Guitar Center and Motley Crue announce band contest finalists

Guitar Center and Mötley Crüe announced today the six finalists for the Guitar Center On-Stage: Your Chance To Make Rock History. The final six bands were chosen from a pool of 30 semi-finalists over a period of two days as each semi-finalist performed one song live in front of a panel of industry experts at Guitar Center’s legendary Sunset Boulevard location. The final six bands will continue onto the finals to perform live for Mötley Crüe at the world famous Whisky A Go-Go on November 10th in Hollywood.

The top six bands were chosen by influential leaders in the music industry, including President of FUSE TV, Eric Sherman; Producer and Front man of Sixx: A.M., James Michael; Music Director of Los Angeles radio station 98.7, Julie Pilat; Chris Nilsson of Tenth St. Entertainment and General Manager of Eleven Seven Music, Frank Woodworth.

Sixx: A.M. front man and producer, James Michael shares, “I was blown away by the talent I saw over the past few days. Rarely do I get to see so many great bands play one after another. The “Guitar Center On Stage” program has already proven effective in finding America’s best up and coming rock bands.”

The finalists who are just one step closer to being official rock stars include:
· The Spittin’ Cobras (Seattle, WA)
· Lorene Drive (Victorville, CA)
· The Dirty Pearls (New York, NY)
· Waterstreet (Peoria, IL)
· Something To Burn (Los Angeles, CA)
· The Heroine (San Antonio, TX)

Since launching the search for the next great American rock band in August, Guitar Center and Mötley Crüe have had a staggering 7,930 bands register and close to 175,000 online votes cast at the program’s web site—makerockhistory.com. The site also garnered nearly one million unique visitors since its launch on August 1st.

Mötley Crüe’s Mick Mars notes, “Our partnership with Guitar Center gives us the opportunity to help an up-and-coming band by giving them every element needed to succeed. Like Ozzy did for us when he took an unknown band called Mötley Crüe on the road, we too are looking for the next generation’s great rock band.”

Continuing its support of aspiring artists, Guitar Center and the world’s most notorious rock band will provide one up-and-coming band the ultimate, career-altering opportunity—the chance to open on tour for rock icons, Mötley Crüe. The winning band will also receive $25,000 cash, $20,000 in exclusive new gear from Gibson Guitar, management from Tenth St. Entertainment, and a recording deal from Eleven Seven Music, Mötley’s management and record label.

“Guitar Center On-Stage is our most revolutionary program yet, and we are truly amazed with the quality of talent that will go onto perform for Motley at the finals,” said Norman Hajjar, EVP and Chief Marketing Officer for Guitar Center. “Guitar Center invests millions every year behind programs that are dedicated to helping striving artists realize their musical dreams and this initiative is literally going to make rock history.”

The Guitar Center On-Stage finals, which are free to the public, will be held November 10th at the world famous Whisky A-Go-Go at 7 p.m., where each of the bands will perform live for Tommy Lee, Nikki Sixx, Vince Neil and Mick Mars of Mötley Crüe who will select the top band and winner of Guitar Center On-Stage.

Allen Kovac, CEO and Founder of Tenth Street Entertainment and Eleven Seven Music said, "From the performances that we have witnessed over the duration of this initiative, it's apparent that Guitar Center On-Stage is an innovative platform that helps find fresh and groundbreaking new artists, whom would otherwise not have a chance to tour with the likes of Mötley Crüe. The winning band will not only have the chance of a lifetime to open for the notorious rockers, but they will have the support of the record label, management, credibility from Guitar Center and marketing to launch them into the competitive music industry to jump start a long and successful career.”

To check out the audio and videos of the final six bands or for more information about the finals at the Whisky A-Go-Go on November 10th, please go to www.makerockhistory.com.