METALLICA Frontman JAMES HETFIELD To Be Honored

METALLICA guitarist/vocalist James Hetfield will be honored with the Stevie Ray Vaughan Award for his dedication and support of the MusiCares MAP Fund and his devotion to helping other addicts with recovery process. Bill Silva will be the recipient of the MusiCares Heart Award for his unconditional friendship and dedication to the mission and goals of the organization. The evening will feature a buffet dinner and performances by a range of special musical guests.

The second annual MusiCares MAP Fund benefit concert will be held on Friday, May 12, 2006, at The Music Box in Hollywood, CA. Tickets are offered at three price levels: floor placement in a private living room grouping of 10 for $10,000; floor seating individual tickets for $1,000 each; and balcony seating individual tickets for $250 each. All proceeds will benefit the MusiCares MAP Fund, which provides members of the music community access to addiction recovery treatment regardless of their financial situation.

"This year's MAP Fund benefit continues an ongoing tradition to honor those individuals in our community who courageously work to help musicians in need," said MusiCares and Recording Academy President Neil Portnow. "The demand for addiction recovery programs remains strong, and it is events such as this that raise visibility about the critical work of the MusiCares MAP Fund and recognize those individuals who continue to champion our cause."

Established in 1989 by The Recording Academy, MusiCares provides a safety net of critical assistance for music people in times of need. MusiCares' services and resources cover a wide range of financial, medical and personal emergencies, and each case is treated with integrity and confidentiality. MusiCares also focuses the resources and attention of the music industry on human service issues that directly impact the health and welfare of the music community. For more information, please visit www.musicares.com.

As a result of acquiring MAP in September 2005, MusiCares developed the MAP Fund as a pool of resources set aside specifically to address addiction recovery and sober living needs. Named for the Musicians Assistance Program and founded by longtime musician and addiction recovery activist Buddy Arnold, the MusiCares MAP Fund represents the joint goal of MAP and MusiCares to provide members of the music community access to addiction recovery treatment regardless of their financial circumstances.

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