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Volkswagen Provides Iconic VW Bus For Fundraising Contest

Volkswagen is giving consumers the opportunity to get their hands on legendary rock band The Who’s Magic Bus - a unique Volkswagen Microbus T1 Panel Van from 1965, signed by Roger Daltrey and Pete Townshend and specially branded with iconic images of the band and their famous target logo. The competition, in aid of Daltrey’s charity Teenage Cancer Trust, closes on July 8, 2008.

The iconic Volkswagen Bus, provided by Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles, has been specially designed by The Who’s art director Richard Evans, who has been working with the band for more than 30 years and has created several memorable album covers as well as tour designs.

“Our thanks go to Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles for providing this vehicle and to The Who for supporting the competition,” said Simon Davies, Chief Executive of Teenage Cancer Trust. “Let’s hope this really will turn out to be a ‘Magic Bus’, and help make a difference to the many thousands of teenagers and young people diagnosed with cancer every year.”

Participants can enter this contest by visiting: www.thewhomagicbus.com . Each entry costs $9.86 USD, with all net proceeds going to Teenage Cancer Trust. All entrants will receive a free download of a previously unreleased live performance of The Who’s famous hit, “Magic Bus.”

Inspiration for the competition stems from the collaboration between Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles and The Who, which culminated in a special live performance from the band at the 60 Year Celebration of the Volkswagen Bus in Hannover, Germany, in October 2007.

Roger Daltrey, who will perform with The Who at the Pauley Pavilion in Los Angeles on July 12th said, “As a long standing Patron of Teenage Cancer Trust, I am delighted to support this unique competition. Make sure you visit the website before July 8th to enter; you’ll be helping us raise essential funds so we can build more specialized teenage cancer units within the National Health Services.”

About Volkswagen of America, Inc.

Volkswagen of America, Inc. recently announced Electronic Stabilization Program (ESP) as standard equipment on all its 2009 model year vehicles. As a result, Volkswagen is one of the only original equipment manufacturers to offer an electronic stabilization control system on its entire product line — ahead of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s (NHTSA) deadline requiring stabilization systems in the 2012 model year vehicles. Volkswagen’s ESP technology works in conjunction with anti-lock brakes and helps reduce loss of control, rollovers and other types of crashes. NHTSA predicts nearly 10,000 lives could be saved each year if all vehicles had stabilization systems as standard equipment.

Founded in 1955, Volkswagen of America, Inc. is headquartered in Herndon, Virginia. It is a subsidiary of Volkswagen AG, headquartered in Wolfsburg, Germany. Volkswagen is one of the world’s largest producers of passenger cars and Europe’s largest automaker. Volkswagen sells the Rabbit, New Beetle, New Beetle convertible, GTI, Jetta, GLI, Passat, Passat wagon, Eos, and Touareg through approximately 600 independent U.S. dealers. Visit Volkswagen of America online at vw.com .

About Teenage Cancer Trust

Each day in the UK, 6 teenagers will find out they have cancer - that is around 2,000 new diagnoses every year. These young people often get a raw deal, receiving hospital treatment in inappropriate facilities catering for children or the elderly. Teenage Cancer Trust is a UK Charity, founded in 1990, that focuses on the needs of teenagers and young adults with cancer by providing specialist teenage units in NHS hospitals.

As well as state-of-the-art facilities to keep patients occupied during long stays in hospital, the units provide an environment where teenagers can meet others in a similar situation. Units allow patients to build friendships and mechanisms to cope with their disease without being patronised or ignored and are staffed with professionals able to fully understand and manage the needs of the patients.

To date, TCT has built units in London, Leeds, Manchester, Birmingham, Sheffield, Liverpool, Glasgow and Newcastle and would like at least 22 units to ensure every teenager with cancer has access.

In addition to building units, TCT funds a nationwide Education team, teaching young people in schools, colleges and universities about cancer, prevention and healthy living. They also provide a conference for young people with cancer and training for medical professionals.

Source: Volkswagen of America, Inc.

Web Site: http://www.vw.com/
http://www.thewhomagicbus.com/

Arena Concerts Sell Out Across the Country, Grossing More Than $93 Million

Nearly a million fans journeyed from all over the world to witness the landmark VAN HALEN tour, which kicked-off in September of 2007 in Charlotte, NC and wrapped up June 2, 2008 in Grand Rapids, MI. VAN HALEN, featuring Eddie Van Halen, David Lee Roth, Alex Van Halen and Wolfgang Van Halen, delivered their bombastic live assault performances to legions of loyal fans at 74 arena concerts throughout the U.S. and Canada.

Performing live with Roth on the mike for the first time in more than 23 years, VAN HALEN proved its timeless catalog of hits still packs the punch it did decades earlier. Each night, the band treated the capacity audiences to a dream set list of more than two hours of VAN HALEN gems plucked from their original era. Favorites including “Jump,” “Ain’t Talkin’ ‘Bout Love,” “Panama” and more, received a jolt of vivacity and spirit.

“We send our thanks to the countless new and longtime fans that helped make this tour our most successful,” said VAN HALEN in a joint statement. “We also send special gratitude to the tireless efforts of the VAN HALEN touring crew, Live Nation and the media, as well as opening acts Ky Mani Marley and Ryan Shaw,” the band went on to say.

Jason Garner, Chief Executive Officer of North American Music at Live Nation commented, “The VAN HALEN tour swept through the country, thrilling fans who grew up with their music and converting a new generation seeing them for the first time. It was an honor to work with their management team in connecting Eddie, David, Alex and Wolfgang to their fans.”

Now that the final bits of confetti have fallen, VAN HALEN has their sights set on bright horizons with exciting developments on the way.

ABOUT VAN HALEN

At this moment, someone somewhere is listening to VAN HALEN.

More than 30 years after emerging from the sun-soaked backyard parties of Los Angeles and the clubs along the city’s fabled Sunset Strip, VAN HALEN remains one of the most important and influential bands of all time. The timeless music continues resonating today from countless car radios and mp3 players to VAN HALEN’S sold-out arena concerts.

When VAN HALEN formed in 1974, the band quickly won a loyal hometown fan base with their electrifying live shows. Upon releasing their self-titled 1978 debut album, VAN HALEN shook the foundations of rock, thanks largely to the band’s songwriting abilities blending hard rock gusto with danceable party-hearty anthems. The album became one of the biggest selling rock debuts of all time with key tracks like “Eruption,” “Running with the Devil,” “Jamie’s Cryin’,” “You Really Got Me” and “Ain’t Talkin’ ‘Bout Love” leading the way.

The fiery fretwork of Eddie Van Halen, often imitated, but never duplicated, revolutionized rock guitar, placing him alongside such luminaries as Hendrix, Clapton and Page. Soon, a legion of budding guitarists was driven to pick up the instrument, attempting to replicate the finger-tapping technique he made famous. Lead vocalist David Lee Roth’s unabashed stage presence and sex-charged swagger created a template for hard rock frontmen to come. Don’t forget Alex Van Halen’s thunderous drumming and signature style. VAN HALEN changed rock music forever.

Just one year after its first release, the band followed with Van Halen II, armed with the hit single “Dance the Night Away” and a roster of instant rock radio classics including “Beautiful Girls” and “Somebody Get Me a Doctor.”

Subsequent discs Women and Children First (1980), Fair Warning (1981) and Diver Down (1982), along with worldwide touring, solidified the band’s reputation for innovative and unparalleled live performances. And the definitive cuts kept coming, including “Everybody Wants Some,” “Unchained,” “And The Cradle Will Rock,” “Little Guitars” and “Mean Street,” to name a few.

With their sixth album, released in, and titled, 1984, VAN HALEN rose to stratospheric heights. Recorded at Eddie Van Halen’s 5150 Studios, the multiplatinum smash yielded VAN HALEN’s #1 single and biggest hit, “Jump,” which remained #1 on the Billboard charts for an astounding five weeks straight. Other hits from the album include “Panama,” “Hot For Teacher” and “I’ll Wait.”

The band’s record of achievement is hard to top. Presented with two Diamond Award RIAA Certified Status’ for their albums Van Halen and 1984, VAN HALEN joins an elite short list of two-time Diamond Award honorees in the history of the music industry. The Diamond Award is presented to an artist for album sales of 10 million or more units. They are also in the Guinness Book of World Records for having the most #1 hits on Billboard’s Mainstream Rock chart than any other band in history. VAN HALEN was inducted into the Rock ‘N’ Roll Hall of Fame in March of 2007.

As new generations discover VAN HALEN, the youthful exuberance found within the music continues to serve as a rock ‘n’ roll right of passage. The proof lies within the latest era of VAN HALEN, which includes Eddie Van Halen’s 17-year old son Wolfgang on bass.

Wolfgang Van Halen joined Eddie, Dave and Alex on the band’s acclaimed 2007/2008 North American tour. Sold-out crowds and charmed critics helped make it the most successful tour of the band’s history. It also found VAN HALEN raking in accolades including a People’s Choice Award nomination and the opportunity to headline the prestigious Tiger Jam XI, the annual Tiger Woods-hosted event that benefits his Tiger Woods Foundation.

VAN HALEN continues embarking on its new beginning, and the fans are sure to be listening to the band’s treasured body of work for decades to come.

Source: Live Nation

Web site: http://www.livenation.com/

‘VH1 Rock Honors: The Who’ Tickets Go on Sale Sunday, June 8 with Proceeds to Benefit the Efforts of Multiple Charities

Third Annual Event, Featuring Live Performances by The Who and Tribute Bands Pearl Jam, Foo Fighters and The Flaming Lips, Will Premiere Thursday, July 17 at 9:00pm* from the Pauley Pavilion in Los Angeles

For the first time ever, fans will have the opportunity to see some of the biggest names in rock together on one stage as tickets go on sale for the network’s third annual “VH1 Rock Honors” event paying homage to legendary British rock band The Who. “VH1 Rock Honors: The Who” will be taped on Saturday, July 12 from the Pauley Pavilion in Los Angeles and will premiere on VH1 on Thursday, July 17 at 9pm with tribute performances by Pearl Jam, Foo Fighters and The Flaming Lips.

On Friday, June 6, tickets will go on sale to WHOLIGANS, members of The Who Fan Club (thewho.com). On Saturday, June 7, tickets will be available to members of The Ten club, Pearl Jam’s fan club (pearljam.com) and to the Foo Fighters fan club (foofighters.com). The general public on-sale will begin on Sunday, June 8 at 10:00AM (PDT). Tickets will be priced at $300, $125 and $65, not including applicable service charges, via www.ticketmaster.com and at all Ticketmaster outlets or by calling 213-480-3232. Ticket sales are limited to four (4) per person and tickets will remain on sale until sold-out.

VIP ticket packages will be available via ticketmaster.com and Deluxe Travel packages will be available via travelpackage@slotix.com or by calling 415-318-7007. The Who pre-sale will have a VIP package limit of two (2); the VIP package limit for the general public on-sale will be four (4).

This year’s event will deliver a night of high-voltage tribute performances by Pearl Jam, Foo Fighters and The Flaming Lips all leading up to the spectacular grand finale performance by The Who as they rock the stage. Additional performers, presenters and special guests will be announced as they are confirmed. As a result of The Who’s revolutionary and era-defining influence on rock music, this will be the first “VH1 Rock Honors” that salutes just one band.

Taping in Los Angeles at the Pauley Pavilion on the campus of UCLA on July 12, “VH1 Rock Honors: The Who” will premiere on Thursday, July 17 at 9pm* on VH1, VH1 Classic and MHD. VH1.com will also offer select performances from the show leading up to and following the on-air premiere at Rock.VH1.com. The Who’s monumental legacy will be celebrated with a 2 — hour tribute that will salute the music and the lasting impact of this groundbreaking band. The influence of The Who will be felt through spoken tributes, filmed packages and performances by some of today’s premier rock acts as well as the legends themselves.

Proceeds from ticket sales will benefit the efforts of the following charities:

Double O

Double O charity was started by The Who in 1976 and has now evolved into a private dispersal charity focused more than ever on ’survival’ of drug and alcohol damage, domestic violence, sexual abuse, music education, emergency relief for international disasters, and young people’s prison reform. It has dispersed about 4,000,000 pounds Sterling since inception, and been indirectly responsible for the dispersal of another similar amount through Double O Promotions, which channels a lot of Townshend- and Who-related activity. Since 2002, all of the Who tours have been recorded, and live CDs of every show have been sold as part of the Encore series. All the proceeds, after profit, have gone to Double O — totaling about 1,000.000 pounds so far.

Teenage Cancer Trust

Six teenagers will find out they have cancer today, six tomorrow and six the day after. More often than not, these young people get a raw deal, receiving hospital treatment in inappropriate facilities alongside young children or older people. Teenage Cancer Trust fights for the rights of teenagers and young adults with cancer. The charity helps make life better for these young people by building specialist units which are boosting survival rates.

VH1 Save The Music Foundation

Since 1997, the VH1 Save The Music Foundation has provided more than $40 million worth of new musical instruments to over 1,500 schools in 100 communities, affecting the lives of more than 1 million public school children. Now in its tenth year, the Emmy and Peabody Award-winning VH1 Save The Music Foundation is a nonprofit organization dedicated to improving the quality of education in America’s public schools by restoring music education programs in cities across the U.S. and raising awareness of the importance of music participation for our nation’s youth. VH1 Save The Music’s many honors include the Governors’ Award (a special Emmy Award), the George Foster Peabody Award for broadcast and cable excellence, and many Beacon Awards.

VH1 Classic Rock Autism

Doug Flutie, Jr. Foundation for Autism — The Foundation’s mission is to aid financially disadvantaged families who need assistance in caring for their children with autism; to fund education and research into the causes and consequences of childhood autism; and to serve as a clearinghouse and communications center for new programs and services developed for individuals with autism.

Autism Society of America — ASA, the nation’s leading grassroots autism organization, exists to improve the lives of all affected by autism. We do this by increasing public awareness about the day-to-day issues faced by people on the spectrum, advocating for appropriate services for individuals across the lifespan, and providing the latest information regarding treatment, education, research and advocacy.

Autism Speaks — Autism Speaks is dedicated to increasing awareness of autism spectrum disorders, to funding research into the causes, prevention and treatments for autism, and to advocating for the needs of individuals with autism and their families. It was founded in February 2005 by Suzanne and Bob Wright, the grandparents of a child with autism. Bob Wright is Senior Advisor at Lee Equity Partners and served as vice chairman, General Electric, and chief executive officer of NBC for more than twenty years.

ACT Today! — Stands for Autism Care & Treatment Today! Our mission is to increase immediate access to effective autism treatments through grants to families with lack of access and/or limited financial means. ACT Today! is the brainchild of several parents with autistic children and professionals in the field who have seen progress through certain types of medical and therapeutic treatment, particularly Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA). Together with Dr. Doreen Granpeesheh, the pre-eminent authority on ABA and the world’s leading provider of services, the group formed ACT Today! to do just as the name implies: take immediate action to treat autism.

Malibu Special Education Foundation — The Malibu Special Education Foundation services children with disabilities, their families as well as the teachers, administrators and staff. The Malibu Special Education Foundation goes where the district funding stops and brings necessary services to the special education family (students, parents, teachers, administrators and staff) with afterschool programs, teacher conferences and seminars across US and California, parent support groups, speaker programs and funding state-of- the-art classroom equipment to meet the constantly changing technological advances for all levels of students with disabilities.

Check soon for honoree profiles, exclusive online programming, show information and more at Rock.VH1.com. Additional VH1.com and VH1 Mobile efforts around “VH1 Rock Honors: The Who” will be announced in the coming weeks.

“VH1 Rock Honors: The Who” is sponsored by Taco Bell Corp, Garnier(R) Fructis(R), SOYJOY(R) and Subaru.

“VH1 Rock Honors: The Who” is directed by David Mallet and executive produced by Greg Sills and Lee Rolontz and Rick Krim for VH1. Paul Flattery and Patrizia DiMaria serve as producers with David Wild as co-producer.

VH1 connects viewers to the music, artists and pop culture that matter to them most with TV series, specials, live events, exclusive online content and public affairs initiatives. VH1 is available in 90 million households in the U.S. VH1 also has an array of digital channels and services including VH1Classic, VH1 Soul, VH1 Mobile, VH1 Games and extensive broadband video on VH1.com. Connect with VH1 at VH1.com.

VH1 is a registered trademark of MTV Networks, a unit of Viacom International Inc. MTV Networks also operates and offers joint ventures, licensing agreements and syndication deals whereby its programming can be seen worldwide.

Source: VH1

Web site: http://www.vh1.com/
http://www.thewho.com/
http://www.pearljam.com/
http://www.foofighters.com/
http://www.ticketmaster.com/
http://www.rock.vh1.com/