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Aerosmith, America’s Greatest Rock Band, Return to South America and Europe Opening South American Date – May 18th in Caracas – Tickets on Sale March 13th South American Dates Will Precede Previously Announced European Tour in June

Aerosmith - the biggest, most enduring and thrilling band in rock history will make a spectacular return to South America for the first time since 2007 beginning in Caracas, Venezuela on May 18th with the COCKED, LOCKED, READY TO ROCK TOUR! spawning what will be the ultimate music event of the new decade. America’s greatest rock and roll band will then go to Europe for 11 more knock out shows.

“Back by popular demand with more spit and fire than ever before, we’re coming across the pond and parting the waters as we go,” says Steven Tyler.

“Aerosmith is going to be rocking in South America, the UK and Europe this summer,” adds Joe Perry. “Enough BS – we’re coming and everything is going to be set at eleven.”

For more than 30 years Aerosmith, four time Grammy winners, Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductees (2001), recipients of 12 MTV Video Music Awards and countless other awards have performed electrifying sold out concerts around the world for decades along with selling well over 150 million albums.

Drummer Joey Kramer says, “Aerosmith is back! Bigger, better and stronger than ever! So look out South America and Europe, cuz we’re comin’ to get cha.”

Guitarist Brad Whitford added, “I’m not sure who is happier, the band or the fans. Can’t wait to get started. We’ll see you this summer.”

Aerosmith and their shared passion and commitment to continue to rock the world with the COCKED, LOCKED, READY TO ROCK TOUR! is set to be a phenomenal and unforgettable return to the stage.

It is left to bassist Tom Hamilton to sum up: “One thing we all agree on is that we love this band and it’s time to get out there and freakin’ PLAY!”

COCKED, LOCKED, READY TO ROCK TOUR! SOUTH AMERICAN DATES:
Venezuela – Caracas – La Rinconada Hippodrome – May 18
Colombia – Bogota – Simon Bolivar Park – May 20
Peru - Lima – Peru/Explanada Monumental – May 22
Chile - Santiago – Estadio Nacional – May 25
Argentina – Buenos Aires – Hippodromo San Isidro – May 27
Brazil - Sao Paulo – Palmeiras – May 29

VIP experience packages (which may include opportunities to meet band members, backstage tours, early entry passes, premium seating and/or merchandise) are available through www.AeroForceOne.com.

Rocker, Philanthropist Is First to Take President’s Call to Service to Concert Venues Across the Country

Jon Bon Jovi, in collaboration with the Corporation for National and Community Service, will be the first artist to take President Obama’s United We Serve initiative to a mass audience by bringing the message of service out on the road and engaging millions of fans on the band’s “The Circle World Tour.”

On Thursday, March 4 at the Staples Center, Bon Jovi will debut a concert video before a sold-out arena. In the video, which will be shown at each venue on the US-leg of the tour, Bon Jovi makes a call to service to millions of fans. Bon Jovi also headlined a 60-second television PSA that includes images of President and First Lady Michelle Obama serving and will be distributed nationally to broadcast stations and used in online promotions. Click here to view and download the video and PSA.

“Just as Jon Bon Jovi’s music moves millions around the world, his dedication to service will inspire even more to make a difference in their own communities,” said Patrick Corvington, the Corporation’s Chief Executive Officer. “This partnership is an amazing opportunity to encourage people from every corner of this country to take action and do their part to help those in need.”

Bon Jovi, a longtime service advocate and philanthropist, calls on Americans in the concert video and PSA to use their energy and passion to help tackle our nation’s challenges. As an individual who focuses his efforts on issues surrounding homelessness, Bon Jovi’s highlights what he calls the “power of we.” The video and PSA intersperse music from some of Bon Jovi’s hit songs with a direct call to service. “The reality is – we’re all in this together. It’s time for you to raise your hand, go to Serve.gov and get involved in something you believe in.”

This is the first-ever collaboration of this scale and magnitude between the Corporation, the federal agency that leads the nation’s service sector, and a musical artist. The video and PSA featuring Bon Jovi are part of the Corporation’s broader campaign to encourage more Americans to volunteer through the United We Serve initiative. At the Corporation’s 2009 National Conference on Volunteering and Service, Bon Jovi and First Lady Michelle Obama launched the initiative with the Entertainment Industry Foundation before the largest gathering of volunteer and service leaders from nonprofit, government and corporate sectors.

In addition to the concert video, local volunteers with non-profit organizations and members of the Corporation’s service programs will distribute information about the United We Serve initiative and Bon Jovi’s Soul Foundation at booths inside concert venues in select cities. The volunteers will discuss how concertgoers can engage in service and find volunteer opportunities in their local community by visiting Serve.gov.

President Obama has made service a central cause of his administration. Since calling on Americans to serve in his inaugural address, the momentum for service has soared and support for the Corporation’s service programs has skyrocketed – more than five million Americans volunteered with the Corporation in 2009, a 25 percent increase over the previous year. The United We Serve initiative challenges all Americans to help lay a new foundation for growth by engaging in sustained, meaningful community service to help meet our national priorities. The initiative has successfully bolstered civic engagement nationwide, helped to better our communities in priority issue areas, and leveraged partnerships with non-profits, U.S. corporations, and celebrities to foster a greater sense of purpose among Americans through service.

The Corporation for National and Community Service:

The Corporation for National and Community Service is a federal agency that engages more than five million Americans in service through its Senior Corps, AmeriCorps, and Learn and Serve America programs, and leads President Obama’s national call to service initiative, United We Serve. For more information, visit NationalService.gov.

Jon Bon Jovi & The Jon Bon Jovi Soul Foundation:

Musically and philanthropically, Jon Bon Jovi’s work honors the spirit of America and salutes the principles that define our nation. Self-reliance, optimism, and community are key concepts he refers to, not just in his music, but also in his charitable efforts. These common threads have resulted in millions of dollars raised while bringing heightened awareness to the issues that adversely impact humanity. Jon’s belief in “the power of we” has led to the creation of many strategic partnerships and funding of programs supportive of innovative community efforts to break the cycle of poverty and homelessness.

The Jon Bon Jovi Soul Foundation is a non-profit organization formed in 2006 and dedicated to bringing about positive change and helping the lives of those in need “one Soul at a time.” The Soul Foundation exists to combat issues that force families and individuals into economic despair. The foundation’s goal of recognizing and maximizing the human potential of those affected by poverty and homelessness is met through the funding of programs and creation of partnerships that provide for permanent, affordable housing with supportive services and job training programs as well as, most recently, nutritious living habits.

To date Jon Bon Jovi and the Soul Foundation have provided funding to projects that have created more than 220 units of affordable housing for low-income individuals and families.

Musically, Bon Jovi has set the bar for more than two decades as one of the most successful rock bands in the world. Globally, they have sold more than 120 million albums and performed more than 2,600 concerts in over 50 countries for more than 34 million fans. The band’s 2005 album, Have a Nice Day, featured the Grammy Award-winning song, “Who Says You Can’t Go Home,” and fueled one of the top-selling tours of 2005, according to Billboard Magazine. Bon Jovi’s most recent album, The Circle, debuted at No. 1 in the US and around the world. Beginning with the band’s North American tour launch on February 19, 2010 in Seattle, WA, Bon Jovi will spend much of the next two years on the road, performing 135 shows in 30 countries. Bon Jovi will draw fans around the world into The Circle, with a residency at London’s O2 Arena in June 2010 before returning to America in the fall for an additional nationwide leg, and further dates well into 2011.

Cedar Fair Teams Up With MTV Games for ‘Rock Band(TM), Live’

Cedar Fair Entertainment Company has announced a summer-long, multi-dimensional partnership with MTV Games, a part of Viacom’s MTV Networks  and the leading publisher of interactive music gaming worldwide.

An all-new interactive experience, called “Rock Band, Live,” will pile into the tour bus and travel across nine Cedar Fair parks this summer. In addition, a summer-long version of the show will blast the speakers at Canada’s Wonderland near Toronto and the Company’s flagship park, Cedar Point in Sandusky.

The high-energy, concert-like stage show features talented singers from across North America. But the cast will be missing one key piece of the show – YOU!

Prior to each show, guests will have the unique opportunity to engage and play the Rock Band(TM) video game and compete against their “band mates.” Guests will compete playing the guitar, bass and drums gaming accessories. The rockers with the top score will be invited on stage during the live show to play Rock Band songs (on Rock Band instruments) along with the live singers. (The winners will play on a gaming accessory with the singers.)

The show will feature numerous songs straight from the Rock Band video games ranging from classic to contemporary rock.

“We’re extremely excited to merge the popular Rock Band video game with a unique, interactive live show for our guests this summer,” said Jack Falfas, chief operating officer for Cedar Fair. “Rock Band is a pop culture phenomenon and we know families have enjoyed playing the game together at home. But now it’s time for them to take it to the next level – on stage at one of our parks in front of a live audience.”

Christina Glorioso, vice president of marketing partnerships for MTV Games added, “We are very excited for Rock Band to contribute to the fun at Cedar Fair parks this summer. Music fans of all ages will have an opportunity to either rock out themselves or sit back and enjoy watching other park-goers transform into rock stars on stage!”

The “Rock Band, Live” tour will kick off Memorial Day weekend at Dorney Park in Allentown, Pennsylvania and will travel to the Company’s other parks throughout the summer. The summer-long shows at Canada’s Wonderland and Cedar Point will kick off in May and June, respectively.

Rock Band, Live” is a collaboration between Cedar Fair Entertainment Company, MTV Games and RWS & Associates, a full service entertainment firm that provides custom-produced world-class events and live shows worldwide.

RWS will hold private auditions for the touring show on Thursday, March 4 at Ripley Grier Studios, 520 8th Ave (16th Floor) between 36th and 37th Streets (Press Room: 17B) in New York City. Auditions are open from 10 a.m. until 6 p.m.