Hard Rock Casino Rockford has a new homage to Rick Nielsen. You can bet on it
By Kevin Haas
Rock River Current
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ROCKFORD — The latest homage to Hard Rock Casino Rockford’s resident Rock & Roll Hall of Famer celebrates Rick Nielsen’s renowned five-neck guitar with a classic five-reel slot machine.
The 76-year-old Cheap Trick rocker, who’s known for his array of custom-made guitars, visited the casino on Thursday to unveil Rick Nielsen’s Five Neck Fortune. The three new slot machines were designed in a collaboration between Nielsen and British artist Shannon MacDonald, who is known for her Beatles portraits and other rock star designs.
“From the second you pull up you know that this place is a tribute to Rick and to Cheap Trick,” said Geno Iafrate, president of Hard Rock Casino Rockford. “From the giant guitar out front to the chandelier, to the Cheap Trick (cast) right above our entrance, all of Rick’s memorabilia in the center case. … The Hard Rock Live venue is basically a mini Rick museum, with everything in that venue being Rick’s.”
But, the casino was lacking anything for Nielsen on the gambling side of its business, aside from $100 commemorative chips with Nielsen’s silhouette and checkerboard pattern.
“So we decided to make a slot machine,” Iafrate said.
The casino had been waiting for the still-touring musician to have a home stop so he could be here to unveil the new games. That finally happened Thursday, as Nielsen and Cheap Trick prepare to perform with Rod Stewart in Tinley Park on Friday before the tour moves on to Indiana and Michigan.
“Hard Rock loves entertainment, loves music. It’s in our DNA,” Iafrate said. “But how many Hard Rocks actually have a resident Rock & Roll Hall of Famer?”
Nielsen shook hands and took pictures with dozens of patrons, tossed out pockets full of guitar picks and watched the first players take their spins on the machine.
“I was sweating, nervous, but it was great,” Linda Majewski said of having the famous rocker looking over her shoulder while she played. “It was exciting. It’s part of Rockford and you have to have the history at the casino here, just like the Rockford Peaches on the other side.”
Rick’s Five Neck Fortune is an IGT stepper slot with a classic S2000 cabinet. The machine has been redesigned with new reel strips, top glass and belly glass that ties into Nielsen’s recognized style. It features four guitar symbols, with the five-neck guitar acting as a 3X wild symbol and top-paying combination. With a nine-line, high-denomination setup, the game offers a maximum jackpot of 22,500 credits.
“These games were from the early 2000s, there’s less and less of them out there these days,” Iafrate said. “To be able to take three of these nostalgic games and convert them to Rick’s Five Neck Fortune is pretty exciting for us, for Rick, for the Hard Rock and the community.”
This article is by Kevin Haas. Email him at khaas@rockrivercurrent.com or follow him on X at @KevinMHaas or Instagram @thekevinhaas and Threads @thekevinhaas
