Seattle's Hard Rock Café has a piece of John Lennon history (slideshow)

The Pacific Northwest finally has its own Hard Rock Café. The birthplace of legends like Jimi Hendrix, Kurt Cobain, Heart, Queensryche and Pearl Jam should have had one years ago. (see slideshow below)

Now, during a time when the Puget Sound suffers from a bad economy just like everyone else, and the conceptual theme about rock star artifacts has gotten slightly blasé worldwide (we've seen all the guitars and coats, haven't we?) the Seattle Hard Rock has opened their doors at 1st and Pike in downtown Seattle. It is a new bright spot on a street that needed some sprucing up, complete with their brightly colored oversized guitar looming over the sidewalk. It's about time. 

Hendrix & Cobain artifacts are special for Seattle fans

Discovering upon inquiry that the big Grand Opening will be later in March, it is still Seattle's little secret. This Hard Rock features all the stuff that Seattleites would hold dear to their heart: Hendrix and Kurt Cobain artifacts, including Hendrix’s famous leather satchel. Of special interest is the snowglobe that adorned the top of Kurt and Courtney’s wedding cake in 1992, and the door from Robert Lang Studios in Seattle where many musicians carved or wrote their names, including Cobain. The plaque explains that Nivana’s last album was recorded here. Cobain carved a cat into the door, which is now carefully identified by a black arrow pointing to it. 

Beatles Section with John Lennon artifact

Besides their focus on Seattle heroes, there is a Beatles section upstairs by a large bar and stage with a dance floor. And here you will find an interesting piece of John Lennon history. Besides the typical framed pictures one would normally find, there was a small piece of paper that stood out for your Examiner: John Lennon’s American Express bill showing a “delinquency charge” of $19.88. No other charges appear on the bill, but Lennon’s signature is on it, with a note to accounting: “Who screwed up?” The bill is dated July 11, 1974, which would have coincided with the time period coined as the “lost weekend” in L.A. during his separation from Yoko Ono and companionship with May Pang.

Update: readers will enjoy reading May Pang's comment, who wrote this morning from London, after seeing this article:

"Seeing the Amex charges made me laugh ... as John's lawyer, Harold Seider, used to make him sign all the bills so that John knew what was going on. I noticed the late charges and questioned John. He in turn wrote the note back to all involved in getting bills paid."

The Seattle Hard Rock's time has come at last, and is a welcome addition to the Seattle music scene, with its emphasis on local legends as well as global ones.