The first Hard Rock Cafe (HRC) opened its doors to the public on June 14, 1971, in London, England. Founded by Isaac Tigrett and Peter Morton, two enterprising and music-loving Americans who were yearning for good old American cooking.

Although it was initially decorated with an eye toward eclectic Americana, HRC has ultimately become the world's leading collector and exhibitors of rock 'n' roll memorabilia. It all started when Eric Clapton, who was often seen at the London HRC, asked if he could hang his guitar over his favourite bar stool. Of course the staff of HRC London did him the favor. A few days later a package from The Who's Pete Townshend arrived at the HRC. It was a guitar of Pete together with a note that said "Mine's as good as his. Love Pete". The rest is HRC history...

In 1982, Tigrett and Morton agreed to develop their own Hard Rock Cafes in various parts of the globe. Morton opened HRCs in Los Angeles, San Francisco, Chicago and Houston. Tigrett opened in New York, Dallas, Boston, Washington, D.C., Orlando, Paris and Berlin, eventually selling his interest to Mecca Leisure. In 1990, The Rank Group, Plc., a London-based leisure company, acquired Mecca and continued expansion of the concept in their geographic territory. Rank then acquired Hard Rock America from Peter Morton, and Hard Rock Canada from Nick Bitove.

In 2007 Hard Rock Cafe was sold by RANK to the Seminole Indians. Today there are more than 120 HRCs worldwide in over 50 countries.