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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
Historic Musical Event Celebrates New Orleans and Music Rising 'Rebuilding
the Gulf Coast Region Note by Note'
NEW ORLEANS, Sept. 14 /PRNewswire/ -- 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 http://www.rhapsody.com. Shortly after the event, fans will
have the ability to buy a download from U2 and Green Day's performance via
Rhapsody. All net proceeds will go 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 http://www.musicrising.org and http://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(R) 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 http://www.musiciansfriend.com. On the day of the performance a special toll
free number will be set up to take donations.
About Music Rising
The goal of Music Rising is to restore the musical heart and culture of
the Gulf Region by replacing the musical instruments and equipment that
were lost during the hurricane disasters of 2005. Partners in the special
Louisiana Superdome event represent a dynamic and comprehensive grouping of
entertainment giants including ABC News Now, ESPN, RealNetworks, Westwood
One, The NFL, and Gibson Guitar. For more information on Music Rising go to
http://www.musicrising.org. Music Rising is helping to renew the Gulf Coast region
by rebuilding it note by note. Founders include U2's The Edge, producer Bob
Ezrin and Gibson Guitar Chairman and CEO Henry Juszkiewicz.
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