Locksley to headline par tof MTV's Choose or Lose tour

MTV's Choose or Lose campaign and Feature Records announced today that the band Locksley will headline a national tour to support America's U.S. military veterans issues. The tour, which is the latest installment of "Choose or Lose's" ongoing campaign to raise awareness for young veteran issues, kicks off in Boston, MA on October 5, 2008 and wraps in Vienna, VA on November 3, 2008. Volunteers from Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America (IAVA), the country's first and largest nonprofit, nonpartisan Iraq and Afghanistan veterans group, will be on-hand at each concert stop to help raise awareness and garner support around issues facing young veterans.

Additionally, a select number of veterans will be provided with free tickets to attend each show. These tickets will be funded through proceeds contributed by local bands on SonicBids.com as they compete to open the concert in their local city by submitting their electronic press kits (EPKs) online according to the listed instructions on the site. Bands can submit by uploading their EPKs by September 29, 2008 on http://www.sonicbids.com/mtvchooseorlose.

Additionally, select venues will feature a set-up of the recently released Rock Band 2(TM) video game, giving veterans and attendees a chance to rock-out with their own Rock Band bands.

"Recent MTV research revealed that nearly 70 percent of young people 18 - 29 personally know someone who has fought in Iraq or Afghanistan. With so many of our nation's young people affected, it's critical that we bring veterans issues into the forefront of political discussions across the country," said Ian Rowe, Senior Vice President of Strategic Partnerships and Public Affairs. "By kicking off this national tour with Locksley, we're extending our reach even further to connect with a broad audience, tying this important message to the power of music."

"Choose or Lose '08" (http://www.ChooseorLose.com) is MTV's Emmy-Award winning campaign to engage, inform and empower young voters on the political issues that matter to them most. First launched in 1992, the campaign has helped fuel several of the largest youth voter turnouts in US history, including in 2004, when it helped inspire nearly 22 million 18-30 year olds to register and vote. Young voters can log on to http://www.ChooseorLose.com to register to vote, gather information about absentee voting, and stay informed on political issues.

"I think voting isn't even important, it's imperative," said Kai Kennedy of Locksley. "It's our right that people died for to give to us. Exercising that right is the most patriotic thing that anyone can do."

Locksley was recently featured as an MTV Artist of the Week, and is extremely active in voicing the importance of political involvement and awareness. This concert tour coincides with the band's recently re-issued CD Don't Make Me Wait available in stores now..

Without the support of a major label system the band was able to accomplish unprecedented success based on the merit of their songwriting, landing highly coveted spots on Late Night with Conan O'Brien and Jimmy Kimmel Live as well as placement of their hit single My Kind Of Lover in J.J. Abrams' much anticipated Cloverfield. They were also awarded the honor of composing Why Can't I Be You for the MTV show of the same name and the track's music video won mtvU's The Freshman.

Locksley / Choose or Lose Tour Dates Include:
Sun 05 Oct BOSTON, MA
Mon 06 Oct STATE COLLEGE, PA
Tue 07 Oct PITTSBURGH, PA
Wed 08 Oct YOUNGSTOWN, OH
Thu 09 Oct DETROIT, MI
Fri 10 Oct MADISON, WI
Sat 11 Oct CHICAGO, IL
Mon 13 Oct DES MOINES, IA
Tue 14 Oct MINNEAPOLIS, MN
Wed 15 Oct LAWRENCE, KS
Thu 16 Oct DENVER, CO
Fri 17 Oct SALT LAKE CITY, UT
Sun 19 Oct TUCSON, AZ
Mon 20 Oct LOS ANGELES, CA
Wed 22 Oct ALBUQUERQUE
Fri 24 Oct AUSTIN, TX
Sat 25 Oct HOUSTON, TX
Sun 26 Oct DALLAS, TX
Tue 28 Oct NASHVILLE, TN
Wed 29 Oct ATLANTA, GA
Thu 30 Oct CHARLOTTE, NC
Sat 01 Nov NEW YORK, NY
Mon 03 Nov Vienna, VA

Other elements of "Choose or Lose '08" include the recent special where MTV News and Kanye West teamed up to tell the stories of returning veterans in the powerful documentary "Choose or Lose & Kanye West Present: Homecoming." In this one hour special, Kanye West, along with MTV's Sway Calloway, gave recently returned Iraq war veterans the surprise of their lives by unexpectedly visiting their homes.

The campaign also pioneered the MTV / MySpace Presidential Dialogue Series, which featured Senators McCain, Clinton, Obama, Edwards, Governor Huckabee and Representative Paul taking unfiltered questions - in person and online, in real time - from youth nationwide; "Choose or Lose Presents Clinton & Obama Answer Young Veterans"; and MTV "Street Team '08," 51 specially-recruited citizen journalists, one in each state and Washington, D.C., covering the 2008 elections from a youth perspective.

"Street Team" members file weekly multi-media reports, tailor their coverage for mobile devices and focus on the political issues that most impact young people in their respective states. On July 4th Choose or Lose presented exclusive 60-second video messages on MTV2 from presumptive Presidential candidates, republican Senator John McCain and Democratic Senator Barack Obama. These messages paid tribute to the young men and women who have served in the nation's armed forces.

All "Choose or Lose" content - plus more information on the candidates, issues, registering to vote and a spirited debate - can be found on http://www.ChooseorLose.com.