MÖTLEY CRÜE, Guitar Center Announce Semi-Finalists Of 'Guitar Center On-Stage' Contest

Continuing its commitment to the support of aspiring artists, Guitar Center and MÖTLEY CRÜE announced today the 30 semi-finalists for the Guitar Center On-Stage – Your Chance To Make Rock History. Guitar Center and the world's most notorious rock band will provide one up-and-coming band the ultimate, career-altering opportunity — the chance to open on tour for rock icons MÖTLEY CRÜE. Over the past six weeks, bands across the United States were invited to submit their music at www.makerockhistory.com. From thousands of submissions, 30 semi-finalists have been selected to compete for the chance to win a prize package that includes an opening slot on MÖTLEY CRÜE's 2009 U.S. tour (dates to be announced at a later date),$25,000 cash, $20,000 in exclusive new gear from Gibson Guitar, management from Tenth Street Entertainment, and a recording deal from Eleven Seven Music, MÖTLEY's management and record label.

The top 30 bands were chosen from metrics including top fan votes and also were judged by executives at Eleven Seven Music and Tenth Street Entertainment. The semi-finalists include:

ADMIRAL OF BLACK (Lisle, IL)
AKORA (East Rutherford, NJ)
BREAKING VEGAS (Rydal, GA)
CHERRY S/T (Danvers, MA)
EVIL ENGINE #9 (Salem, IN)
FIVE STAR FAILURE (Fernandina Beach, FL)
IRRATIONAL (Orlando, FL)
JUPITER CRASH (Seattle, WA)
LORENE DRIVE (Victorville, CA)
LOVE LETTER RADIO (Vista, CA)
LOVE SAID NO (Bayonne, NJ)
NEVERSET (Dallas, TX)
NO JUSTUS (Taylor, MI)
OF BROKEN (Hampstead, MD)
ONES AND ZEROS (Rocklin, CA)
PRETTY IN STEREO (Fountain Valley, CA)
RECKLESS SONS (New York, NY)
SILVERSTONE (Rogers, AR)
SOMETHING TO BURN (Los Angeles, CA)
THE BINGES (Los Angeles, CA)
THE DIRTY PEARLS (New York, NY)
THE FADED SPADES (Burbank, CA)
THE GOSTATION (Astoria, NY)
THE HEROINE (San Antonio, TX)
THE LAST VEGAS (Chicago, IL)
THE MARQUETTE WEEKEND (Florissant, MO)
THE SCREENS (Minneapolis, MN)
THE SPITTIN' COBRAS (Seattle, WA)
VENTURE (Grandbury, TX)
WATERSTREET (Chicago, IL)

The regional evaluation events will be held at Guitar Center locations in Los Angeles on October 20 and October 21. The semi-finalists will be judged by leading influencers in the music industry such as President of Fuse TV, Eric Sherman; producer and frontman of SIXX: A.M., James Michael; music director of Los Angeles radio station 98.7, Julie Pilat; Chris Nilsson of Tenth Street Entertainment and general manager of Eleven Seven Music, Frank Woodworth.

After narrowing the list to the top six bands at the regional events, Guitar Center will host a final round of evaluation on November 10, 2008 at The World Famous Whisky A-Go-Go, where each of the bands will perform live for members of MÖTLEY CRÜE.

"Guitar Center On-Stage is our most audacious and ambitious program yet. We are offering nothing short of a chance for greatness. A way to step out of the shadows of obscurity and into the light of legends," said Norman Hajjar, EVP and chief marketing officer for Guitar Center. "Guitar Center invests every year behind programs that are dedicated to helping striving artists realize their musical dreams."

Allen Kovac, CEO and founder of Tenth Street Entertainment and Eleven Seven Music said, "This is the first time in the history of the music business that an opportunity of this magnitude has been offered to an unknown band. In just three short months, the winning band will go from being completely unknown to having a record and management deal, and the opportunity to tour with MÖTLEY CRÜE. Aligned with the advertising, brand recognition and credibility Guitar Center is providing, Tenth Street and Eleven Seven are excited to give an up-and-coming rock band the best possible support to jump start a long and successful career."

MÖTLEY CRÜE's Mick Mars notes, "Our partnership with Guitar Center gives us the opportunity to help an up-and-coming band by giving them every element needed to succeed. Like Ozzy did for us when he took an unknown band called MÖTLEY CRÜE on the road, we too are looking for the next generation's great rock band."

"Gibson Guitar has always supported bands on every level and as a music innovator we work hard to support emerging bands by giving them opportunities for success through our many resources," said Henry Juszkiewicz, chairman and CEO of Gibson Guitar. "This program will launch the next MÖTLEY CRÜE and we are proud to partner with our friends at Guitar Center for such an exciting promotion."

For more information or to watch the any of the top 30 finalists' audio and video submissions, go to this location.