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Music Rising
The Music Rising Guitar
In 2005 the Southern United States were devastated by one of the fiercest
hurricanes in history — "Katrina". With staggering ferocity, "Katrina" destroyed all in her path, and leveled much of
New Orleans in the process. Following a visit to New Orleans in November 2005, U2's The Edge announced the unveiling
of Music Rising, a campaign to raise funds to replace the lost instruments and accessories of the musicians affected by the hurricanes that
devastated the Gulf Coast region. Lead partners Gibson Guitars and Guitar Center Music Foundation spearheaded the initial effort by collaborating on the design, manufacture and sale of an exclusive Gibson guitar with all
proceeds going directly to the Music Rising program. The guitar is available exclusively through Guitar Center. The instrument captures the essence of the Gulf Coast's
musical tradition. Less than 300 were produced with all proceeds benefiting Music Rising and a pledge of $1 million in support. The Gibson Music Rising guitar features hand-painted designs using the colors of Mardi Gras. Each guitar is individually painted and handmade so
no two are alike. All of the usual plastic parts (back plate, pick guard, toggle cover, truss rod cover) have been replaced
by woods from the States affected by the hurricanes and the Music Rising logo, exclusive to this guitar, is etched into the pick guard. Just 11 of these unique and historic instruments remain
available, and all proceeds from the sale benefit the local musicians who still suffer, a year later, from the effects of
Katrina. Rarely does the opportunity to purchase an outstanding musical instrument also benefit a noble cause, but
this is one such occasion. Click here to view these rare instruments and to find the Guitar Center locations at which they are on sale. The application
and qualification process for musicians will be handled by MusiCares® a nonprofit organization dedicated to helping music
people in crisis, which has already provided more than $1.5 million in direct financial assistance to more than 1,800 Gulf
Coast music people. MusiCares Foundation will manage all eligibility for Music Rising grants and fulfillment of the grants will be managed by Musician's Friend, one of the country's largest online music retailers.
U2's The Edge visits New Orleans after Katrina
Click here for more information about The Edge's visit to New Orleans. The Edge visited New Orleans on Thurs., Nov. 17 between U2's current "Vertigo" tour dates in order to see the
profound impact on the area first-hand and to spend time with local musicians, listening to their experiences and trying to
understand their needs. During his stay, he toured several neighborhoods and struggling venues. "My recent visit to
New Orleans gave me a firsthand look at the devastation which tragically destroyed the lives of thousands. The area's rich
and spirited culture must be restored and can be by assisting those musicians affected by the disaster which in turn will
bring back the essence of the regions," said Edge. "Providing replacement instruments through Music Rising will not only help
the professional musicians to regain a foothold on their future, but will also ensure that one of the Gulf Coast's greatest
assets, its music, will rise again." Adding to the power of Music Rising, a group of industry partners have joined
Gibson Guitar and Guitar Center in the effort. Participating partners include Conn-Selmer, VH1 and MTV Networks, Ticketmaster,
and SpinCo (formerly Clear Channel Entertainment) and Kennedy-Marshall. These industry giants have pledged their support through
both financial and media contributions and are setting the tone for support from the rest of the industry and music fans worldwide.
About Music Rising
Music Rising is a national campaign created by U2's The Edge and producer Bob Ezrin with various partners including Gibson Guitar Chairman
and CEO Henry Juszkiewicz, Guitar Center Music Education Foundation's CEO Larry Thomas, members of MusiCares and other industry
executives. Inaugural partners MusiCares, Gibson Guitar, Guitar Center, Musician's Friend, VH-1 Networks, MTV Networks, Rolling
Stone Magazine, Ticketmaster, and Spin Co (formerly Clear Channel Entertainment) constitute the most dynamic and comprehensive
organized group to launch a relief program since the Hurricanes hit the United States. The campaign's goal is to put musical
instruments back into the hands of all musicians who lost everything in the hurricane disasters and to help them regain their
livelihood while rebuilding the heart and culture of the Gulf Region. Music Rising is administered by MusiCares. For information
on Music Rising go to www.musicrising.org
How you can help...
For more information about Music Rising, please click here. In addition to the purchase of the Music Rising guitar, interested supporters can make tax-deductible contributions
to Music Rising at www.musicrising.org or by sending a check made payable to: Music Rising, c/o MusiCares Foundation, 3402
Pico Blvd., Santa Monica, CA 90405. For more information on Music Rising or how to purchase the Music Rising Gibson guitar
go to www.musicrising.org.
 Related Video:
Edge Music Rising PSA
Edge Surveying Damage in New Orleans
Edge Jamming with Walter ‘Wolfman’ Washington
09.16.2008 U2 and Green Day Mark Opening of Louisiana
Superdome with Special Music Rising Performance during ESPN's Monday Night Football Pre-Game Show Sponsored by Rhapsody
New Orleans, LA...September 14, 2006...Music Rising, the campaign launched to help bring
the music back to the storm ravaged Gulf Coast Region announced an extraordinary pairing of two of the world's greatest rock
bands for a special show before ESPN's Monday Night Football game between the Atlanta Falcons and New Orleans Saints at the
Louisiana Superdome on Monday, September 25, 2006. U2 and Green Day will make an unprecedented appearance together on stage
to officially re-open the Louisiana Superdome and perform for the people of New Orleans on behalf of Music Rising. The pre-game
show and special performance is sponsored by RealNetworks' Rhapsody digital music service. Music Rising is administered by
the Gibson Foundation.
In the days following Hurricane Katrina, the Louisiana Superdome became a symbol of agony and
distress. This NFL football game is the first event to originate from the stadium since the Katrina devastation. It will be
highlighted by a special live performance by U2 and Green Day that will be televised during ESPN's Monday Night Countdown
pre-game show between 7:00pm-8:30pm EDT (performance 8:20-8:30pm). An opening video presentation showcasing the efforts of
Music Rising and the Superdome will air prior to the performance by the two super-groups.
"My visits to New Orleans
gave me a firsthand look at the devastation which tragically destroyed the lives of thousands. The area's rich and spirited
culture must continue to be restored. Providing musical instruments through Music Rising will not only help the professional
musicians but all the churches and schools in need through phase two of the program. Music Rising is dedicated to helping
regain a foothold on their future but will also ensure that one of the Gulf Coast's greatest assets, its music, will rise
again," said The Edge.
The collaborative effort, of what is sure to be an electrifying performance will also officially
launch Music Rising Phase II. This phase of the campaign will provide musical instruments to churches and schools. In an extraordinary
show of support U2 and Green Day will debut "The Saints Are Coming," a song originally written and performed in 1978 by The
Skids, a seminal Scottish punk rock band. The song expresses frustration but ends with a statement of resolve and determination.
"One year later, people continue to be devastated by Katrina's effects," says Green Day's Billie Joe Armstrong. "We
hope that by collaborating with U2, we'll remind the public that people of the Gulf Coast are still suffering and still need
help to rebuild their lives. The Edge and Music Rising are providing support to schools, churches and musicians who lost everything
in the storm, including their ability to make a living. We are honored to be asked and proud to be part of that."
In
addition to the live broadcast, Rhapsody will offer a live streaming audio webcast of the entire Monday Night Football pre-game
show featuring U2 and Green Day via www.rhapsody.com. Shortly after the event, fans will have the ability to buy a download
of the The Saints Are Coming via Rhapsody with all net proceeds going directly to Music Rising. Both the exclusive Music Rising
charity track and select exclusive footage from the performance will be available for a limited time via http://www.rhapsody.com/musicrising A simultaneous radio broadcast offered to radio stations by Westwood One worldwide will encourage solidarity
across the globe for the people of New Orleans and the efforts to rebuild from destruction. Westwood One is providing the
broadcast on a non-exclusive and uninterrupted basis.
Music Rising was formed in late 2005 by U2's The Edge, producer
Bob Ezrin and Gibson Guitar Chairman and CEO Henry Juszkiewicz. Since its inception it has been recognized throughout the
world and has aided over 2,000 professional musicians. Many of the Gulf Region's musicians who have depended on the local
music industry for their livelihood have been supported by Music Rising through the replacement of lost or destroyed instruments
and equipment. The Monday Night Football pre-game event marks the introduction of the initiative's second phase. Rebuilding
the Gulf Coast Region "Note by Note" has become a symbolic tagline of the Music Rising campaign. The NFL also intends to involve
Music Rising in various upcoming events throughout the season. The initiative has been the recipient of the 2005 Gold Halo
Award for Cause Marketing and was recently announced as the recipient of the prestigious 2006 Billboard Humanitarian Award
to be honored in New York on November 9, 2006. Amongst the campaign's many supporters, President Bill Clinton has provided
his time to help drive awareness for the continued need in the area through the efforts of Music Rising.
Music Rising
Phase II will be administered by The Gibson Foundation, the philanthropic arm of Gibson Guitar along with The Mr. Holland's
Opus Foundation for schools and All Congregations Together for churches. Instructions for making donations and FAQS concerning
applications for support can be found by visiting the Music Rising or Gibson Foundation websites at www.musicrising.org and www.gibsonfoundation.org All donations are tax deductible with 100% of support going directly to the Gulf Coast Region. A limited edition
Music Rising Epiphone guitar with the exclusive Music Rising artwork featured on the t-shirt worn by The Edge at this year's
Grammys will also be available for purchase exclusively through Musician's Friend. All proceeds from the guitar sales will
also benefit the Music Rising campaign. To order the Epiphone Music Rising guitar or inquire go to www.musiciansfriend.com.
On the day of the performance a special toll free number will be set up to take donations.
23.2007 The Edge's Gibson Les Paul Among Highlights at Historic 'Icons of Music' Sale in New York Which
Raised 2.5 million
The "Icons of Music," auction held Saturday, April 21, 2007 in New York to benefit Music
Rising, a campaign co-founded by U2's The Edge, raised .5 million. Julien's Auctions conducted the sale and bidders from around
the world paid record prices for some of the most iconic rock memorabilia ever offered to the public. Music Rising, administered
by the Gibson Foundation, was launched in 2005 and has since won numerous awards. To date the campaign has aided more than
2,400 professional musicians and more than 20,000 students and parishioners of the Gulf Coast region.
The Edge's beloved
1975 cream Gibson Les Paul Custom guitar which was played on every U2 tour since 1985, sold for a record 0,000. His Gibson
ES-295 Archtop guitar brought 5,000 and Bono's signed Irish Falcon Gretsch guitar brought 7,500. The auction marked the first
time such a wide selection of U2 memorabilia was available to collectors.
Among the more than 200 items sold were
former President Bill Clinton's saxophone (,000), a pair of John Lennon's round, blue-tinted sunglasses (,000), Edge's Ethiopian
necklace worn in "The Fly" video (,000), Bono's Armani sunglasses and signed case (,000), Adam Clayton's studio played bass
(,000), Larry Mullen's Tom drum used on the Vertigo tour (,000), Paul McCartney's hand-painted and signed Epiphone Texan (,000),
Kurt Cobain's MTV Award (,800), Slash's Signature model signed Gibson guitar (,000), The Edge's jacket (,000), and a guitar
owned by Jimi Hendrix sold for a record 0,000. Other highlights of the auction and results can be viewed on the Juliens Auctions
website beginning Monday, April 23,2007 at www.juliensauctions.com. The final amount going to the charity will be tallied
up, with some items having the total selling price going to Music Rising, and other items designated a portion of the proceeds
to the charity.
Supermodel and actress Christy Turlington co-hosted the event which opened with "The Saints Are Coming"
video, followed by a special performance by the Preservation Hall Jazz Band straight from New Orleans. Before the paddles
went up, The Edge welcomed the crowd and later was the recipient of a special donation by the Hard Rock New York, in exchange
for a Music Rising Epiphone guitar signed by The Edge, which will be displayed as a sign of hope in the Biloxi, Mississippi
Hard Rock location. The auction ran for several hours as bidders from around the world were vying for a piece of musical history
either by phone, online or on site. The night ended with a special closing performance by legendary musician Allen Toussaint,
which was standing room only.
About Music Rising:
Music Rising, a campaign launched in 2005 to replace musical
instruments lost or destroyed by hurricanes in the Gulf Region. The initiative continues to aid those in need through its
consistent efforts to aid professional musicians, churches and schools. Music Rising was formed in late 2005 by U2's The Edge,
legendary producer Bob Ezrin, Gibson Guitar Chairman and CEO Henry Juszkiewicz. Partners of the campaign represent the most
diverse partnership in the entertainment industry and include MusiCares, Guitar Center, Musician's Friend, Live Nation, Kennedy/Marshall,
Ticketmaster, Hard Rock International, VH-1, MTV, Real Networks, ABC News Now, The NFL, Rolling Stone, Mr. Hollands Opus,
ACT and the Bush-Clinton Katrina Fund. Former President Bill Clinton has even participated in press coverage for the campaign
when he presented a Music Rising Gibson Les Paul guitar to a recipient in Baton Rouge, LA in 2006. Music Rising is the recipient
of the prestigious 2005 HALO Award for Cause Marketing and the 2006 Billboard Humanitarian Award and has been recognized around
the world by various media organizations. Music Rising is administered by The Gibson Foundation.For more information on Music
Rising go to http://www.musicrising.org/ or www.gibsonfoundation.org
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