PRESS RELEASE
Contact: Clyne Media, Inc.
Tel: (615) 662-1616
Fax: (615) 662-1636
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
GUITAR CENTER HELPS EMPLOYEES PURSUE THEIR DREAMS
WITH FRESH CUTS VOL. 2 COMPILATION CD
— Second CD release from the GAIN Program’s Fresh Cuts
series, available for free from Guitar Center, features GC employees’
songs hand-selected by The Smashing Pumpkins,
plus an exclusive unreleased Pumpkins track —
WESTLAKE VILLAGE, CA, February 27, 2008 –
Guitar Center, the world’s largest musical instrument and professional
audio retailer, announces the new compilation CD Fresh Cuts Vol.
2. The release, the second in an ongoing series, is part of Guitar
Center’s GAIN Program, designed to give GC Employees an outlet
for pursuing their music industry dreams. As such, the disc features
recordings by members of the GC family, hand-selected by none other
than legendary alternative rock band The Smashing Pumpkins from a pool
of GC employee submissions. The Pumpkins are also included on the CD
themselves, via “SuperChrist” – a song written, but
not recorded, for their 2007 Zeitgeist album. 50,000 CDs will
be available for free while supplies last at over 200 GC locations starting
March 11, 2008.
The GAIN Program was launched in March 2007 by Guitar
Center to help GC team members achieve their musical aspirations. At
the heart of GAIN is an extensive private social network where GC employees
can post music, pictures, blogs and online discussions, in order to
share with and learn from each other. In addition, GAIN presents a number
of other benefits, deals, offers and opportunities to its participants,
including partnerships with a number of vendors, services and institutions
(music-related and non-music related alike). The GAIN program continues
to build relationships with companies, organizations and individuals
who can provide exposure, insight, tools and opportunity to the musicians
who work for Guitar Center.
Since forming in Chicago in 1988, The Smashing Pumpkins
have been a multi-platinum-selling and GRAMMY®-winning juggernaut,
at the forefront of much of the alternative and modern rock of the last
two decades. The group’s involvement is an exciting new addition
to the GAIN Program and the Fresh Cuts CD series. Pumpkins
frontman Billy Corgan stated, “Guitar Center asked us if we would
be interested in being a part of this compilation of young artists to
help draw attention to the bands. We loved the idea, and think Guitar
Center is way ahead of the curve of what is possible between musicians
and reaching new audiences.” “SuperChrist” has proven
to be a live fan favorite on the recent tour. A video for the track
is now available on MySpace.
Greg Trojan, Guitar Center COO and President, reflected
on the Fresh Cuts Vol. 2 CD and The Smashing Pumpkins’
involvement: “Guitar Center strives to show the utmost encouragement
to its employees – an immense pool of talent, creativity and drive.
Avenues such as the Fresh Cuts projects act as a realization
of recording release dreams, a forum for national exposure, a springboard
to bigger things for the artists and a sincere thank-you to our employees
for all their hard work. Partnering with such legendary acts as The
Smashing Pumpkins makes these projects all the more meaningful for all
involved.”
For more information on the Fresh Cuts Vol. 2
CD, please visit www.guitarcenter.com/.
For more information on The Smashing Pumpkins, as well as news regarding
their upcoming North American tour dates, please visit www.smashingpumpkins.com.
Photo File: BillyCorgan.JPG
Photo Caption: Billy Corgan, frontman for The Smashing Pumpkins, who
contributed an exclusive track to Guitar Center’s GAIN Program
compilation Fresh Cuts Vol. 2 as well as selected the songs
for the CD. Photo by Kristin Burns.
Photo File: Spectre_Stage.JPG
Photo Caption: Fresh Cuts Vol. 2 artists Spectre, featuring
GC employee Ryan Hudson, performs live at the 9:30 Club in Washington,
DC.
Photo File: Spectre_Studio.JPG
Photo Caption: GC Employee Ryan Hudson (Left), of Fresh Cuts Vol.
2 artists Spectre, records with producer Shaun Lopez (Right).
About Guitar Center
Guitar Center is the leading United States retailer of guitars, amplifiers,
percussion instruments, keyboards and pro-audio and recording equipment.
Our retail store subsidiary presently operates more than 200 Guitar
Center stores across the U.S. In addition, our Music & Arts division
operates more than 100 stores specializing in band instruments for sale
and rental, serving teachers, band directors, college professors and
students. We are also the largest direct response retailer of musical
instruments in the United States through our wholly owned subsidiary,
Musician's Friend, Inc., and its catalog and Web site, www.musiciansfriend.com.
More information on Guitar Center can be found by visiting the Company's
Web site at www.guitarcenter.com.
The Guitar Center logo is a registered
trademark of Guitar Center, Inc. Other brand or product names may be
trademarks of the respective companies with which they are associated.