NICKO MCBRAIN, CARMINE APPICE To Be Inducted Into Guitar Center’s Drum-Legends Hall Of Fame

After months of local and regional competitions held at each of Guitar Center's 214 stores across the country, the top six undiscovered drummers in the nation have been selected from a field of nearly 5,000 competitors. The six finalists will go head to head on Saturday, January 10, 2009 at Guitar Center's Drum-Off grand finals in Los Angeles for a prize package worth over $45,000, as they perform in front of a capacity crowd at the historic Music Box at Fonda Theater. The show will also feature performances from drumming greats Nicko McBrain (IRON MAIDEN),Jason Bittner (SHADOWS FALL),an exclusive collaboration by Thomas Pridgen (MARS VOLTA) and Thomas Lang and a headlining performance by PAPA ROACH. The evening will be hosted by Stephen Perkins (JANE'S ADDICTION).

The six finalists are:

Juan Carlos Mendoza (E. Brunsick, NJ)
Jerome Flood III (Lawrenceville, GA)
Anthony Burns (Saginaw, MI)
Ramon Sampson (Memphis, TN)
Sherman Arnold (Englewoodm CO)
Timm Newton (La Mesa, CA)

Last but not least Guitar Center will posthumously honor the legendary drumming icon Mitch Mitchell (JIMI HENDRIX EXPERIENCE) along with living legends Nicko McBrain (IRON MAIDEN) and Carmine Appice (VANILLA FUDGE, TED NUGENT, ROD STEWART) during the show, as they induct them into Guitar Center's "Drum-Legends" Hall of Fame. Started three years ago, "Drum Legends" was created to acknowledge the contributions of many of today's most legendary and iconic drummers. Guitar Center has dedicated a special section in their flagship San Francisco location to "Drum Legends", featuring past inductees including Steve Smith, David Garibaldi, Alan White, Greg Errico and others.

For 20 years, Guitar Center has been committed to providing drummers across the country the opportunity to pursue their musical aspirations and achieve their dreams by hosting the world's largest drum competition: Guitar Center Drum-Off. This year, nearly 5,000 drummers from across the country are competing for a chance to win over $45,000 in cash and prizes, and to be crowned Guitar Center's Drum-Off champion 2008.

Many of today's most influential and respected drummers have embraced Guitar Center's Drum-Off over the past two decades by participating in the program: Chad Smith (RED HOT CHILI PEPPERS),Josh Freese (NINE INCH NAILS),?uestlove (THE ROOTS),Stewart Copeland (THE POLICE) Alan White (YES),Tommy Lee (MÖTLEY CRÜE),Travis Barker (BLINK 182),Adrian Young (NO DOUBT),Shannon Leto (30 SECONDS TO MARS),Brooks Wackerman (BAD RELIGION),Stephen Perkins (JANE'S ADDICTION),Danny Carey (TOOL) and Jason Bonham (LED ZEPPELIN) are among the dozens of established drummers who have either performed or served as judges at previous Guitar Center Drum-Off events.

Past Guitar Center Drum-Off champs have gone on to have incredibly successful careers including Cora "CC" Dunham (PRINCE; Drum-Off '02 champ),Eric Moore (BOBBY BROWN, SLY AND THE FAMILY STONE, INFECTIOUS GROOVES; Drum-Off '03 champ),Tony Royster Jr. (JAY Z; Drum-Off '95 champ) and Thomas Pridgen (THE MARS VOLTA),who became the Guitar Center Drum-Off champion in 1993 when he was just 9 years old!

Like all Guitar Center music programs, Drum-Off is designed to provide developing artists with support-based opportunities that vastly improve the potential for their success as professional musicians. Guitar Center's Drum-Off '08 champion will win an impressive package of prizes, including $25,000 cash, a Roland TD-20 kit, and a custom designed drum kit by DW, Pearl, Gretsch, Tama, or Orange Country Drums as well as a drum, stick, cymbal, and drum head endorsement deals, be featured in Modern Drummer magazine, and in a Guitar Center ad campaign, along with a VIP appearance at NAMM 2009 and shopping sprees with Levi's, Converse and Guitar Center. A Monster Energy Drink endorsement deal is also part of the prize package, making the total prize package worth over $45,000. In addition, Sabian, Zildjian, Remo, Pro-Mark, Vic Firth, Evans and Rhythm Tech are all proud sponsors of Drum-Off '08.

This is an all-ages show. Tickets are $15 at www.TicketWeb.com.