PRESS RELEASE
Contact: Clyne Media
Tel: (615) 662-1616
Fax: (615) 662-1636
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
GUITAR CENTER TO CROWN DRUM-OFF GRAND CHAMPION
ON JANUARY 5, 2008 AT THE MUSIC BOX @ FONDA
IN HOLLYWOOD
— Angels & Airwaves, Stephen Perkins, “Go Get A Late
Pass!!!” featuring ?uestlove, Street Drum Corps, Adrian Young,
Brooks Wackerman, Shannon Leto, John Sawicki, and Byron McMackin to
Participate —
WESTLAKE VILLAGE, CA, November 1, 2007 —
Guitar Center, the world’s largest and leading retailer of musical
instruments and professional audio products, is excited to announce
the Drum-Off Grand Finals will take place on January 5, 2008 at the
Music Box @ Fonda in Hollywood, CA. Now in it’s 19th year, Drum-Off
continues to bring together thousands of the nation’s top undiscovered
drummers for the chance to compete for incredible prizes, national recognition
and the bragging rights of being crowned Drum-Off Champion.
This incredible night, hosted by Stephen Perkins of Jane’s
Addiction, will feature performances by the four Drum-Off finalists
as well as Angels & Airwaves, “Go Get A Late Pass!!!”
featuring ?uestlove of The Roots, Street Drum Corps with special guests
Adrian Young of No Doubt, Brooks Wackerman of Bad Religion, Shannon
Leto of 30 Seconds to Mars, John Sawicki of Stomp and Byron McMackin
of Pennywise.
Drummers across the country began competing over three
months ago at Guitar Center stores across the country. Beginning with
preliminaries in over 213 Guitar Center stores, drummers then advanced
on from store preliminaries to store finals. Winners of store finals
then went on to compete at district finals at 24 Guitar Center stores
nationwide for the chance to advance on to one of the four regional
competitions held at Guitar Centers in New York City, Hollywood, Chicago,
and Houston, TX with the winner of each of these regions advancing on
to compete to be crowned the Drum-Off 2007 Champion.
This year’s winner will receive a prize package
valued at more than $45,000 including a Toyota FJ Cruiser, $10,000 cash,
a feature in a Guitar Center ad campaign, a $2,500 Levi’s shopping
spree, a custom designed drum kit from DW, Pearl, Tama or Gretsch, a
Roland TD20 electronic drum-set, a set of cymbals custom printed with
the winner’s signature, a one year drum, cymbal, stick and head
endorsement deal, and a write up in Modern Drummer magazine. Additionally,
store, district and regional winners will have walked away with thousands
of dollars in prizes from Drum-Off partners.
“Guitar Center could not be more excited by the
artists who are coming out to support the competitors as they come one
step closer to being crowned Drum-Off Champion,” said Dustin Hinz,
Manager, Event Marketing and Promotions for Guitar Center. “Drum-Off
has become a staple in the drum community and in addition to providing
emerging artists the support, encouragement and opportunity they need
to succeed, Guitar Center’s mission is to promote the development
of community amongst drummers, encourage musicianship and further their
passion for music.”
Previous Drum-Off winners have gone on to enjoy successful
music careers, record albums and tour the world with noteworthy artists.
2002 Drum-Off Champion, Cora Coleman, is currently performing with legendary
recording artist Prince, playing on his most recent album 3121 and at
Super Bowl XLI. Eric Moore II, Drum-Off 2003 Champion, has also achieved
notoriety by performing with psychedelic funk band Sly and the Family
Stone as well as singer Bobby Brown.
Prior to this year’s show Guitar Center is thrilled
to have the opportunity to present the “Drum Legends Award”
to two of music’s greatest drummers, Steve Smith and David Garibaldi.
Named one of the top 25 drummers of all time by Modern Drummer in 2001,
Steve Smith, occupied the drum chair for the rock band Journey from
1978-1985. He returned to the band in 1995 for their 1996 comeback album,
Trial By Fire. An innovator in funk drumming, David Garibaldi, is best
known as the drummer for Oakland-based funk/soul band Tower of Power.
He has also worked with many amazing artists including: Natalie Cole,
Jermaine Jackson and Patti Austin.
This year Guitar Center will also be giving one lucky
person the chance to win a VIP trip for two to the Drum-Off Grand Finals.
Starting on November 1st consumers enter to win online at guitacenter.com.
In addition to the trip, the winner will receive a meet and greet with
Angels and Airwaves, ?uestlove and Street Drum Corps, $500 spending
cash, a Drum-Off Grand Finals poster signed by artist Shepard Fairey
and more.
Partners for Drum-Off 2007 include: Levi’s, DW,
Evans, Vic Firth, Remo, Zildjian, Pearl, Roland, Sabian, Tama, Gretsch,
Pro·Mark, and Modern Drummer.
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.
MEDIA CONTACT: Robert Clyne at Clyne Media, Inc. at (615) 662-1616