Hard Rock Cafe to feature deaf rock band

From: Pacific Business News, HI - 06 Feb 2003

VSArts of Hawaii-Pacific, a nonprofit that lines up artistic and cultural expression opportunities for people with disabilities, has put the Hard Rock Cafe together with musicians who bill themselves as America's only all-deaf rock performance band.

The band, called Beethoven's Nightmare, will perform Sunday, Feb. 9, from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. at the Hard Rock Cafe at Kapiolani Boulevard and Kalakaua Ave., across from the Hawaii Convention Center and just across the Ala Wai canal from Waikiki. The band does comedy and magic in addition to music. Most deaf people can hear or feel deep bass sounds. The name of the band stems from the fact that classical composer Ludwig van Beethoven went deaf at a fairly early age, was suffering from some hearing loss and ringing in the ear while composing his first symphony, and was completely deaf by the premieres of his late works.

The concert is a benefit not only for VSAarts of Hawaii-Pacific but also for Hawaii Services on Deafness. The $25 gate includes dinner with $10 tax deductible. Information: (808) 926-4763.

© 2003 American City Business Journals Inc.