Following a recent visit to hurricane-ravaged New Orleans, U2 guitarist the Edge unveiled Music Rising, a campaign to raise money to replace the instruments and accessories lost by the gifted musicians of the Gulf Coast region during Katrina and Rita. Gibson Guitar and Guitar Center Music Foundation have spearheaded the effort by collaborating on the design, manufacture, and sale of an exclusive Music Rising Gibson Les Paul, with all proceeds going directly to the program. The Music Rising Les Paul, designed to reflect the joyful essence of the areas rich musical tradition, features a hand-painted top that utilizes the festive colors of Mardi Gras. Also, all parts on the guitar usually made of plasticincluding the backplate, pickguard, and toggle and truss rod coverswill be made of wood indigenous to the affected Gulf Coast states. Each of the guitars will be handmade, with the Music Rising logo etched in the pickguard. The guitars, which are not only incredible instruments but one-of-a-kind works of art, are available for purchase at Guitar Center as part of a pledge to raise $1 million in support.

Dec. 3 - Wyclef Jean of the Fugees jammed on his Gibson Bob Marley Les Paul Special to a sold-out crowd at Stockholm's Hovet Arena. The band has just released "Take it Easy," their first single in almost a decade. A new studio album is due in early 2006. They are currently on their European tour which passes through France, Italy, Belgium, and the U.K. until the end of the year.

Dec. 2 - Black Label Society/Ozzy Osbourne guitarist Zakk Wylde signed his new contract with Gibson Guitar during his recent visit with Gibson Chairman and CEO Henry Juszkiewicz in Nashville, Tennessee. Wylde has a long standing relationship with Gibson Guitar, whose Custom and Epiphone divisions produce the Zakk Wylde Signature models. Models currently in production include the classic Zakk Wylde Bullseye and Camo Les Paul. A new model produced by the Gibson Custom Shop will be introduced in early 2006. "Zakk Wylde is one of the world's greatest guitarists," said Gibson Chairman and CEO Henry Juszkiewicz. "His Gibson signature models—including the Gibson Zakk Wylde Bullesye and Camo Les Pauls—express the wild rock and roll energy that only Zakk can convey. Gibson looks forward to many more years of success with Wylde and we are honored to have played a part in musical history with such an astonishing musician."

Dec. 4 - The Click Five stopped by the Gibson/Baldwin Showroom in Seattle to film a video ID for ScreenPlay, Inc., the company that provides in-store programming and on-demand entertainment solutions for over 300 million viewers each month, with clients such as Macy's, Comp USA, Blockbuster, Radio Shack, MTV.com, and FYE. The Click Five joined pop princess Ashlee Simpson for her most recent U.S. tour and sold more than 10,000 copies of their EP at the shows.

Nov. 10-13 - Gibson rocker Martin Luther co-headlined the Industry Music Conference at Tokyo's Chelsea Hotel with Hank Schroy and Nikki "G-Spot" Glaspie. Martin has recently signed a licensing deal with Highwave Records, an indie label from Okinawa, Japan, and is set to appear in the new Julie Taymor film Across the Universe. Luther has been seen rocking his Custom Shop '58 Les Paul Standard with Burstbucker pickups and has recently acquired a '58 Lonnie Mack Flying V Tribute. Rumor has it that the V has quickly become his weapon of choice and that it could find its way into the film.

Nov. 11 - Lourds, the vocalist and guitarist of the band LOURDS, swung by the Gibson/Baldwin Showroom in Seattle to pick up an F-9 mandolin for the band's show at Studio 7 during the Rockrgrl Music Conference. The buzz on LOURDS keeps getting louder. They have been featured as a "NOW HEAR THIS" band in the "Summer Sizzlers" section of Billboard twice and have appeared on the front cover of the New York Daily News entertainment section.

Nov. 16 - Warren Haynes and Matt Abts of Gov't Mule rocked Nashville's Ryman Auditorium during the band's fall/winter 2005 tour, which wraps at the end of the year in New York City. On December 17, the band performed their sold-out Xmas Jam to an ecstatic audience in Asheville, North Carolina.

Nov. 29 - Embrace played a Flying V at the Virgin Radio Breakfast Show launch for popular radio presenter Christian O'Connell at the Titanic Club in London. Embrace also signed an Epiphone Les Paul Special II which went to The Sun newspaper for an online contest.

Nov. 28 - Epiphone sponsored this year's brain-jarring Mojo magazine "Mojo Inquisition" held at London's Hard Rock Caf. The music quiz—which featured questions like, "Name these ten versions of 'Green Onions'"—was won by Ace Records, who were awarded the coveted Mojo Cup. Four talented singer-songwriters performed during the quiz, hosted by the magazine's editor-in-chief Phil Alexander. Michael Weston King, Thea Gilmore, A Girl Called Eddy, and Peter Bruntell (l.-r.) were all presented with Epiphone Masterbilt DR-500R guitars following their acoustic sets.

Dec. 8 - Constantine Maroulis from American Idol and his band Pray for the Soul of Betty stopped by the Gibson/Baldwin Showroom in New York to check out a red Non-Reverse Firebird before taking off on tour in January. Constantine also recently performed on Live with Regis and Kelly with a Les Paul Studio Baldwin piano. Joao Jova, Hamboussi, CR Taylor, Constantine Maroulis (l.-r.)

Dec. 5 - Ross Phillips of new British rockers Hard-Fi heated up the Carling Apollo Hammersmith in West London as part of Xfm's Winter Wonderland benefit concert. Proceeds from the show went to Shelter, a foundation that helps England's homeless. Ross is pictured here with a Gibson ES-335 performing a cover of the White Stripes' "Seven Nation Army." Other bands on the bill included the Dead 60s, the Editors, Maximo Park, and headliners the Kaiser Chiefs.

Dec. 10 - Glynn Armstrong of Nic Armstrong & the Thieves showed off his Gibson ES-335 on the eve of the band's Cardiff Millennium Stadium show with fellow Gibson rockers Oasis. During the performance, Jonny Aitken pounded his Slingerland drum kit.

Dec. 14 - Whitey from the Kaiser Chiefs dropped by the Gibson/Baldwin Showroom in London to collect a left-handed Epiphone Masterbilt AJ-500R. In January 2006, the band will head to Japan for a month of shows before heading back to Europe to tour until May.

Dec. 14 - Grupo Fantasma, Patricia Vonne, Fred Andrews of Honeybrowne, and Edu were among those who performed live at the Gibson/Baldwin Showroom in Austin, TX. The show was part of an ME Television taping for the holiday program "Tex Mix and Sonido Boombox."

Dec. 17 - Journey South battled it out on the final of ITV1's "X-Factor" show in front of judges Simon Cowell, Sharon Osbourne, and Louis Walsh. With over 10 million viewers tuning in, the brothers won third place in the final public vote. Over 75,000 people entered what was the U.K.'s toughest talent competition. The brothers performed three songs live with Carl Pemberton playing the prized Epiphone Masterbilt AJ-500R acoustic guitar that he had used on the past four live shows.

Dec. 16 - Epiphone guitar and London's MTV's "Total Request Live" teamed up for a week-long competition to win an Epiphone SG Special guitar signed by King Kong star Jack Black. To mark the last show before Christmas, Epiphone surprised each audience member with their very own Epiphone. After the show, Leicester Square became Epiphone Square as 50 audience members went off into the night clutching their prized Epiphones. Presenters Dave Berry and Max are seen here with the Epiphone signed by Jack Black.

This is your last chance to enter three great Gibson contests. Enter the Gibson USA Manhattan Midnight Les Paul contest to win a Gibson Les Paul Standard in the limited edition Manhattan finish. You can also enter our Holiday contest for a chance to win a Gibson USA Les Paul Standard in Heritage Cherry, a Gibson Labs GA5 Les Paul Jr amp, and a Gibson Gear Prize package. And time is also running out on your chance to win an Epiphone EF500RS acoustic guitar and a copy of Gretchen Wilson's latest CD All Jacked Up. Check them all out here!