans and shares and want to enhance the cafés and continue growth in the hotel and casino markets. They are benefiting from the dollar’s low exchange rate, which has caused former British owner Rank Group’s shares to drop. Analysts also consider that Rank sold the division too cheaply.

For Hard Rock Café fans, however, the change in leadership will go largely unnoticed and the memorabilia displayed, such as Jimmy Hendrix’s Flying V guitar or a pair of Elton John’s high-heeled shoes, probably won’t care so long as they continue to be cult objects admired by rock fans.

Brigitte Müller