Gibson/Baldwin
Moves and Grooves

Earl Slick gets by with a little help from his friends on new album

Earl Slick, longtime guitarist with David Bowie, will release a new solo album, Zig Zag December 9 on Sanctuary Records. As well as four instrumentals, the album features guest vocals by Bowie, the Cure's Robert Smith, Spacehog's Royston Langdon, Def Leppard's Joe Elliott and the Motel's Martha Davis. The first single from the album, "Believe," has Smith's distinctive vocals and is expected to bow on radio stations in January. Bowie sings on "Isn't It Evening (The Revolutionary). "It's all over the place, it's much less of a rock album than people might expect from me," Slick says. "It's got its intense moments, they're there, but they're a little different." Slick is currently on tour with Bowie in Europe, and the tour comes stateside December 6. The Gibson/Baldwin Player will have a complete feature on Slick in the December issue.

Gibson 'Operation Uplink' benefit to raise money for troops in Iraq

Gibson's Original Acoustic Instruments division, located in the Opry Mills Mall in Nashville, is sponsoring a fundraiser Friday, Nov. 28 from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. for our young men and women in Iraq. Operation Uplink's mission is to raise money through donations from community-minded businesses, and with these donations our brave soldiers can call home and be connected to loved ones at Christmas. The benefit is an all-day 'unplugged' musical event and auction featuring some of Nashville's best signed and unsigned talent, as well as some really great auction items. How about dinner for two along with a night's stay at the Loews Vanderbilt Hotel? Or a brand new Gibson Les Paul Supreme autographed by Charlie Daniels? These are just a few of the auction items Operation Uplink has received. All proceeds go directly to a VFW representative the day of the event. For more information on the "Operation Uplink" fundraiser or to schedule a community relations interview, please contact Tamatha Deveny Boyle in Nashville at 615-847-8717. Mail donations to P.O. Box 121462 Nashville TN 37212

B.B. King will receive Polar Music Prize from Swedish King Gustaf

B.B. King will receive a prize befitting his name when he is awarded the 13th consecutive Polar Music Prize by King Carl XVI Gustaf in Stockholm, Sweden on May 24, 2004. Hungarian-born composer Gyorgy Ligeti will also be honored. The award comes with a prize of one million Swedish crowns (approximately $130,000 U.S.) and will be presented at a special gala in King's honor. King is being recognized for his "total dedication to his music, a rich recording history and tireless touring." The prize was established in 1989 by Stig Anderson, ABBA's former manager, through a donation to the Royal Swedish Academy of Music. Bruce Springsteen, Bob Dylan, Joni Mitchell and Ravi Shankar are some of the eclectic artists who have received the award in the past. Keith Jarrett is the most recent recipient. King will perform at the Stockholm Concert Hall May 22 in conjunction with the ceremony.

Autographed B.B. King Super Lucilles available through Neiman Marcus

In related news, Neiman Marcus is selling 17 limited-edition Gibson Custom Super Lucille guitars hand-signed by the man himself - for a good cause. For each guitar sold, $500 will be donated to the American Diabetes Association - the number 17 represents the 17 million Americans living with the disease. For more details, go here

Michelle Branch throws Gibson Hummingbird to the waves in new video "Breathe"

Singer/songwriter Michelle Branch plays a Gibson Hummingbird on her new single "Breathe" from her latest album Paper Hotel. The guitar is featured in her new video as well, where she tosses it into the ocean and watches it tumble over the waves (not the real guitar, of course, but a Styrofoam replica). The video debuted on MTV's "Total Request Live" October. Branch writes and records with a late 1960s Hummingbird. She is currently on the second leg of her first headlining tour, the Where Are You Now tour, which kicked off October 2 in Poughkeepsie, NY. To view the video, go here.

Maverick Records artist Ben Jelen visits Gibson New York Showcase

New recording artist Ben Jelen showcased his musical chops on a Custom Jubilee Red Baldwin Grand piano at the Gibson New York Showroom in the Hit Factory on Monday and Tuesday, Oct. 20-21. Jelen's debut album for Maverick Records, Give It All Away, is set to bow in stores in March 2004, and he debuted songs from that album during the private "meet and greet" for the press. The new video for his single "Come On" was previewed at the event.

Gibson USA debuts traveling "Guitar Station"

The new Gibson USA traveling guitar station allows kids and adults alike to demo the various electrics that hang around the display - 10 guitars and one bass. It was designed with individual listening stations, so players can sit down, plug in, put on the headphones, and jam away like a rock star without disturbing anyone in the area. The station debuted in September at the 2003 Gravity Games, an extreme sports event in Cleveland, Ohio. It has also been at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, and will make its way to select trade shows in the coming months.

Limited edition Gibson Custom Chevy SSR guitar and vehicle auctioned

The Chevy Signature Series, Gibson Guitar Corp. SSR VIN #12 vehicle, a one-of-a-kind Custom Shop SSR guitar, and the pedigree items of both were auctioned off October 18 at the Pacific Classic Collector Car Auction & Show in Santa Clara, Calif. The SSR guitar was inspired by the 12th saleable production model of the all-new part pickup, part roadster vehicle. The auction represents the final stop on SSR VIN 12's journey, as well as the culmination of a year-long promotional effort by Chevy and Gibson. The items brought in $56,000.

Christian act ZOEgirl gets inspired by Epiphone Acoustics

ZOEgirl, an all-woman Christian contemporary trio, stopped by Epiphone recently and demo'ed a variety of acoustic guitars to take on the road with them while headlining the current Gibson-sponsored ShoutFest tour and their own upcoming tour in spring 2004. ZOEgirl members Alisa Girard, Kristin Swinford and Chrissy Conway have the current No. 3 single on the Christian contemporary chart, "You Get Me." Their new album for Sparrow Records, Different Kind of Free, was released September 16 and debuted at No. 2 on Billboard's "Heatseekers" chart, spending three weeks in the Top 5.

Gibson and Epiphone on hit show "Trading Spaces"

"Trading Spaces" host Paige Davis plays an Epiphone Casino during an upcoming episode of the hit cable home redecorating show. The episode was filmed in Nashville and will air December 27 at 7 p.m. and 10 p.m. on cable network TLC. The Casino, as well as a Les Paul, are also used as set dressing for the remodeled rooms.

Japanese TV drama "Hakoiri Musume" features Gibson Les Paul Studios

Kyoko & Naoko, the two heroines from hit Japanese TV drama "Hakoiri Musume," play Gibson Les Paul Studio guitars in the opening credits. The weekly show is watched by approximately 13 million people on Tuesday nights.

Keep Smilin' all the way to the Gibson Memphis division

A new billboard was erected by the Memphis Visitors Center that features a Gibson Memphis ES-345 Reissue. The Gibson Beale Street Showcase is home to the Memphis division of Gibson where electric guitars are made, the Smithsonian Rock 'N Soul Museum and The Lounge, a live entertainment venue and restaurant.

Little Steven closes Springsteen tour with Gibson Firebird

Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band played New York's Shea Stadium October 1, 3 and 4 for their final stops on Springsteen's world tour, and Little Steven Van Zandt played his Gibson Firebird VII. This represents the 120th and final show, which has now played to over 3 million people. The tour began August 7, 2002, in East Rutherford, NJ. Springsteen's album, The Rising, was released by Columbia Records on July 30, 2002.

Custom Les Paul Hummer guitar on cover of 04 HUMMERStuff catalog

Watch for Gibson Custom's limited edition HUMMER H2 Les Paul to be featured on the cover of the new 04 HUMMERStuff catalog. The vehicle's familiar body details, including its seven distinctive colors, are on a Les Paul Special body. The guitar's appointments are highlighted by the "HUMMER" aluminum grille plate design integrated into the pickguard, strap buttons fashioned from automotive tow loops and "HUMMER" inlaid in the fingerboard with pearloid. The instrument also sports chrome-plated knurled control knobs, Grover tuners and black body and fingerboard binding. HUMMERStuff 04 will start shipping November 10 with over 100,000 catalogs distributed. For more information, go to www.hummerstuff.com

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