Original Run-D.M.C. Member to Perform at Hard Rock Cafe
By Cathy Rose A. Garcia
Staff Reporter
Daryl ``D.M.C." McDaniels, founder of the legendary hip-hop group Run-D.M.C., will perform in Seoul for the first time June 18. His concert will be held at the newly re-opened Hard Rock Cafe Seoul, Itaewon.
McDaniels is widely considered a pioneer of hip-hop music. Growing up in Harlem, New York City in the 1970s, he became interested in hip-hop music after listening to Grandmaster Flash and the Furious Five. He taught himself, using his older brother's turntables and mixers, to become a disc jockey. McDaniels is the first major foreign artist to perform at the Hard Rock Cafe Seoul since it reopened in Itaewon last April.
McDaniels co-founded Run-D.MC. with his friend Joseph ``Run" Simmons. Later, Jason ``Jam-Master Jay" Mizell, a disc jockey, joined the group. McDaniels started rapping and he adopted nicknames like ``Easy D," ``DMcD" and finally ``D.M.C."
In 1984, Run-D.M.C. released their self-titled debut album. Their revolutionary style of music helped spur the development of hip-hop music, and brought hip-hop culture to the mainstream.
Among their hit songs are ``It's Like That," ``Rock Box," ``Can You Rock it Like This," ``King of Rock," ``It's Tricky," ``You Be Illin" and ``Walk This Way," featuring Aerosmith.
Run-D.M.C. is the first rap group to have a number one album on the U.S. R&B charts, multi-platinum albums, a Grammy Award nomination and video on MTV.
As a solo artist, McDaniels released ``Checks Thugs and Rock N Roll" in 2006. He is currently working on a new album ``The Next Level."
McDaniels, who was adopted, is known for his work on adoption and with children in foster care. He was presented with the Congressional Angels in Adoption Award in 2006.
The new 11,000-square-foot Hard Rock Cafe serves American dishes amid Hard Rock's rock n' roll atmosphere. There is also the Rock Shop, which sells rock n' roll T-shirts and clothing line, as well as rock n' roll memorabilia.
``We have enjoyed great success in Seoul and anticipate the opportunity to re-establish the cafe in this new strategic location. Hard Rock looks forward to bringing high-energy dining, live music and exciting entertainment events to locals and visitors alike, with the rock n' roll passion that has made Hard Rock world-famous," said Hamish Dodds, president and CEO of Hard Rock International.
Items from Hard Rock Cafe's famous music memorabilia collection on display in Seoul include Shakira's pants, Jon Bon Jovi's guitar, Stevie Wonder's keyboard and Billy Joel's tour jacket.
Tickets to DMC's concert are 30,000 won online (ticket.interpark.com) and 35,000 won at the door. Tickets are also sold at the Hard Rock Cafe Rock Shop. Hard Rock Cafe Seoul is located next to Hamilton Hotel (Itaewon Station Subway Line 6, Exit 2).