The Hard Rock Hotel & Casino is known for a lot of things. It houses a plethora of rock and roll and Hollywood celebrity memorabilia, its 4,200 sq. ft. Real World Suite played host to MTV’s Real World Las Vegas, and it’s one of the top choices for bachelor and bachelorette parties in Las Vegas. It also has a wicked reputation for being haunted, particularly by the ghost of John Entwistle, former bass guitarist of the legendary rock band, The Who. But is there any evidence to solidify the claim, or is it just another Las Vegas ghost story?
The Hard Rock Casino Hotel is not that old by Vegas standards. Its original construction was completed in 1995, followed by an extensive renovation that magnified the property in 1999. Yet another expansion took place in 2007, resulting in today’s final product; 1,500 prodigious luxury accommodations, a 30,000 sq. ft. gambling arena complete with poker room, keno parlor and sports book, and one of the most distinctive beach and swimming pool quarters in the City of Sin.
The hotel has been attracting hoards of youthful Vegas partiers for near twenty years now, but in 2002, tragedy struck. One of the most influential bass guitarists of the 21st century, John Entwistle, met his untimely demise at the Hard Rock Hotel on June 27th.
John Entwistle was the bass guitarist for legendary rock and roll music group The Who. He was staying at the hotel to kick off the first show of the band’s 2002 US Tour in Vegas the very next day. On the previous evening, Entwistle had brought a young lady up to his room with him, a stripper and groupie of the band by the name of Alycen Rowse. According to Ms. Rowse, she awoke the next morning to find John’s body lying still, unresponsive, lifeless next to her.
Entwistle’s body was examined by the Clark County coroner, who announced the cause of death to be a heart attack, most likely induced by the excessive amount of cocaine found in his system. His passing caused a great wave of grief throughout the bands extensive fan base and has since drawn countless devoted admirers to the hotel to pay homage and perchance get a glimpse of the mystical death-room.
For years, the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino refused to reveal the room number in which the famed musician met his maker, out of respect for the band, the family and John himself. Eventually the number was exposed, room 658, a deluxe suite accommodation.
Interestingly enough, paranormal investigators, on both a professional and amateur level, sought entry to the hotel in hopes of discovering the ghost of John Entwistle haunting the Hard Rock Casino Hotel.
Due to the celebrity status of the account, considerable bulk of bereaved fans and paranormal sleuths surrounding the story, rumors of the Hard Rock being haunted by the spectral form of Entwistle began to circulate heavily. Unfortunately, there is no evidence as to any truth behind these accounts.
However, there are some interesting speculations as to whether the casino is haunted by other ghosts. The casino and third floor of the hotel are said to be haunted by prankster ghosts who like to get the attention of guests by blowing frigid breath on the back of their necks. Some say it is Entwistle himself, while others say it is the spirit of a couple who lost their lives on a nearby highway in a tragic car accident.