'AIR' You Ready to Rock?! Spandex, High Kicks, Stage Slides and a Nine-Toed Rock Star Headline 2008 Cuervo Black U.S. Air Guitar Championship Finals

'AIR' You Ready to Rock?! Spandex, High Kicks, Stage Slides and a Nine-Toed Rock Star Headline 2008 Cuervo Black U.S. Air Guitar Championship Finals

SAN FRANCISCO, Aug. 7 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Twenty-four of the nation's top Air Guitar stars will walk the red carpet and then, like prize fighters, shed their robes and attempt to head bang their way to victory starting at 7:30 tomorrow night at The Grand Ballroom, 1290 Sutter Street (at Van Ness). Wearing spandex, jorts (jean shorts) and outrageous costumes, these "air-ficionados" will throw high kicks, jump from speakers, glide into splits and slide across stage as they compete for the ultimate rock and roll distinction -- The 2008 Cuervo Black U.S. Air Guitar Champion.

"Cuervo Black is about daring to be different but also staying connected. As a Tequila, it is bold, yet a smooth partner for cola," said Toby Whitmoyer, Brand Director, Jose Cuervo. "Air Guitar brings people together in a super high-energy, nonstop activity that in its complete originality, bonds a variety of fans. Jose Cuervo is proud to sponsor this emerging art form and bring the 2008 U.S. Cuervo Black Air Guitar Championships to a new level of recognition. Of course, we remind everyone to 'air on the side of caution' and drink responsibly."

To reach these finals, competitors upped the ante, delivering mind-numbing performances and taking on the personas of suped up vikings, leprechauns, legendary monsters and flame throwers.

2008 Cuervo Black U.S. Air Guitar regional finalists competing tomorrow night for a chance to represent the red, white and blue at the World Air Guitar Championships in Finland are (listed by stage name/region won):

-- Big Rig (Aspen)
-- Mcnallica (Boston)
-- Bettie B. Goode (Brooklyn)
-- Nordic Thunder, (Chicago)
-- Derek Not-So-Smalls (Cleveland)
-- Hot Lixx Hulahan (Washington, DC)
-- Magic Cyclops (Denver)
-- Joseph of Air-imathia (Des Moines)
-- Stryker (Detroit)
-- Houston Rockit ( Los Angeles)
-- Airosol (Minneapolis)
-- Shreddy Mercury (New York City)
-- Windhammer (Philadelphia)
-- Hardcore Henry (Phoenix)
-- Ricky Stinkfingers (Portland)
-- D.R.U.S.A. (Salt Lake City)
-- Rockness Monster (San Diego)
-- Awesome (San Francisco)
-- Chuck Mung (Seattle)
-- Guitarsonist (Las Vegas)
-- Rip Darko (Houston)
-- M.O.D. (Austin)
-- The Guardian (Dallas)

Each 'AIR'tastic competitor will test his or her skills in three key judging categories: Technical Merit, Stage Presence and, of course, "Airness," the most intangible and essential skill in this rocking art form. The Championship Finals consist of two rounds, during which each contestant will be judged by a choice panel of air guitar experts. In Round One, each regional rock star will perform one minute of a song of their choice. In Round Two, the top competitors from Round One will perform to a surprise compulsory song. The only rule: all guitars must be invisible.

About Jose Cuervo

Jose Cuervo is the largest producer of Tequila throughout Mexico and around the world. In addition to Jose Cuervo Black Medallion, the Jose Cuervo portfolio of Tequilas includes Jose Cuervo Especial, the world's best-selling Tequila, Jose Cuervo Clasico, Jose Cuervo Tradicional, Jose Cuervo Platino, Jose Cuervo Golden Margarita, Authentic Jose Cuervo Margaritas, Jose Cuervo Margarita Mix and Jose Cuervo Reserva de la Familia. For more information, visit www.cuervo.com.

Jose Cuervo Tequilas are imported and marketed in the United States by Diageo North America, a subsidiary of Diageo PLC. Based in London, Diageo PLC is the world's leading spirits and wine company and is traded on the NYSE under the symbol DEO. For more information, visit www.diageo.com.

About U.S. Air Guitar

Founded in 2003, U.S. Air Guitar is the official Air Guitar Association of the United States and is responsible for operating the U.S. Air Guitar Championships, official Regional events, and specialized "Dream Team" events. U.S. Air Guitar is devoted to taking our nation's unofficial pastime out of the recreation room and putting it up on the world stage. U.S. Air Guitar is an official member of the World Air Guitar Association. Entering its sixth year in the US and its eleventh year world-wide, official national championships currently are held in 21 Countries around the world, including the USA, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Canada, Finland, France, Germany, Ireland, The Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway and the United Arab Emirates, with more countries participating every year. Each country will send one representative to The Air Guitar World Championships, held annually Oulu, Finland. For more information, visit: www.usairguitar.com.

Contact:
Alexandra Sklansky
Taylor PR
212.714.5702
asklansky@taylorpr.com

First Call Analyst:
FCMN Contact: ebalduino@taylorpr.com

Source: Diageo

CONTACT: Alexandra Sklansky of Taylor PR, +1-212-714-5702,
asklansky@taylorpr.com, for Diageo

Web site: http://www.diageo.com/
http://www.usairguitar.com/
http://www.cuervo.com/

NOTE TO EDITORS: A press conference will be held on August 8, 2008 at 6:30 p.m. at The Grand Ballroom in San Francisco prior to the start of the 2008 Cuervo Black U.S. Air Guitar Championship Finals. All competitors will be present and available for interview.

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