News: drum off regional finals

Guitar Center Announces the

DRUM-OFF REGIONAL FINALS

Thursday, December 3^rd in Five Cities Nationwide!

Events to Feature Exclusive Performances by Some of Today’s Top Drummers, Plus Celebrity Judges and a Special Roland V-Drum Showcase

November 24, 2009 - Westlake Village, CA – Guitar Center announced today that several of the nation’s top drummers will perform at the upcoming Drum-Off Regional Finals next week, including some past Drum-Off winners who have gone on to become accomplished profession musicians and have successful careers in the music business. The events, which take place on December 3^rd at 7pm in five cities around the country, will feature performances by Thomas Lang, Cora “CC” Dunham (Prince), Longineu ‘LP’ Parsons (American Idol Finalist, Adam Lambert),Tony Royster Jr. (Jay Z), and Jerome Flood II (Drum-Off ‘08 National Champion).

Details for these exciting Drum-Off Regional Finals – which will culminate in 5 of the nation’s most talented unsigned drummers heading to Los Angeles for the Guitar Center Drum-Off Grand Finals competition on January 8, are as follows:

Hollywood
Guitar Center Hollywood
7425 Sunset Blvd. Hollywood, CA
323.874.1060
Performance: Thomas Lang
Guest Judges: Nisan Stewart, Jason Sutter

Houston
Guitar Center Houston
7729 Westheimer Rd. Houston, TX
713.952.9070
Performance: Cora “CC” Dunham (Prince)

Hallandale
Guitar Center Hallandale
1101 W. Hallandale Beach Blvd. Hallandale, FL
954.456.7890
Performance: Longineu ‘LP’ Parsons (American Idol Finalist, Adam Lambert)
Guest Judges: Jason Bonham

Brooklyn
Guitar Center Brooklyn
139 Flatbush Ave. Brooklyn, NY
718.230.5025
Performance: Tony Royster Jr. (Jay Z)
Guest Judges: Tommy Igoe

North Chicago
Guitar Center Arlington Heights
2375 S. Arlington Heights Rd. Arlington Heights, IL
847.439.4600
Performance: Jerome Flood II (Drum-Off ‘08 Champion)
Guest Judges: Bill Ludwig III

See Drum-Off ‘08 Champion Jerome Flood II’s winning performance here!
In other exciting Guitar Center Drum-Off news, Tommy Lee and the Street Drum Corps’ Frank Zummo will perform with a bevy of today’s most notable drummers when they present “BEZERK” at the upcoming Drum-Off Grand Finals, taking place January 8, 2010 at The Wiltern in Los Angeles. Artists performing in “BEZERK” – an exclusive performance project commissioned by Guitar Center – include Chad Smith (Red Hot Chili Peppers), Matt Sorum (Guns ‘N Roses, Velvet Revolver), José Pasillas (Incubus), Abe Cunningham (Deftones), DJ Aero, Sully Erna(Godsmack), Jay Weinberg, BANG! and others to be announced. Hosted byStephen Perkins (Jane’s Addiction), this historic evening will also include a very special tribute to John Bonham by Jason Bonham, along with an exclusive collaborative performance by Danny Carey (Tool) and Brann Dailor (Mastodon).

These all-star drummers are uniting on one stage to celebrate the night’s main event:

Performances by the top five undiscovered drummers in the nation, who will compete in front of a capacity crowd and a panel of celebrity judges to see who will win the title of “Guitar Center Drum-Off Champion” and a prize package worth more than $40,000. Guitar Center will also induct drum icons Billy Cobham and John Bonham into Guitar Center’s Drum Legends as part of the evening’s festivities.

Tickets for the show are only $10, and are on sale now at LiveNation.com.

Each year, thousands of drummers across the nation compete in Guitar Center’s Drum-Off, the world’s largest drum competition. In addition to winning over $40,000 in cash and prizes, being named Guitar Center’s Drum-Off Champion offers potentially career-altering opportunities for aspiring drummers, including national media attention and recognition from the professional drumming community, including some of the drum world’s most iconic artists, who form Drum-Off’s panel of judges. Last year’s Drum-Off Champion, 22-year-old Jerome Flood II, made his television debut when he was invited to perform on Last Call with Carson Dalyfollowing his dramatic 2008 win in front of a sold-out crowd and a panel of celebrity judges that included Taylor Hawkins (Foo Fighters), Alan White (Yes), Thomas Pridgen (Mars Volta), Kenny Aronoff, Atom Willard (Social Distortion/Angels & Airwaves), The Rev (Avenged Sevenfold) and Danny Carey (Tool).

Now in its 21^st year, Guitar Center’s Drum-Off has been a launching pad for numerous drummers, including Cora Coleman-Dunham and Tony Royster Jr, two Drum-Off winners who have gone on to become highly acclaimed professional drummers (with Prince and Jay Z respectively). Like all Guitar Center music programs, Drum-Off is part of Guitar Center’s ongoing mission to provide emerging artists and musicians with career-altering opportunities that encourage and support their journey in becoming professional musicians. Drum-Off inspires up-and-coming drummers to further their musical aspirations, while at the same time encouraging the local music community and providing a platform for local musicians to network and be discovered.

How It Works:

Local competitions began September 24 in all 214 Guitar Center locations nationwide. One winner from each store was chosen to advance to district competitions (24 locations), which will be followed by the top 24 drummers in the nation competing at regionally hosted semi-finals (5 locations) on December 3rd.

REMAINING COMPETITION DATES:

REGIONAL FINALS: December 3
GRAND FINALS: January 8, 2010

Guitar Center’s Drum-Off ‘09 champion will win an impressive package of prizes, including $25,000 cash, a Roland TD-25 electronic kit, a custom designed drum kit by DW, Pearl, Gretsch, Tama, or Orange Country Drums, a drum, stick, cymbal, and drum head endorsement deals as well as a feature in Modern Drummer magazine, along with a VIP appearance @ NAMM 2010 and a Monster Energy Drink endorsement deal, making the total prize package worth over $40,000. Additionally, Monster Energy, Pro-Mark, Latin Percussion, DW, Remo, Vic Firth, Orange County Drum and Percussion, Zildjian, Sabian, Gretsch, Roland, Tama, Pearl, Evans and Modern Drummer are all proud sponsors of Guitar Center’s Drum-Off.