FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Cleveland, OH—June 06, 2010— Cleveland Rocks!, the public arts project presented by Epiphone Guitar had its Gala Auction event  on Thursday, June 3, 2010 at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum. The Cleveland Rocks! Gala Auction culminated the year-long arts project which brought together the arts and entertainment community in the City of Cleveland for the benefit of local non-profits. The auction featured one-of-a-kind playable* Epiphone art guitars, some of which featured handwritten autographs including Shaquille O’Neal, LeBron James, Dave Matthews, Ryan Cabrera, Nickelback, Rascal Flatts, Creed, Lynryrd Skynryd, Peter Frampton and others.  Epiphone and the Gibson Foundation raised $100,208 for the beneficiaries during the high energy event. The Gala Auction was hosted by world renown Julien’s Auctions known for some of the most sought after entertainment memorabilia in the world. Proceeds will be collected and presented to the three beneficiaries, the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum, The Cleveland Film Commission and the Music Settlement of Cleveland.

All guitars were auctioned off to the highest bidder during the auction event with some bids coming in from as far away as Spain via the phone. Visual artists made special appearances while Cleveland’s own Michael Stanley helped kick off the event. Dave Berryman, President of Gibson Guitar took to the stage prior to the auction preceded by a standing room only performance by recording act, Brother Trouble..



Photo: #1) Celebrity Co-Chair Michael Stanely welcomes the sold out crowd
Photo: #2) Brother Trouble and Michael Stanley prepare to kick off the auction event
Photo: #3) Brother Trouble performs for the sold out crowd prior to bidding
Photo: #4) Cleveland Rocks! Auction Underway, 70 Epiphone Guitars Sold to the highest bidders
Photo: #5) Crowds getting ready and in position to bid
Photo:# 6) Brother Trouble, special performance for Cleveland Rocks!

For more information on Cleveland Rocks!, please visit http://ClevelandRocks.Epiphone.com, www.gibson.com 
  
Contacts: 
Caroline Galloway, Gibson Guitar & Epiphone, 615-423-4904, caroline.galloway@gibson.com
Cie Hoover, Gibson Guitar & Epiphone,   615-260-8835,           cie.hoover@gibson.com

About Gibson Guitar:

Founded in 1894, Gibson is a global music and lifestyle-oriented company based in Nashville, Tennessee, creating products that enrich the lives of musicians, fans, and consumers alike. Gibson is known worldwide for producing classic models in every major style of fretted instrument, including acoustic and electric guitars, mandolins, and banjos. Run by technology visionary, Henry Juszkiewicz, the company has been at the forefront of innovation since its inception, the latest of which is the LPX guitar and the Min-ETune™ tuning system. Through the Gibson Foundation, Gibson has become equally known for its philanthropic efforts on behalf of music, education, health and human services. Gibson's family of brands encompasses some of the most widely known and respected brands in the history of music and entertainment, including: Epiphone, KRK Systems, TEAC, Cerwin-Vega!, Stanton, Onkyo, Dobro, Kramer, Steinberger, Tobias, Echoplex, Electar, Flatiron, Slingerland, Valley Arts, Maestro, Oberheim, Baldwin, Sunshine Piano, Take Anywhere Technology, J&C Fischer, Chickering, Hamilton, and Wurlitzer. More information is available at www.gibson.com, www.facebook.com/gibson, www.twitter.com/gibsonguitar

Gibson, 1-800-4GIBSON (1-800-444-2766) or www.gibson.com