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Guitar Center Music Foundation Presents A Rockstar Experience Charity Auction

An organization dedicated to supporting music education offers unique memorabilia, rock legend meet and greets, and a chance at fame for one artist or band

Los Angeles, CA (Billboard Publicity Wire) December 16, 2008 -- Do you dream about rock 'n' roll stardom? How about playing the guitar of your favorite rock icons? Guitar Center Music Foundation is proud to present the Rockstar Experience Online Charity Auction, which launched on Wednesday, December 3, 2008 at 7 p.m. PST at www.auctionwire.com and running until Saturday, December 21, at 8 p.m. PST. The auction will feature hot ticket items such as signed guitars from famous musicians, celebrity meet and greets with rock legends, and The Rockstar Experience -- a unique package that will make anyone rock 'n' roll!

The Rockstar Experience package will be one lucky winner's shot at fame; the winner of this item will be featured on a huge "Poster of Fame," photographed by world-renowned rock photographer Robert Knight. The 80-square-foot poster will be displayed prominently at the entrance of the landmark Guitar Center Hollywood store on Sunset Boulevard alongside famous artists such as John Mayer and Slash.

There is more. The lucky winner will get real publicity for being featured on this Guitar Center storefront. The Rockstar Experience winner will be featured in a story in an upcoming issue of Skinnie Entertainment Magazine (www.SkinnieMagazine.com) -- a leading free publication for music, sports, fashion and lifestyle, reaching the young adults of Southern California and Las Vegas for over seven years. Top this off with an appearance of the winner in the popular Flash section of SPIN -- the leading music lifestyle magazine with the popular online site www.SPIN.com -- and you have the ultimate rock star exposure package.

In addition, the winning bidder will receive a day in a top Los Angeles recording studio with the assistance of a top engineer and production team, a component that, alone, is valued at thousands of dollars. Bennett Music/Sanctum LA is offering one full lockout day of studio time with esteemed head engineer Gary Lux. Gary's credits include mixing for Usher, Janet Jackson, Rob Thomas, and Ben Harper, among others. Sanctum LA will offer production services as well by the in-house production team of Leo Mellace and Steve Catizone, whose credits include Wyclef Jean, JoJo, Earth Wind & Fire, Ludacris, Damian Marley, Fuel, and Sully Erna of Godsmack, among others. Bennett Group's men's lifestyle and entertainment network, MEN7 (www.MEN7.tv), is a proud sponsor of this charity auction.

The winning bidder will also receive a signed copy of Robert Knight's new book "Rock Gods: Forty Years of Rock Photography." Robert Knight is best known for his "Guitar Legend" archive, having worked with such artists as Jimi Hendrix, Jeff Beck, Led Zeppelin, Stevie Ray Vaughan, Eric Clapton, as well as such contemporary artists as John Mayer, Tom Morello, and John-5.

The highly anticipated auction also includes rare memorabilia and once-in-a-lifetime experiences with rock legends. Items included are a John Mayer Signature Stratocaster autographed by John Mayer himself; a guitar signed by Velvet Revolver band members Slash, Duff McKagan, Dave Kushner, Matt Sorum and Scott Weiland; and a Zildjian gong signed by the Zildjian artists present at the 2006 Winter NAMM show, including Matt Cameron (Soundgarden and Pearl Jam), Mick Fleetwood (Fleetwood Mac), Chris Hesse (Hoobastank), Mike Malinin (The Goo Goo Dolls), Eric Singer (KISS and Badlands), Stephen Perkins (Jane's Addiction and Porno for Pyros), Atom Willard (Angels & Airwaves), and many more.

The celebrity experiences include a one-on-one drum lesson and/or meet and greet with Danny Seraphine, one of the most highly respected rock drummers, rated by the legendary Buddy Rich as one of his favorite young drummers. He was the drummer, percussionist and a founding member of the multi-million selling, Grammy award winning band Chicago. Also offered is a guitar lesson and/or meet and greet at with Don Felder, the lead guitarist of the Eagles from 1974 until their breakup in 1980, then from their reunion in 1994 to his firing in 2001. In addition this auction is offering a choice of a meet and greet or a personal one-on-one drum lesson with Alan White, a member of Yes since 1972, who has also performed with a variety of artists, including a recent set alongside Keith Emerson, Chris Squire, and Simon Kirke for the Ahmet Ertegun memorial show, as the opening act for Led Zeppelin. The winner will also have the opportunity to perform with White and a celebrity band in concert. The last package up for auction includes a limited edition, hand-painted Gibson Custom guitar inspired by the Jimi Hendrix Psychedelic Flying V Jimi purchased in 1967 and played during his Europe tour in 1967 and 1968. The guitar was signed by his sister, Janie Hendrix, and is serial number 001 of 300 of the limited edition. This item will be presented to the winning bidder by Janie Hendrix, herself.

So feel like a rock star and bid in support of a charitable cause -- the Guitar Center Music Foundation.

About the Guitar Center Music Foundation
The Guitar Center Music Foundation is a public nonprofit organization created to provide funding and resources for music education programs across America so that kids and adults alike will have an opportunity to experience the joys of making music. Instruments and equipment are granted to programs throughout the year to school music programs, after-school music programs and music therapy programs. Visit www.guitarcentermusicfoundation.org to learn more.

About Auctionwire
Auctionwire.com is a full service auction production agency working with Fortune 500 companies, media, entertainment, foundations, ad agencies and non-profit organizations to produce online and live auctions. Auctionwire has been responsible for producing and managing some of the world's most exciting auctions including Singapore Airlines First to Fly A380, Susan G. Komen for the Cure, Barry Bonds 715 Home Run Ball, the Toronto International Film Festival and many others. Auctionwire powers a variety of auction websites for celebrities, radio stations, bands, and corporations through the Auctionwire Platform and the Auctionwire Network. Auctionwire's www.GivingRoom.com is a social networking site that offers support/discussion for ongoing auctions.

Media Contacts
Steven Liberman
Auctionwire/Los Angeles
310.289.2255 / 818 981 0718
steven at auctionwire dot com   

Amanda LeBlanc
Auctionwire/Toronto
416 636 8678 ext. 232
amanda at auctionwire dot com
                              
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