Tickets on Sale

04.06.2007- CST

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.