SUICIDE SILENCE, SPINESHANK, BURY YOUR DEAD Added To MUSIC AS A WEAPON IV Tour

Multi-platinum hard-rock band DISTURBED has announced the lineup for the second stage of its Music As A Weapon IV tour — a music, tattoo, and lifestyle festival — presented by Samsung Mobile and powered by Sprint. SUICIDE SILENCE, SPINESHANK, BURY YOUR DEAD, CROOKED X, BORN OF OSIRIS, and AFTER THE BURIAL are confirmed to perform on The Ernie Ball Second Stage, which will be officially sponsored by multi-city battle-of-the-bands organization, Headbang For the Highway. DISTURBED will be joined on the 38-city, nine-week trek, which kicks off March 20 in Madison, WI, by KILLSWITCH ENGAGE, LACUNA COIL, and CHIMAIRA on the main-stage. SUICIDE SILENCE joins the tour on March 29, while BURY YOUR DEAD joins on March 31. Both bands appear through the end of the tour. BORN OF OSIRIS and AFTER THE BURIAL will appear from March 20 through March 28. SPINESHANK and CROOKED X will perform on all dates.

Headbang For The Highway have teamed up with Music As A Weapon IV to offer local bands the ultimate opportunity: a spot performing on The Ernie Ball Second Stage. Two unsigned regional acts will open the show in each city the tour visits. These acts will be determined by who wins the battle of the bands competition in each city. Bands can sign up to enter at this location, where they will be judged by music industry professionals.

Headbang For the Highway was launched by Sumerian Records in conjunction with Outerloop Management and Millen White Zelano & Branigan to give unsigned bands the chance to win thousands of dollars in cash, music videos, and merchandise printing, as well as to showcase for some of the best labels, managers, and agents in the business. Multiple winners who traveled from all around the country to the 2007 nationwide finals competition (which took place at the second annual California Metalfest with TESTAMENT and SUICIDE SILENCE in Santa Ana, California) won tours and landed record deals.

The Chicago quartet DISTURBED conceived Music As A Weapon in 2001 and have headlined the previous three tours. For the first time, the tour has been expanded into a complete lifestyle festival. In addition to presenting the best in rock music, Music As A Weapon IV also features a collection of the greatest tattoo artists from around the country offering their talents to attendees in each city, including the world-famous Oliver Peck (seen on "Miami Ink" and "Bam's Unholy Union" on MTV),Las Vegas' Hart & Huntington Tattoo Company (founded by freestyle motocross legend Carey Hart). Attendees will also be able to check out an extreme sports zone, where skate teams will perform, a Technology and Gaming Zone, and a Vendor Village, all for a fan-friendly ticket price.

"Ernie Ball Music Man, the world's leader in premium American-made instruments and strings, are taking their state-of-the-art mobile stage across the nation" says Brian Ball, Sr VP of Ernie Ball Company. "Featuring the best up-and-coming metal acts, the stage will be a surefire hit during this spring's largest lifestyle music festival."

The Music As A Weapon IV festival will begin at 2 p.m. daily in every city. Please visit www.musicasaweapon4.com for more information about venues, traveling tattoo artists, and sponsors.