Music Rising

Celebrity iPod Auction Benefits Music Rising

2009-02-21T18:36:00.001-08:00

Tonic Introduces Celebrity iPod Auction Series
to Benefit Music Rising

Tonic to Auction off 60+ Autographed iPods from A-List Celebrities from Music, Television, Film and Fashion

New York, N.Y. (February 12, 2009) Tonic, (www.tonic.com) the leading media and ecommerce site focused on effortless activism and social good, announced today the launch of an exciting and extraordinary auction series. Leading celebrities from the worlds of music, film, television, and fashion have contributed an autographed iPod loaded with their personal playlist to be auctioned off by Tonic, with all proceeds benefiting Music Rising, an campaign founded in 2005 to replace lost or destroyed instruments of musicians in the Gulf Coast Region after the hurricane disasters. re of the

Over sixty celebrities will participate in the auction series including U2’s the Edge, former President Bill Clinton, Donna Karan, Warren Buffett, Christy Turlington, Britney Spears, Michael Stipe, Gwen Stefani, Mariah Carey, Ben Affleck, Ellen DeGeneres, Estelle, Faith Hill, Carrie Underwood, Scarlett Johansson, Pete Wentz, Randy Jackson, Kevin Bacon, Gisele Bundchen, Marc Jacobs, Ed Burns, Samantha Ronson, Nick Lachey, Petra Nemcova, Mandy Moore and many others.

Each celebrity was given a new iPod which they each autographed and Tonic pre-loaded with a playlist of ten to twenty of the celebrities’ favorite songs. Beginning February 12th between one and five separate iPod auctions will simultaneously launch every week on eBay; playlists will be revealed to the public on both tonic.com and eBay when auctions are launched. To learn more about the series, see the complete list of celebrities and auction calendar, or bid on a current auction, visit www.tonic.com.

“Everyone who has ever wondered what songs their favorite celebrities listen to in their home or on the road won’t have to wonder much longer,” said Pankaj Shah, CEO and Founder of tonic. “We’ve compiled pre-loaded, autographed iPods from countless iconic celebrities to share with the public. By bidding on an autographed iPod, you’ll be helping to aid in the continued rebirth of the Gulf Coast Region. The Celebrity iPod Auction Series is tonic’s first major campaign of 2009 to offer consumers an opportunity to create social good and we’re thrilled to rally people behind a great cause.”

About Tonic:
Tonic is the leading media, ecommerce, and community site focused on effortless activism and social good, making it easy for people to do good things every day. Founded by entrepreneur Pankaj Shah, Tonic is supported by a diverse and impressive Board of Creators including Island Records founder and Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee Chris Blackwell, son of legendary investor and businessman Warren Buffett and musician Peter Buffett, fashion designer and philanthropist Donna Karan, music industry executive Phil Quartararo, Efficient Frontier Chairwoman Ellen Siminoff and Whitney Williams, Founder & President of Williamsworks.

About Music Rising:
Music Rising, is a campaign launched in 2005 to replace musical instruments lost or destroyed by hurricanes in the Gulf Region. It has since launched a second phase dedicated to the aid of schools and churches. Music Rising was formed 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, Juliens Auctions, ACT and the Bush-Clinton Katrina Fund. Music Rising is the recipient of the prestigious 2005 HALO Award for Cause, the 2006 Billboard Humanitarian Award and the 2008 PRISM Award and has been recognized around the world by various media organizations. Music Rising is administered by the Gibson Foundation. For more information go to www.musicrising.org and www.gibsonfoundation.org

Music Rising is at Sundance Film Festival

2009-01-18T18:16:00.000-08:00

Hi All, its been way too long since we posted to the blog here for Music Rising. We wanted to let you know that Music Rising is front and center at the Gibson Lodge this year at the Sundance Film Festival. Sting, Billy Morrison and The Doors stopped by today to sign special edition Music Rising Epiphone guitars which will be auctioned for Music Rising and the proceeds will continue to go straight to the Gulf Coast Region in the campaigns promise to help everyone who needs our aid. Three years after the hurricane disasters we know that there is still work to be done and we are committed to standing the test of time. Take a look at some of the press coming out this week at Sundance and you will see some very special photos and stories on how Music Rising is present there amidst the many musicians and actors who are willing to give us their support. In this new year we are thankful for our many friends who visit this blog and who continue to write and tell us their own personal stories. Make sure to visit often as we will be announcing more news this year. All the best and blessings in 2009!

Music Rising Awarded Heroes of the Storm on 3rd Anniversary

2008-08-25T21:07:00.000-07:00

We wanted to let all of you know that last night in Denver as part of the Democratic National Convention festivities, Music Rising was awarded a Heroes of the Storm Award from the Friends of New Orleans who produced a concert event to raise awareness for the help and aid still needed in the Gulf Region. Music Rising was awarded for its continuous efforts to support the Gulf Coast Region and we are happy to report that over 2,700 musicians have been given new instruments to regain their livelihood and Music Rising has also aided over 50,000 students and parishioners to date. Soon we will announce Phase III so stay tuned to the blog. The Music Rising Heroes of the Storm award was accepted on our behalf by legendary musician Allan Touissant, The Meter's Leo Nocentelli and Walter Wolfman Washington. It was an exceptional evening of New Orleans entertainment and a moving moment. For more information on Music Rising go to www.musicrising.org or www.gibsonfoundation.org. Thanks to all of you for your continued support of our effort and lets not forget on this third anniversary of Hurricane Katrina that there are many still in need. Thank you.

Star Studded Red Carpet at Music Rising Auction News

2008-05-29T07:34:00.001-07:00

**NEWS & PHOTO TIP SHEET FOR SATURDAY MAY 31, 2008**

U2’s The Edge Hosts Icons of Music II Auction to Benefit Music Rising
At Hard Rock Cafe New York

Event to Include Star-Studded Red Carpet

WHO: U2’s the Edge to host with special performance by Aaron Neville and appearances by Les Paul, Tiki Barber, Christy Turlington, Petra Nemcova, Joan Jett, “Cry-Baby” Broadway star James Snyder, Earl Slick, Jody Porter of Fountains of Wayne, writer May Pang, Donna Karan, legendary producer and Music Rising co-founder Bob Ezrin and many more. Jim Kerr will emcee the auction. Lisa Loeb will be hosting the Auction Network show live from the red carpet.

WHAT: U2’s the Edge, will host the star-studded Icons of Music II Auction at Hard Rock Cafe New York to benefit Music Rising, a campaign founded in 2005 to support musicians, students and parishioners of the Gulf Coast Region affected by the hurricanes. Music Rising has since aided over 2,700 professional musicians and nearly 50,000 students and parishioners and will soon launch Phase III of the campaign. The event will be conducted by world renowned Julien’s Auctions (www.juliensauctions.com). The exclusive event will include a performance by legendary musician Aaron Neville and a star-studded red carpet. Auction Network, the first 24/7, multimedia network solely dedicated to auctions, will conduct a live webcast in real-time streaming video of The Icons of Music Auction II hosted by Lisa Loeb.

For more information about how to register to bid, etc. please visit www.juliensauctions.com or call (310) 816-1818. For tickets, visit www.ticketmaster.com.

WHERE: Hard Rock Café New York
1501 Broadway
New York, NY 10036

WHEN: 5:30 PM Media Check-In
6:00 PM Red Carpet
6:30 PM Performance
7:00 PM Auction

MEDIA RSVP: Caroline Galloway Maureen O’Connor
Music Rising/Gibson Guitar Rogers & Cowan
440-338-3469/615-423-4904 310-854-8116
Caroline.galloway@gibson.com moconnor@rogersandcowan.com

About Music Rising
Music Rising, a campaign launched in 2005 to replace musical instruments lost or destroyed by hurricanes in the Gulf Region. It has since launched a second phase dedicated to the aid of schools and churches. Music Rising was formed 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, Juliens Auctions, ACT and the Bush-Clinton Katrina Fund. Music Rising is the recipient of the prestigious 2005 HALO Award for Cause Marketing and the 2006 Billboard Humanitarian Award, the 2008 PRISM Award and has been recognized around the world by various media organizations. Music Rising is administered by the Gibson Foundation. For more information go to www.musicrising.org and www.gibsonfoundation.org

Tickets on Sale for Music Rising Icons of Music II

2008-05-03T16:14:00.000-07:00

As noted before, the Icons of Music II to benefit Music Rising will take place on May 31, 2008 at the Hard Rock Cafe in Times Square in NYC. A limited number of tickets are on sale with 100% proceeds going to the charity. The tickets, $250 each, are available at Ticketmaster or at Hardrock.com. Tickets include food and beverage, commemorative catalog and entry into the private affair where celebrities will mingle amongst the world's greatest rock memorabilia. Tickets are available now and can be charged via the sites above. For more information check back at MusicRising.org or Hardrock.com. Thanks for your support of Music Rising, rebuilding the Gulf Coast Region note by note.

Icons of Music Sale 2 Announced

2008-03-31T20:51:00.000-07:00

Music Rising has announced that the 2nd Icons of Music Sale to be held at Hard Rock NYC Times Square will be held on Saturday May 31,2008. Juliens Auctions will host a day full of rock n roll memorabilia in a star studded auction event that will benefit Music Rising. Tickets to the event will go on sale next week via Ticketmaster or HardRock.com. The day will begin at 10am and last well into the evening. Juliens will be offering three sessions and special entertainment in the evening. For more information check back here regularly or check out www.juliensauctions.com . We will continue to update you on all the great things around this event. And as always we thank you for your continued support.

The Music Rising Team

Music Rising Shines at the Grammys 2008

2008-02-10T14:12:00.000-08:00

Gibson, U2, artists come together to support charity at the Grammys
by Jim Dalrymple
Feb 10, 2008 3:17 pm

Behind the glitz and glitter of the 50th annual Grammy Awards, there is something special going on to help victims of the 2005 hurricanes in the Central Gulf region. Founded by U2’s the Edge, Gibson CEO Henry Juszkiewicz and legendary producer Bob Ezrin, Music Rising is an organization dedicated to replacing musical instruments lost in the devastating storms.
“I wouldn’t be where I am today without the unique musical heritage that is New Orleans,” said U2’s the Edge. “So much has come from that part of America. From the birth of jazz, the roots of R&B and Rock ‘n’ Roll, to the traditional celebrations in the streets, New Orleans has provided all of us with so many traditions.”

When the artists are finished with their Grammy rehearsals they go to a special area where they can relax and talk to some of the companies attending the event. This is where Gibson set up its area with several Music Rising Les Paul guitars available to be signed.

After explaining to each artist what the guitars and Music Rising project were all about, each gladly sat down and the signed the guitars. The guitars will be up for auction on May 31, 2008 in the second Icons of Music Sale in NYC, where some of the worlds great rock memorabilia will be up for grabs. All proceeds will go to Music Rising — last year the group raised $2.4 million.
Artists that signed the Music Rising guitars include Ringo Starr, Foo Fighters, John Paul Jones, Plain White T’s, Blair Underwood and Brad Paisley, to name just a few.

“When we created Music Rising in 2005 we had a mission which was to preserve the musical culture of the Central Gulf Region by replacing the instruments that were lost or destroyed in the storms,” said producer and co-founder Bob Ezrin. “We will continue to do that until the region is rebuilt and the music is restored no matter how long it takes.”
In phase one of the project Music Rising has helped 2,700 musicians gain back their livelihood by making sure they had new instruments. Phase two of Music Rising focused on replacing musical instruments for schools and churches — so far 40,000 parishioners and students have been aided from the project, but the work continues.

“We continue to support Music Rising as a cofounding partner and will do so in every effort to help restore the rich musical heritage which originates from New Orleans,” said Henry Juszkiewicz, Chairman and CEO of Gibson Guitar. “With the support of the Gibson Foundation we plan on staying the course until the region is rebuilt ‘Note by Note.’”

Music Rising Stays the Course in 2008 Giving Hope for the New Year

2008-01-02T14:12:00.000-08:00

Music Rising, a campaign founded in 2005 after the devastation from Hurrican Katrina continues to support the schools and churches of New Orleans and the Gulf Coast Region through its outreach efforts to replace musical instruments. Over 40,000 students and parishioners have been the recipients of Music Rising's aid through the Gibson Foundation's assistance. In its first phase, Music Rising assisted over 2,500 musicians. Photos attached are fof students at Andrew Jackson Elementary in New Orleans, one of the many schools helped by Music Rising, whic his administered by the Gibson Foundation.

About Music Rising:
The Music Rising campaign was 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 and 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, Juliens Auctions, Toyota, Rolling Stone, Mr. Hollands Opus Foundation, 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 , the 2006 Billboard Humanitarian Award and the 2007 PRISM Awad. It has been recognized around the world by various media organizations. Music Rising is administered by the Gibson Foundation. For more information go to www.musicrising.org and www.gibsonfoundation.org

Happy Holidays from Music Rising

2007-12-18T19:11:00.000-08:00

Happy Holidays to everyone who have continued to support Music Rising in its efforts to bring aid to musicians, schools, churches and celebratory groups in New Orleans and the Gulf Coast Region since Hurricane Katrina struck. We are so grateful to call of you friends and promise to continue our efforts until everyone is taken care of in those areas most affected. Look forward to our involvement with the All-Star game in New Orleans in February and our next Icons of Music Sale in New York on May 31, 2008. To all of you we wish you the best of the holiday season and many blessings in 2008.

All the best,
The Music Rising team

Music Rising Wins Another Award!

2007-10-25T13:37:00.000-07:00

Hi Everyone!

Music Rising won the PRSA (Public Relations Society of America) PRism Award for Ongoing Entertainment Organization last night. Music Rising also won a PRism Award of Excellence in the non-profit campaign category. We are thrilled with the recognition and thank all of you once again for your continued support. We recently visited New Orleans and was able to see Music Rising in action. Children at Andrew Jackson Elementary performed for us with their new instruments provided by Music Rising and the vibrant choirs of Corpus Christi Church and the New Israel Missionary Church rejoiced in song when we visited. What a site it was to see and how grateful we are to be able to continue the work of Music Rising.

Happy Anniversary Superdome!

2007-09-24T05:49:00.000-07:00

Music Rising says "Happy Anniversary" Louisiana Superdome. Many of you may remember that it was this time last year that Music Rising supported the re-opening of the Louisiana Superdome in New Orleans for the first time since Hurricane Katrina hit. An amazing pre-game show featuring U2 and Green Day helped lift the spirits of the city and showed the world that New Orleans and its rich musical heritage was here to stay. "The Saints Are Coming," performed by the two bands was available for download and soon become an anthem for Music Rising. All of us are proud of what Music Rising has been able to accomplish since the Hurricanes hit the Gulf Coast Region and we are working hard every day to continue to aid those in need. Thank you to all of you for your continued support and thoughts. A special thank you to Irene you continues to be passionate and enthusiastic about what Music Rising continues to do and a thank you to Josh in Newton, MA who just sent us a nice donation from his bar mitzvah tzedakah project, both of you are inspiring. Good luck to CJ also who has taken on Music Rising as his Eagle Scouts project, we can't wait to see the results. Thank you to all of you whom's names we may not know but whose spirit we feel every day. Music Rising, replacing the Gulf Coast Music Note by Note!

Music Rising Says Thank You 2 Years Later

2007-09-02T11:32:00.000-07:00

On the two year anniversary of Hurricane Katrina we at Music Rising wanted to say thank you to everyone who has donated or supported us through volunteer work in our efforts to bring the music back "note by note." To date we have served thousands of musicians, students and church parishioners in the hope that the sounds of the music coming from the streets in New Orleans to the lives it has helped nourish makes a difference. Thank you to all of you for your continued support. As many of you know there is much still to do proven once again by the vast media coverage this past weekend on how much need New Orleans still has. Lets keep the faith, keep the energy and keep the support going until every person in New Orleans can call it home again.
Thank you once again.
Your friends at Music Rising

Music Rising: Two Years After the Storm

2007-08-09T12:43:00.001-07:00

For Immediate Release:

Music Rising Continues to Support Musicians, Schools and Churches Two Years after Hurricane Katrina

Rebuilding the Gulf Coast Note by Note Remains Mission of Campaign Which Has Aided Thousands

New York, New York…August 13, 2007…Music Rising, a campaign launched in 2005 to rebuild the musical culture that was nearly destroyed by the hurricanes which ravaged the Gulf Coast Region, announced its continued support of professional musicians, schools and churches two years after Hurricane Katrina. Music Rising initially supported the replacement of instruments lost by professional musicians so that they could regain their livelihood. It has since entered into a second phase which supports churches and schools with replacement instruments so that musical programs can once again be initiated. To date, Music Rising has benefited 30,000 students and parishioners and over 2,500 professional musicians. The campaign has assisted in providing instruments to 21 schools and 41 churches allowing those music programs to become operational again.

“I wouldn’t be where I am today without the unique musical heritage that is New Orleans. So much has come from that part of America. From the birth of jazz, the roots of R&B and Rock ‘n’ Roll, to the traditional celebrations in the streets, New Orleans has provided all of us with so many traditions. Music Rising was created to ensure that this unique music culture did not die out, and on this second anniversary of the Katrina disaster it is apparent that we still have much to do. We will continue to support and stay focused on the needs of the musicians, schools and churches,” said U2’s the Edge.

Music Rising was founded by U2’s the Edge, producer Bob Ezrin and Gibson Guitar Chairman and CEO Henry Juszkiewicz (www.musicrising.org). Thousands of instruments have been provided and millions of dollars have been provided in an effort to continue to strengthen the culture and communities of those areas hardest hit. Music Rising is dedicated to supporting the musical needs of the area for as long as it takes. Several major events have raised funds for Music Rising including an unprecedented auction of rock memorabilia which took place in April of 2007 in New York and raised over $2 million. The auction was hosted by Juliens Auctions. Supporters include former President Clinton and the Bush-Clinton Katrina Fund, ACT (All Congregations Together) and Mr. Holland’s Opus Foundation. Music Rising is administered by the Gibson Foundation.

“When we created Music Rising in 2005 we had a mission which was to preserve the musical culture of the Central Gulf Region by replacing the instruments that were lost or destroyed in the storms. We will continue to do that until the region is rebuilt and the music is restored no matter how long it takes,” said producer and co-founder Bob Ezrin.

“We continue to support Music Rising as a co-founding partner and will do so in every effort to help restore the rich musical heritage which originates from New Orleans. With the support of the Gibson Foundation we plan on staying the course until the region is rebuilt “Note by Note,” said Henry Juszkiewicz, Chairman and CEO of Gibson Guitar.

For thousands of Gulf Coast residents including those hardest hit in New Orleans, the circumstances are still grim and for many others the chances of going back home are remote. Two years after Hurricane Katrina there are still over 30,000 displaced families and more than 13,000 families living in makeshift trailers. In spite of hopelessness and despair, Music Rising has continued to persevere and aid many people in the task of regaining their livelihood through music.

About Music Rising:Music Rising is, a campaign launched in 2005 to replace musical instruments lost or destroyed by the hurricanes in the Gulf Region. The initiative was founded by U2’s The Edge, producer Bob Ezrin and Gibson Guitar Chairman and CEO Henry Juszkiewicz. The initiative continues to support those in need through its consistent efforts to aid professional musicians, schools and churches. 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, The Mr. Holland’s Opus Foundation, All Congregations Together (ACT) and the Bush-Clinton Katrina Fund. Former President Bill Clinton has participated in press coverage for the campaign and presented a Music Rising instrument to a needy musician in Baton Rouge La. 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 or to donate go to www.musicrising.org or www.gibsonfoundation.org

CONTACTS:Caroline Galloway Gibson/Music Rising 440-338-3469/440-725-9265
Caroline.galloway@gibson.com

Maureen O’Connor Rogers & Cowan 310-840-8116
moconnor@rogersandcowan.com

Music Rising: Rebuilding the Gulf Cost Note By Note

Music Rising:Two Years After the Storm

2007-08-09T12:41:00.001-07:00

The Edge Rocks Out on ABC New Nightline Show

2007-08-05T17:04:00.000-07:00

Hello to all of you who continue to support Music Rising. U2's The Edge was recently featured on the highly rated ABC News program "Nightline" where he spoke of New Orleans and Music Rising. You can see the transcript or view the video by clickin on http://abcnews.go.com/Nightline/Playlist/Story?id=3440730&page=1
If the link doesn't work just copy and paste into your URL.
Enjoy,
Caroline Galloway

The Skids Offer their Support of Music Rising

2007-07-17T05:52:00.000-07:00

Some great news from The Skids in London: Many of you know that U2 and Green Day performed "The Saints Are Coming" at the historic re-opening of the Superdome in Louisiana this past September. The song was cover of the song originally recorded by the Skids. Since the event, the Skids have gotten back together and produced a 30th Anniversary show in Scotland to huge audiences. Their manager reports that all entry fees paid by the guests will benefit Music Rising and has since informed us that the band will be sending the donation to Music Rising to continue the campaign's focus of helping churches and schools in the area. Thank you to the Skids!

More Music Rising News!

2007-05-25T17:26:00.000-07:00

Hello All: We wanted to keep you up to date on what is happening in the world of Music Rising. Since our great auction event in New York we have continued to help schools and churches in the Gulf Coast region and recently were able to announce that to date we have helped over 25,000 students and parishioners. That number keeps growing and we will move towards helping as many schools and churches in need as possible. We should also let you know that the Edge recently played that wonderful Epiphone Music Rising guitar on the steps of the red carpet at this year's Cannes Film Festival in France. How cool is that? Check out YOU TUBE to see the video if you like. We continue to sell our Music Rising t-shirts through all the Hard Rock locations around the world and amazingly still receive letters and calls everyday about how to help Music Rising. There is still so much to do. Two years later and still people are displaced. Lets not forget! We also were advised that the FOX Television Network has a new series premiering in the Fall which will recognize various cities and their struggles....one of them is said to be New Orleans. We had a great time supporting the French Quarter Festival and the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival this year as well. Keep the letters and support coming. We love you all and look forward to the day when we can say the Gulf Coast HAS been rebuilt NOTE BY NOTE! Have a safe and healthy Memorial Day no matter where you are!

Can you believe what happened last night????

2007-04-22T13:03:00.000-07:00

It's been a long time since I posted here, mostly because the elegant and talented Caroline has been here to spread the news. But this is one time that I have to share my excitement with all of our friends.

Last night we witnessed one of the greatest examples of selflessness and pure giving in the history of charitable events. Scores of friends and associates gave us little pieces of themselves - their instruments, clothing, photos and other memorabilia - to auction to a crowd of ardent supporters of Music Rising (and U2). The greatest contributions came from Darren Julien of Julien's Auctions who put this incredible event together at considerable personal expense; from Henry, Caroline and all the folks at Gibson who pulled out all the stops in getting donated instruments and memorabilia from artists from all over the world; from our dear friends and supporters who paid more than anyone could have predicted for all of the items on auction and made it possible for us to sell more than $2.4m worth of stuff IN ONE NIGHT!

But perhaps the greatest thanks has to go to my dear friend and partner, Edge, as well as Bono, Larry and Adam for so generously providing us with the greatest collection of U2 memorabilia ever offered to the public. Sometimes people don't realize this but every item the members of U2 gave us to auction was something that they were personally attached to in a fundamental way. And in the case of the instruments, these were their actual creative tools and extensions of their musical identity. This wasn't just a case of some celebs signing 8x10's or cheap new guitars and putting them up for sale. This was a group of committed, giving artists who put their prized possessions behind their convictions for the benefit of others. How amazingly cool and impressive is that? I have never been more proud to be in the same trench with someone. I told Edge that last night after the sale was over. I'm telling you too because you should know that about the man and his band mates. There are no better people anywhere.

Caroline will no doubt write about the experience of the auction. I couldn't be there because of an illness in the family, but I watched and participated online - plus folks were calling me from the floor of the auction to let me hear what was going on - so I had a small sense of the excitement in the room. The reports were uniformly ecstatic.

This money and the rest that we have been raising through the kindness of Gibson and Musicians Friend by selling the new Epiphone Music Rising Guitar as well as from numerous other sources will give us the wherewithal to make good on our commitment to bring the music back to the Central Gulf by providing instruments for its musicians, churches and schools, and through the music to help the essential process of community building in the region.

There's so much more that I could say about this but I'm going to close with a simple "Thank You" to everyone who participated in, and helped to support, this amazingly successful event.

Think we should do it again? Let us know.

Best wishes to all!

Bob

TICKETS ON SALE FOR MUSIC RISING EVENT IN NYC

2007-04-06T16:45:00.000-07:00

TICKETS NOW ON SALE FOR “ICONS OF MUSIC” AUCTION BENEFITING MUSIC RISING

SATURDAY APRIL 21st, 2007 NEW YORK

New York, NY (April 7, 2007) – Music Rising has announced that tickets are now on sale for the Icons of Music Auction to benefit Music Rising on Saturday April 21, 2007 at Hard Rock Cafe New York in Times Square at 5pm. Tickets can be purchased through Ticketmaster (www.ticketmaster.com) for the auction event, which will offer one of the most significant collections of music memorabilia from many of music’s greatest legends with proceeds benefiting Music Rising (www.musicrising.org), a campaign co-founded by U2’s The Edge, producer Bob Ezrin and Gibson Guitar Chairman and CEO Henry Juszkiewicz in 2005 to aid musicians of the Gulf Coast Region in regaining their livelihood after the devastation of Hurricanes Katrina and Rita.

The live and online auction, hosted by Julien’s Auctions (www.juliensauctions.com), will be offering approximately 200 pieces of music memorabilia, much of which has been specifically donated for this cause. In addition to the live auction event, performances by New Orlean’s own Preservation Jazz Hall Band and legendary musician Allan Touissant will take place.

A limited number of tickets are available to the general public for the Music Rising auction event at Hard Rock Cafe New York. Benefit tickets are $1,000 each and include food and beverage, a VIP guest bag, entry into the private exclusive event, a chance to mingle amidst celebrities from around the world, viewing of some of the world’s most iconic pieces of music memorabilia and the live performances. Further information regarding ticket sales and auction details can be found on various websites, including Musicrising.org, U2.com, Gibsonfoundation.org, Gibson.com, Juliensauctions.com and Hardrock.com.

The auction will feature several items donated by the band members of U2, including The Edge’s 1975 Cream Gibson Les Paul (est. $60,000-80,000), an instrument highly significant to his career and U2. Other auction items include John Lennon worn sunglasses (est. $4,000-6,000); Jimi Hendrix guitar (est. $60,000-80,000); Paul McCartney hand-painted Epiphone Texan Guitar (est. $6,000-8,000); President Bill Clinton signed saxophone personalized to winning bidder (est. $2,000-4000); a Rolling Stones’ signed Gibson Les Paul Music Rising Guitar (est. $20,000-30,000); and more.

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.

LIMITED NUMBER OF TICKETS TO ICONS OF MUSIC AUCTION EVENT AVAILABLE NOW FOR SALE

2007-04-05T20:03:00.000-07:00

Hello Everyone! A very limited number of tickets have been released to go on sale via Ticketmaster today for the Music Rising "Icons of Music" Auction Event on Saturday, April 21st at Hard Rock NYC. The ticket includes food and beverage, a VIP gift bag, entry into the private exclusive celebrity attended event, a chance to view and bid on some of the world's most iconic rock memorabilia, attend performances by the Preservation Jazz Hall Band and Legendary performer Allan Touissant. Once the tickets are sold out there will not be anymore. Go to www.ticketmaster.com for information or go to www.hardrock.com. See you there........

The Edge Announces Icons of Music Auction In New York

2007-03-26T11:02:00.000-07:00

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

“ICONS OF MUSIC” AUCTION BENEFITING MUSIC RISING

SATURDAY APRIL 21st, 2007 NEW YORK

UNPRECEDENTED COLLECTION OF MUSIC MEMORABILIA
TO BE OFFERED IN A LIVE AND ON LINE AUCTION

New York, NY (March 26, 2007) -- U2’s The Edge announced the Icons of Music Auction to benefit Music Rising on Saturday April 21st 2007 at Hard Rock Cafe New York in Times Square at 5pm.. The auction event will offer one of the most significant collections of music memorabilia from many of music’s greatest legends with proceeds benefiting Music Rising (www.musicrising.org), a campaign co-founded by The Edge, producer Bob Ezrin and Gibson Guitar Chairman and CEO Henry Juszkiewicz in 2005 to aid musicians of the Gulf Coast Region in regaining their livelihood after the devastation of Hurricanes Katrina and Rita. The live and online auction, hosted by Julien’s Auctions (www.juliensauctions.com), will be offering approximately 200 pieces of music memorabilia, much of which has been specifically donated for this cause.

Amongst the donations from The Edge is his 1975 Cream Gibson Les Paul (est. $60,000-80,000), an instrument highly significant to his career and U2. “I wanted that Steve Jones ‘Never Mind The Bollox’ sound, so I got the same guitar right down to the color. I never could get that sound, but I found a bunch of songs in this instrument, and have used it extensively ever since, on tour and in the studio,” said The Edge.

Included in the unprecedented collection of auction offerings will be John Lennon worn sunglasses (est. $4,000-6,000), Janis Joplin seven-page handwritten love letter to her boyfriend (est. $1,000-2,000), Jimi Hendrix guitar (est. $60,000-80,000), Bruce Springsteen hand written lyrics (est. $2,000-4,000), Elvis Presley early recording contract (est. $3,000-5,000) Kurt Cobain’s MTV Video Music Award for Nirvana (est. $4,000-6,000), Paul McCartney hand-painted Epiphone Texan Guitar (est. $6,000-8,000), President Bill Clinton signed saxophone personalized to winning bidder (est. $2,000-4000) and a Rolling Stones’ signed Gibson Les Paul Music Rising Guitar (est. $20,000-30,000). U2 highlights donated by band members to support Music Rising include a pair of Emporia Armani (Project Red) concert-worn sunglasses (est. $2,000-4,000) donated by Bono, a Tom Tom drum (est. $8,000-10,000) donated by Larry Mullen and a concert and studio-played bass guitar (est. $20,000-30,000) donated by Adam Clayton. Other memorabilia from Madonna, Ray Charles, KISS, James Brown, Coldplay, Led Zeppelin, Eric Clapton, Bob Dylan, Lou Reed, The Beatles, Jim Morrison, Cher, The Grateful Dead and much more is also included.

Highlights from the Icon’s of Music auction will be previewed in special exhibits at:

Los Angeles: (March 27-29 @ The Beverly Hilton),
Dublin, Ireland: (April 3-6 @ The Clarence Hotel)
London: (April 11-13 @ The Hard Rock Cafe)
New York: (April 16-20 @ The Hard Rock Café)

Catalogs will be available for sale and can be purchased directly from the Julien’s Auctions website. A limited number of tickets will be sold to the Music Rising auction event in New York at Hard Rock Times Square. Details of the ticket sales will be announced by March 30th on various websites including Musicrising.org, U2.com, Gibsonfoundation.org, Gibson.com, Juliensauctions.com and Hardrock.com. In addition to the live auction event, Grammy winner Aaron Neville will perform as a tribute to his native New Orleans. The performance will follow the auction.

The ongoing efforts of Music Rising have thus far aided over 2,400 professional musicians and over 20,000 students and parishioners. After Music Rising received a Bush-Clinton Katrina Fund grant, former President Bill Clinton personally presented a Music Rising Gibson Les Paul to a recipient in Baton Rouge, LA in 2006.

Registering to Bid
Registration is required to bid in this auction and can be done either in person at any one of the exhibitions showing the highlights from the collection or by visiting www.juliensauctions.com any time before the sale, or calling (310) 816 1818.

Placing Bids
There are four ways to bid in this sale:
• Bid through the Internet using real-time and absentee bidding at www.juliensauctions.com or by downloading an absentee bid form from the website. Note that online registration only enables bidding online.
• Place bids in the room by attending the auction .
• Bid over the telephone through an auction house representative, who sits in the room and conveys the bid to the auctioneer.
• Enter Absentee bids. Absentee bid forms are printed in the back of each catalogue, and are available at Julien’s Auctions offices and on the website.

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.

STAY TUNED! TOMORROW BIG NEWS ON MUSIC RISING

2007-03-25T18:22:00.000-07:00

Hi all: Tune in tomorrow, March 26th for some great news about Music Rising and an event you won't want to miss.

All the best to everyone!

MUSIC RISING AUCTION IN NYC ANNOUNCED

2007-03-01T18:44:00.000-08:00

Hi All: We wanted to let you know that on April 21, 2007 in NYC we will be hosting a very special Music Rising auction event conducted by Juliens Auctions with all proceeds going to Music Rising. It is the ICONS of MUSIC Sale offering some remarkable opportunities to purchase incredible rock memorabilia. Think about owning one of Edge's Les Paul guitars, the Music Rising t-shirt he wore during Grammys 2006, a love letter written by Janis Joplin, Bob Dylan's guitar, Jim Croce's acoustic guitar, A Beatles ticket, Elvis Presley signed recording contract, Madonna's pants, KISS Gold Record, John Lennon's sunglasses, autographed U2 memorabilia, Emeril Lagasse's Baldwin Piano signed by numerous New Orleans musicians and the list goes on and on and on. Go to www.musicrising.org or www.juliensauctions.com to check out the latest news. We will be selling tickets to the star-studded event held at the Hard Rock in Times Square in NYC too so keep looking at the blog for updates. Thanks again for your support.

Only Ten Epiphone Music Rising Gutiars Signed by The Edge Now on Sale

2007-02-06T11:50:00.000-08:00

U2’s The Edge Signs ten Epiphone Music Rising Guitars on Sale For Limited Time at Musician’s Friend
Exclusive Offering Benefits Music Rising Campaign Administered by Gibson Foundation
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE….Nashville, Tennessee…February 6, 2007…Epiphone and Music Rising have announced the sale of ten Epiphone Music Rising guitars signed by U2’s The Edge. All proceeds will benefit Music Rising (www.musicrising.org) which has recently launched the second phase of the campaign which grants musical instrument assistance to churches and schools of the Gulf Coast region. On September 25, 2006 U2 and Green Day helped re-open the Louisiana Superdome in a pre-game show where they performed “The Saints Are Coming.” to a worldwide audience. The Edge personally put his autograph on ten of the Epiphone Music Rising guitars prior to the show. The ten exclusive guitars will sell for $10,000 each and are available through Musician’s Friend (www.musiciansfriend.com/musicrising) until they are gone, with all proceeds benefiting the charity directly. There will be no others offered with the legendary artist’s autograph and each have been signed by him on the front portion of the guitar. A photo of him signing the guitar will accompany each guitar as documentation.
Music Rising, a campaign originally launched in November 2005 to replace musical instruments lost or destroyed in the Gulf Region was formed by U2’s The Edge, legendary producer Bob Ezrin and Gibson Guitar Chairman and CEO Henry Juszkiewicz. Administered by the Gibson Foundation and partnering with Mr. Holland’s Opus Foundation and All Congregations Together, Music Rising has provided instruments and/or gear to over 2,400 professional musicians, 5,500 parishioners and nearly 2,000 students.
Many people from the ravaged region are still living in Federal Emergency Management Agency trailers or are without a permanent residence. Those musicians who have depended on the local music industry for their livelihood have been supported by Music Rising through the replacement of lost instruments and equipment.
The Music Rising Epiphone Les Paul guitar features exclusive artwork and the campaign’s slogan “Rebuilding the Gulf Region Note By Note.” The artwork which was emblazoned on The Edge’s t-shirt at the 2006 Grammy Awards and designed by William Cathcart has become a symbol of the campaign and is also available on limited edition t-shirts sold exclusively through U2.com and Hard Rock Cafés around the world.
The guitar specs include all the features that have made the legendary Les Paul guitar synonymous with a great rock tone including a solid mahogany body with carved top, glued-in mahogany neck, rosewood fingerboard, Alnico Classic Humbucking pickups and stopbar/tunomatic bridge and tailpiece combination. It also includes a custom “Music Rising” gig bag.
For more information or to make a donation to Music Rising go to www.musicrising.org or www.gibsonfoundation.org. Questions or inquiries can be emailed to info@musicrising.org. Checks may also be sent to the Gibson Foundation/Music Rising, 309 Plus Park Blvd, Nashville, Tennessee 37217.
About Music Rising:
Music Rising is a national campaign created by U2’s The Edge, producer Bob Ezrin, Gibson Guitar Chairman and CEO Henry Juszkiewicz. Inaugural partners Guitar Center Music Foundation, MusiCares, Musician’s Friend, VH-1 Networks, MTV Networks, Rolling Stone Magazine, The Kennedy/Marshall Company, Ticketmaster, ESPN, The NFL, ABC News Now, Real Networks, Hard Rock International and Live Nation 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 help rebuild the musical heart and culture of the Gulf Region by replacing the musical instruments and gear that were lost in the Inundation of 2005. Music Rising will continue to be administered by The Gibson Foundation. For information on Music Rising go to www.musicrising.org or www.gibsonfoundation.org. For information on the Epiphone Music Rising guitar go to www.epiphone.com or www.musiciansfriend.com/musicrising

MUSIC RISING ALL OVER SUNDANCE FILM FESTIVAL

2007-01-25T21:01:00.000-08:00

Hi everyone. We just returned from the Sundance Film Festival where Music Rising was a hit once again. At the Gibson Guitar Lodge we offered celebrities from everywhere the chance to pick up th the Epiphone Music Rising guitar and play it during our jam sessions. People Magazine and Entertainment Tonight were there to capture it all among other media so you should be seeing some great coverage coming out this week. From Justin Timberlake to Jared Leto, Gwyneth Paltrow, Tom Arnold, Ella Fanning, Donovan Leitch from Camp Freddy, Mandy Moore and so many others, they all loved the Guitar which benefits Music Rising. You can purchase one with 100% of the proceeds going to Music Rising by going to www.musiciansfriend.com. And on February 5th, 2007 there will be ONLY 9 of these guitars which were signed by The Edge himself during the Superdome re-opening going on sale. Once those are gone there won't be anymore. So you might want to reserve them now. Stay tuned for information on the Music Rising auction in New York in April. A star studded VIP affair offering you the chance to bid on some of the most spectacular rock-n-roll memorabilia anyone has ever seen. Stay tuned and thanks for the support. We are making a difference!!!