GUITAR CENTER AND MÖTLEY CRÜE HAND-PICKED ARTISTS, THE LAST VEGAS, TOP ITUNES’ “ROCK SINGLES OF THE YEAR” LIST
Url: http://www.makerockhistory.com/

Guitar Center’s Commitment to Support of Aspiring Artists Comes to Fruition: “I’m Bad” Selected iTunes 2009 Rock Single of the Year By Panel of Critics

Guitar Center, the world’s largest music retailer, announced that its On-Stage winner, The Last Vegas, topped iTunes critics’ 2009 “Rock Singles of the Year List” with their hit single “I’m Bad” (Eleven Seven Music). Recently, Guitar Center partnered with Mötley Crüe, the world’s most notorious rock band, on its undiscovered music program Guitar Center On-Stage through which one band, The Last Vegas, received an opening slot on Mötley Crüe’s 2009 U.S. tour, $25,000 cash, $20,000 in exclusive gear from Gibson Guitar, management from Tenth Street Entertainment, and a recording deal from Eleven Seven Music, Mötley’s Crüe’s management and record label. Due in part to Guitar Center’s commitment to the support of aspiring artists, the band has risen to the top of the most popular digital music store in the world’s annual “best-of” list in just one year. The chart topping single can be purchased at http://tinyurl.com/ImBadiTunes and its music video can be viewed at http://tinyurl.com/ImBadYouTube.

“We cannot thank Guitar Center enough for kick-starting our careers with its On-Stage program,” said Chad Cherry, lead singer of The Last Vegas. “From the moment we won their extremely generous prize and were hand-selected by Mötley Crüe to open for them on tour, our lives have been sent into a whirlwind of rock and roll. Look at us now; we’re sitting on top of the iTunes charts and it all started with Guitar Center.”

The Last Vegas has been dubbed “Best Discovery” by SPIN and, since winning Guitar Center On-Stage, has built an impressive touring history throughout arenas, clubs and theaters in 2009, side-by-side with renowned acts like Buckcherry, Hinder, Theory of a Deadman and Papa Roach.

“Guitar Center prides itself on helping musicians pursue and accomplish their dreams and The Last Vegas are the perfect Cinderella story,” said Norman Hajjar, EVP and Chief Marketing Officer for Guitar Center. “The Last Vegas has gone above and beyond the achievements we had hoped for when we started the Guitar Center On-Stage program and we can’t wait to see where they’re headed.”

About Guitar Center

Guitar Center is the world’s largest retailer of guitars, amplifiers, percussion instruments, keyboards and pro-audio and recording equipment. Our retail store subsidiary presently operates 214 Guitar Center stores across the U.S. We are also the largest direct response retailer of musical instruments in the United States through our wholly owned subsidiary, Musician’s Friend, Inc., and its catalog and Web site, www.musiciansfriend.com. In addition, our Music & Arts division operates more than 100 stores specializing in band instruments for sale and rental, serving teachers, band directors, college professors and students. More information on Guitar Center can be found by visiting the Company’s Web site at www.guitarcenter.com.