Boston 1975. Peace, love, rock 'n roll. The music was everywhere. Live rock 'n roll music was being played at clubs throughout the town and rock 'n rollers from all over the US were coming to Boston to be part of the hot music scene. The only problem was the Boston Blue Laws. Clubs closed at midnight. What a bummer! Just when you and the music were really happening everything came to a halt. Along come these hippie lawyers working pro bono for the homeless, for gay civil rights, for anti-war demonstrators and of course representing all these famous rock 'n rollers who were being signed by major record labels. The solution to the midnight munchie blues: rent a basement in the Coolidge Corner section of Brookline, MA / buy a commercial ice cream machine / invite your rock star friends to hang out after their gigs eating homemade ice cream with outrageous flavors (creatively inspired by the lawyers and the rock 'n rollers) /  play acoustic (we had neighbors) music 'til the wee hours of the morning. The rock 'n rollers loved the ice cream and the vibe. The basement ice cream hangout needed a name. Two homeless gentlemen that the lawyers did pro bono work for asked that the ice cream shop be named after them. The name had good karma. Emack & Bolio’s. An ice cream legend was born.

                                       

James Brown (l) and Bob Rook

Bob Rook, founder of Emack & Bolio's
with James Brown in 1977

Bob Rook, a music lawyer, started E&B as a place that musicians
could go to after their gigs to mellow out and satisfy their munchies.
Some of the groups that Bob has worked closely with are:
Aerosmith, Boston, The Cars, U2, James Brown and Al Green

                                       

E&B's "Smokin' Flavors"
Created by and named after rock stars and their hit songs!

Jean O'Loughlin, Bob Rook and Dee Snider

E&B founder Bob Rook and Twisted Sister's Dee Snider seal the deal on the flavor Snider created exclusively for Emack and Bolio's, "Twisted Dee-Light" (chocolate ice cream, fudge chunks, and brownies). The manager of the E&B at the Hard Rock Hotel, Orlando, Jean O'Loughlin looks on.

                                       

Chad Smith


  Chad Smith of the Red Hot Chili Peppers tearing into his exclusive E&B creation:  vanilla ice cream with red hot candies called "Red Hot Vanilla".

                                       

Bob Rook and Russell Simmons

Bob Rook and Russell Simmons at Simmons' party in South Beach discussing ice cream, chocolates, and music.

                                       

Glenn Hughes of Deep Purple


 
Glenn Hughes of Deep Purple fame pointing at the E&B flavor sign "Deep Purple Cow" and enjoying his signature flavor which features black raspberry ice cream with white and dark chocolate chips.


                                       

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