New Level of 'Airness' Reached as Hot Lixx Hulahan Wins 2008 Cuervo Black U.S. Air Guitar Championship

New Level of 'Airness' Reached as Hot Lixx Hulahan Wins 2008 Cuervo Black U.S. Air Guitar Championship

SAN FRANCISCO, Aug. 11 /PRNewswire/ -- The competition was brutal. Twenty-four of the nation's top Air Guitar stars each took the stage at The Grand Ballroom this weekend and one-by-one, over the course of three hours, attempted to head bang their way to victory. But San Francisco native Hot Lixx Hulahan (Craig Billmeir) was the victor, giving a face-melting performance that had the audience aghast he truly was playing ... no guitar. Proudly wearing the 2008 Cuervo Black U.S. Air Guitar Championship belt, Hot Lixx Hulahan became the sixth person in American history to win the national competition, and later this month will represent the U.S. at the 2008 Air Guitar World Championships in Oulu, Finland.

"Jose Cuervo congratulates Hot Lixx Hulahan on becoming the 2008 U.S. Cuervo Black Air Guitar Champion, and we wish him the best of luck as he goes on the represent our country in the World Championships," said Toby Whitmoyer, Brand Director, Jose Cuervo. "Every performer was 'air'-tastic in their own right, but in the end, Hot Lixx showed what it took to be a champion. Like Cuervo Black Tequila, which in its boldness brings people together, Hot Lixx did the same, and won the hearts, minds and mania of the judges and air- ficionados."

Regional finalists competing this weekend in the 2008 Cuervo Black U.S. Air Guitar Championship Presented by TouchTunes were (listed by stage name/region won):

-- Big Rig (Aspen)
-- Mcnallica (Boston)
-- Bettie B. Goode (Brooklyn)
-- Nordic Thunder, (Chicago)
-- Derek Not-So-Smalls (Cleveland)
-- 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 competitor tested 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 consisted of two rounds, during which each contestant was judged by a panel of air guitar experts. In Round One, each regional rock star performed one- minute of a song of their choice. In Round Two, the top competitors from Round One performed to a surprise compulsory song. The only rules: all guitars must be invisible; air on the side of caution and drink responsibly.

TouchTunes Corporation, the largest interactive out-of-home entertainment network, is the official jukebox sponsor of the 2008 Cuervo Black U.S. Air Guitar Championship.

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 US Air Guitar Championships, official Regional events, and specialized "Dream Team" events. US Air Guitar is devoted to taking our nation's unofficial pastime out of the recreation room and putting it up on the world stage. US 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

NOTE TO MEDIA: A free and unrestricted satellite feed of the 2008 Cuervo
Black U.S. Air Guitar Championship competition will be issued today at 12:30
p.m. EDT/3:30 p.m. EDT COORDINATES: Galaxy 28, Transponder 12 ;
Downlink Frequency: 3940 Horizontal; Audio: 6.2/6.8; Trouble number during
feed: (415) 434-1027
First Call Analyst:
FCMN Contact:

Source: Jose Cuervo

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

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

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