Every Cloud Has A Hidden Valley

"Rock Hard At The Hard Rock" has only been out for a few days now and it is already one of the most critically acclaimed albums of the year. Everybody is playing it on repeat. Since I sat down to write this post, at least four cars have driven by blasting the title track. And earlier today in Dunkin Donuts, "Lying In Bed" came on the radio and the manager gave all her employees a three minute break to listen. The album is selling, but more importantly, it is making a difference: Rock is officially back.

However, as thrilled as I am by how the album turned out, it is bittersweet because of all the shady dealings that clouded its development. By now you may have heard the rumors of behind-the-scenes controversies that lead to the unlawful exit of our corporate partner, Hard Rock Cafe. I want to take a moment to set the record straight on those issues.

We were contacted in 2014 by Jim Allen and Jon Lucas from Hard Rock Cafe asking if we'd like to partner on an album. It would have been the first actual music release from the restaurant chain and we were very exited about breaking that new ground with them. We all decided early on that it would be a double disc, and, in keeping with the company's brand, a hard rock album. 

Right away there were problems. The money wasn't coming in from Hard Rock for the studio time and we had to delay the recording several years. When I questioned why the funding was being held up, Jim Allen apologized and offered us a gift card for a free meal at their Times Square location. It was supposed to be a massive gift card, like thirty-five hundred dollars. "Order as much as you want, the sky is the limit," Jim told me in a text. So, I decided to take some of my business associates from China, prominent entrepreneurs who do not wish to be named here. I thought they would appreciate being shown a good time at one of America's favorite restaurants.

However, at the end of the evening, I was informed that John Bigmun had already used up the entire gift card during a surprise engagement dinner for his then girlfriend (more on this later). I was left with the bill, which I could easily afford, but the wait staff was so rude about it that I felt it necessary to complain to management, as I had been shamed in front of my guests. They ended up throwing us out into the street like dogs. Needless to say, the media pounced on me and the next day I was all over TMZ, the National Enquirer, and Page 6 of the Post. That's when I got the call from Hard Rock saying they were pulling out of the deal. 

I didn't know what to do. We had only recorded three songs and there was no room left in the budget to do any marketing or distribution. We started looking for new corporate partners. Our first choice was obviously Boar's Head, who John Bigmun claimed to have a friendly relationship with. However, he over estimated his clout with the company (more on this later) and we were left high and dry once again. 

With the official release in limbo, we decided to play a series of live shows to build anticipation for the album. During this time, we started getting harassed by the corporate attorney for Hard Rock, Alan Horowitz. He began showing up at the shows and personally serving us cease and desist papers, claiming that we were in violation of copyright for using material that was owned by Hard Rock. It was a classic intimidation move with absolutely no legal foundation. Fortunately, we have an excellent attorney, Laura Palmetti, who was on hand to challenge the fame hungry Horowitz. (We are currently suing Mr. Horowitz for harassment and defamation. There is talk of filing criminal charges against him as well.)

Then I got the call from Hidden Valley Salad Dressings. They said they had heard all about what happened and that they would be happy to take over where Hard Rock had left off. And we couldn't be happier with the work that Hidden Valley has done. They are excellent partners and we should have just gone with them from the beginning. Granted, their financial commitment is much smaller than what Hard Rock had originally promised, so we had to cap the album at the 3 tracks that were already recorded. But I think it still rocks very hard and I am eternally grateful to Hidden Valley for coming on board last minute. I believe since its release last week they've already made gains on their investment, so I look forward to many years of continued success with them.

I also want to thank Bono from U2 for mentoring this project. We met a few years ago when I signed on as one of the financial backers of Spiderman: The Musical (contrary to popular belief, we DID make a lot of money on that show). When I first told him that we were partnering with Hard Rock, he warned me that they were not to be trusted. I should have listened to him and pulled the plug on the whole thing right then. But he's continued to be so supportive through all this, especially now that we've partnered with Hidden Valley, a company he strongly believes in. 

Sometimes the dark side of the music business can cast a shadow over what's really important: the fans. Don't let these upsetting realities keep you from downloading and enjoying "Rock Hard At The Hard Rock."

-MF

(For more in depth information on the Hard Rock Cafe controversy, stay tuned for the upcoming expose, "Marc Frost: Between A Rock and A Hard Place: Coo Boo Records vs The Hard Rock Cafe: The Inside Story Of the Music Industry's Greatest Scandal," out this summer on Coo Boo Films/DVDs.)