Guitar Center to Partner With Eric Clapton's Crossroads Guitar Festival to Support Crossroads Centre

Guitar Center to Partner With Eric Clapton's Crossroads Guitar Festival to Support Crossroads Centre

Three Of The World's Most Infamous And Valuable Guitars Will Be Showcased By Guitar Center At The Festival And At Chicago's Halsted Store

WESTLAKE VILLAGE, Calif., July 10 /PRNewswire/ -- Guitar Center is proud to announce that it will partner with Eric Clapton's Crossroads Guitar Festival to support the Crossroads Centre. Following the success of the 2004 Eric Clapton Crossroads Guitar Festival, Eric will once again bring the world's greatest guitarists of the past, present and future on to one stage for an unforgettable day of music. This incredible musical event will take place on Saturday, July 28, 2007 at Toyota Park in Chicago and all net profits from the festival will benefit The Crossroads Centre in Antigua, a treatment and education facility founded by Clapton for chemically dependent persons.

Guitar Center is thrilled to bring Clapton's legendary "Blackie," his "335," and Stevie Ray Vaughan's "Lenny" to Eric Clapton's Crossroads Guitar Festival. For the first time since Guitar Center purchased them for over $2.4 million from the Clapton Crossroads Centre auction at Christies New York, these three iconic guitars will be on display for all festival goers to view and enjoy. They will also be displayed in the Guitar Center Chicago Halsted store on July 26. The guitars will be exhibited in a one-of-a-kind, newly created, "Legend's Collection" display case that will provide high level protection and climate control as the instruments tour prestigious musical events and Guitar Center store openings in the years to come.

"Guitar Center is proud to once again be involved with Eric Clapton's Crossroads Guitar Festival," said Marty Albertson, Chairman/CEO, Guitar Center. "After the success of the 2004 festival we are excited to take part in not only bringing the Legends Collection, of Clapton guitars, to music fans but we are thrilled to help in supporting such a great cause."

In addition Guitar Center is proud to showcase the 2007 King of the Blues winner, Aaron Loesch, who will have the chance of a lifetime to play on the Eric Clapton's Crossroads Guitar Festival main stage. This outstanding guitar player from Houston, Texas beat over 4,000 contestants from across the country to win this amazing chance to showcase his talent in front of guitar players and music fans alike.

Guitar Center is pleased to partner with Ernie Ball to co-sponsor a second stage at Eric Clapton's Crossroads Guitar Festival. The Ernie Ball Guitar Center Village Stage will feature national acts as well as two lucky bands that will compete for a chance to play on the second stage.

About Guitar Center

Guitar Center is the leading United States retailer of guitars, amplifiers, percussion instruments, keyboards and pro-audio and recording equipment. Our retail store subsidiary presently operates more than 200 Guitar Center stores across the U.S. In addition, our Music & Arts division operates more than 100 stores specializing in band instruments for sale and rental, serving teachers, band directors, college professors and students. We are also the largest direct response retailer of musical instruments in the United States through our wholly owned subsidiary, Musician's Friend, Inc., and its catalog and Web site, http://www.musiciansfriend.com/. More information on Guitar Center can be found by visiting the Company's Web site at http://www.guitarcenter.com/.

The Guitar Center logo is a registered trademark of Guitar Center, Inc. Other brand or product names may be trademarks of the respective companies with which they are associated.

"Know Your Roots. Be Original."

Current Artists Listing Confirmed For Main Stage Performances: Jeff Beck, Doyle Bramhall II, Eric Clapton, Robert Cray, Sheryl Crow, Vince Gill, Buddy Guy, BB King, Alison Krauss and Union Station featuring Jerry Douglas, Sonny Landreth, Albert Lee, Los Lobos, John Mayer, John McLaughlin, Willie Nelson, Robbie Robertson, Robert Randolph & The Family Band, Hubert Sumlin, The Derek Trucks Band featuring Susan Tedeschi, Jimmie Vaughan, Johnny Winter and Steve Winwood.

First Call Analyst:
FCMN Contact:

Source: Guitar Center

CONTACT: Maureen O'Connor, +1-310-854-8116, moconnor@rogersandcowan.com,
or Heather Lewandoski, +1-310-854-8147, hlewandoski@rogersandcowan.com, both
of Rogers & Cowan, for Guitar Center

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

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