Eric Clapton Partners With Hard Rock To Launch Artist Spotlight Merchandise Benefiting Crossroads Centre Antigua

ORLANDO, Fla., April 8, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- Eric Clapton and Hard Rock International launched the limited-edition Eric Clapton Artist Spotlight merchandise program today, benefiting Crossroads Centre Antigua. The line, a partnership between the iconic guitarist and world-renowned entertainment brand, includes a men's and a women's t-shirt, as well as two collectors' pins. These limited-edition products will be available in stores and online beginning April 8, 2013.

"I am delighted that Hard Rock is once again supporting the Crossroads Centre Antigua by launching a charity T-shirt," said Eric Clapton. "It is a great project and I hope that people will be proud to wear the T-shirts and pins in the knowledge that those in need of rehabilitation from alcohol and drugs will benefit. It is particularly fitting that the photograph reproduced on the T-shirt was taken by one of the founder Trustees of the Crossroads Foundation, the late Brian Roylance, who was instrumental in the setting up of Crossroads."

A portion of the retail price from sales of Hard Rock's Eric Clapton Artist Spotlight merchandise will benefit Crossroads Centre Antigua, a non-profit founded and substantially funded by Eric Clapton. The centre provides treatment and education to chemically dependent persons with compulsive addictive behaviors, their families and significant others.  Funds raised through the Artist Spotlight program will provide much-needed scholarships for Caribbean residents struggling with addictive behaviors.

"Throughout our more than 40 year history, Eric Clapton has been a great friend to Hard Rock – performing at our venues, partnering on philanthropic projects and even donating his Red Fender Lead II, the piece that started Hard Rock's iconic collection," said Annie Balliro, Senior Director of Brand Philanthropy, Hard Rock International. "Hard Rock is proud to continue our relationship with Eric through the Artist Spotlight program, while supporting the Crossroads Centre Antiqua and the life-changing work done there each day."

Hard Rock's Eric Clapton Artist Spotlight t-shirt and pin will be available online at www.hardrock.com, and at Hard Rock locations in the following cities: Orlando, Boston, Chicago, Hollywood (at Universal CityWalk), Hollywood (on Hollywood Boulevard), Las Vegas, Las Vegas (at Hard Rock Hotel), New York, Prague, San Francisco, Atlanta, Barcelona, Berlin, Copenhagen, Florence, Foxwoods, Madrid, Nashville, New Orleans, Niagara Falls, Paris, Philadelphia, Rome, San Antonio, San Diego, Toronto, Venice, and Honolulu. 

• Eric Clapton Artist Spotlight Men's T-Shirt features a signed image of Eric Clapton playing his guitar and an artist-drawn guitar sketch. A city-specific Hard Rock logo is printed on the center back neck.  This short sleeve, black t-shirt is made of 100% cotton and is available in men's sizes S-XXL.  15% of the retail price will benefit Crossroads Centre Antiqua ($26 USD).
• Eric Clapton Artist Spotlight Women's T-Shirt features a signed image of Eric Clapton playing his guitar and an artist-drawn guitar sketch on the front of the shirt.   A city-specific Hard Rock logo is printed on the center back neck.  The short sleeve, black t-shirt is made of 100% cotton and is available in women sizes S-XL.  15% of the retail price will benefit Crossroads Centre Antiqua ($26 USD).
• Eric Clapton Artist Spotlight Pin is a replica of Hard Rock's first item in its iconic memorabilia collection, an un-signed Red Fender Lead II donated to Hard Rock by Eric Clapton in 1979.  15% of the retail price will benefit Crossroads Centre Antiqua ($14 USD). A second, online-exclusive Eric Clapton Artist Spotlight Pin is inspired by the '90s era Fender Eric Clapton Signature Stratocaster in Shoreline Gold, a current piece of Hard Rock's memorabilia collection ($14 USD).

Hard Rock's Artist Spotlight
Since its founding in 1971, Hard Rock has been committed to a wide variety of philanthropic causes and activities around the world.  With the success of Eric Clapton's Signature Series t-shirt in 2004, Hard Rock has once again partnered with the guitar legend to create the brand's third Artist Spotlight t-shirt. Similar to the Signature Series initiative, the Artist Spotlight program features the work of noted artists and performers and contributes to global and humanitarian causes worldwide.

Crossroads Guitar Festival
In addition to the Hard Rock partnership, Clapton will also be ending his U.S. concert tour with the two-night Crossroads Guitar Festival, where he will gather the past, present and future talent of guitar music onto one stage for an unparalleled musical event. Profits from the Festival will benefit the Crossroads Centre in Antigua. Since its inception, Clapton's vision for the Crossroads Guitar Festival has been to create an event where his friends and contemporaries can have fun and perform together to benefit a good cause. This year's Festival will feature two-nights of musical performances with once-in-a-lifetime guitar collaborations.

For more information on the Crossroads Centre Antigua, please visit www.crossroadsantigua.org.

For further details regarding Hard Rock's Artist Spotlight program, please visit www.hardrock.com. 

For more information on the Crossroads Guitar Festival, please visit www.crossroadsguitarfestival.com.

About Crossroads Centre Antigua
Founded in 1998, Crossroads Centre, Antigua was created to provide treatment and education to chemically dependent persons, those with other compulsive addictive behaviors, their families and their significant others. Treatment is provided through residential care, family and aftercare programs. The pathway to recovery is founded on the movement toward a change in lifestyle. Crossroads Centre, Antigua also operates a 16-bed halfway house in Antigua called the Bevon House (exclusively for Antigua residents) and facilitates a school-based education series, Breaking the Cycle, in all Antiguan schools. The Crossroads Centre also offers transitional living for men and women, in line with the Crossroads Centre's philosophy on recovery, at The Sanctuary in Delray Beach, Florida, for those who have completed a residential treatment programme. www.sanctuarydelraybeach.com / www.crossroadsantigua.org.

About Hard Rock International
With a total of 177 venues in 58 countries, including 141 cafes, 18 hotels and 8 casinos, Hard Rock International (HRI) is one of the most globally recognized companies. Beginning with an Eric Clapton guitar, Hard Rock owns the world's greatest collection of music memorabilia, which is displayed at its locations around the globe.  Hard Rock is also known for its collectible fashion and music-related merchandise, Hard Rock Live performance venues and an award-winning website. HRI owns the global trademark for all Hard Rock brands.  The company owns, operates and franchises Cafes in iconic cities including London, New York, San Francisco, Sydney and Dubai.  HRI also owns, licenses and/or manages hotel/casino properties worldwide. Destinations include the companies' two most successful Hotel and Casino properties in Tampa and Hollywood, Fl., both owned and operated by HRI parent company The Seminole Tribe of Florida., as well as other exciting locations including Bali, Biloxi, Chicago, Cancun, Las Vegas, San Diego and Singapore. Upcoming new Hard Rock Cafe locations include Melaka and San Jose.  New Hard Rock Hotel projects include Aruba, Riviera Maya, Abu Dhabi and Shenzhen and Haikou in China. New Hard Rock Casino projects in development include Hungary and Northfield, OH.  For more information on Hard Rock International, visit www.hardrock.com.

SOURCE Hard Rock International