Aerosmith News

HARD ROCK INTERNATIONAL ANNOUNCES NATIONAL GUITAR HERO® CHALLENGE FINALE 

Two-Day Finale Event - Boston for Africa 2008 - Includes First Annual Boston Rock Ride for Africa and Star-Studded Showdown with Steven Tyler at Hard Rock Cafe Boston


Orlando, Fla., August 11, 2008 – The national tour – Guitar Hero®: Aerosmith® Rocks the Hard Rock – is gearing-up for a 2-day finale that completes the summer search for the best of the best axe shredders.  Throughout the summer, Hard Rock International teamed up with rock legends Aerosmith® and SPIN Magazine for a national tour of 16 Hard Rock Cafes, featuring the newest release in the blockbuster Guitar Hero® franchise, Guitar Hero: Aerosmith.  Local Guitar Hero fans competed in their favorite game to win a trip to Boston and play for the Grand Prize – a Guitar Hero/Hard Rock Cafe Red Wing Custom Motorcycle designed by Steven Tyler.  The upcoming two-day finale event – Boston for Africa 2008 – will benefit FORGE, Foundation Rwanda and Opportunity International to raise awareness of the opportunities to end the cycle of war and poverty that affect many African countries.

Day One
The event begins with the First Annual Boston Rock Ride for Africa to be held Sunday, August 24.  Steven Tyler, legendary frontman of the band Aerosmith, will head up this 15-mile escorted charity ride of 1500 motorcyclists into downtown Boston.

At the end of the ride, participants will enjoy live music, courtesy of Ernie and the Automatics and legendary guitarist Jeff “Skunk” Baxter of The Doobie Brothers and Steely Dan. Motorcycle enthusiasts will enjoy displays of one-of-a-kind customs, including the latest builds from Red Wing Motorcycles and Sucker Punch Sally’s. The day’s festivities will also include food, drinks and vendors for the public.

Day Two
On Monday, August 25, the finale kicks into high gear with the championship of the Guitar Hero: Aerosmith Rocks the Hard Rock summer tour.  The four finalists from across the 15 tour markets will compete in a Guitar Hero: Aerosmith showdown at the Boston For Africa VIP gala at Hard Rock Cafe Boston.  Aerosmith’s Steven Tyler and Joey Kramer will rock the house with an all-star performance for the contestants and a host of Boston-area celebrities and sports heroes.

Steven Tyler will personally award the Grand Prize winner his custom-designed Guitar Hero: Aerosmith / Hard Rock Cafe Red Wing motorcycle.  Additionally, Activision will provide a $50,000 charitable contribution to Boston For Africa, LLC.

For further information on Boston for Africa, please visit www.hardrock.com or
http://www.guitarherogame.com/ghaerosmith/hardrocktour.

Guitar Hero: Aerosmith brings these quintessential rock legends to the interactive realm to create the ultimate gaming experience.  As fans progress through their careers in the game, they can rock out to scores of Aerosmith’s greatest hits including various tracks re-mastered by the legendary band for Guitar Hero: Aerosmith, as well as songs from celebrated artists that the band has either performed with or has been inspired by in some way.  Highlighting the list of celebrated artists is an in-game guest appearance from one of the pioneers of hip-hop and kings of rock, Darryl “DMC” McDaniels.  Venues from historical moments during the band’s illustrious career offer the experience of “sweet emotion” and further capture the essence of the band’s rise to fame.

About Activision Publishing, Inc.
Headquartered in Santa Monica, California, Activision Publishing, Inc. is a leading worldwide developer, publisher and distributor of interactive entertainment and leisure products. 

Activision Publishing maintains operations in the U.S., Canada, the United Kingdom, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Sweden, Spain, the Netherlands, Australia, Japan and South Korea.  More information about Activision Publishing and its products can be found on the company's website, www.activision.com.

About Red Wing Custom Motorcycles
Red Wing Motorcycles was born because a collection of friends wanted to create a unique line of bikes that would turn heads around the world. After a couple of years of design, engineering and testing, the company’s first line of motorcycles debuted in 2007 and those friends — rock and roll legend Steven Tyler, renowned engineer Mark Dirico and Stephen Talarico of AC Custom Motorcycles — achieved their goal.  For further information, please visit www.redwingmotorcycles.com.

About FORGE
FORGE leverages African refugee communities to end the cycle of war and poverty in the refugees' home countries.  Through its innovative Collaborative Project Planning Process, FORGE works to facilitate local development solutions to community problems and lay the foundation for peace and prosperity.  Since its founding in 2003, FORGE has helped 70,000 refugees from 5 countries to address their needs and become more self-sufficient.  In the short term, the initiatives that refugees develop through FORGE address problems of disaffection, disempowerment, and poverty endemic to refugee camp life.  In the long term, refugees develop leadership, education, and vocational skills that will aid their home countries when they eventually return.  In this way, FORGE tackles the root causes of protracted conflicts by helping communities emerge from poverty, foster peace, and develop future leaders. For more information and frequent updates on projects, visit www.FORGEnow.org.

About Opportunity International
Opportunity International is committed to solving global poverty.  Currently serving 1.1 million poor entrepreneurs in 28 developing countries, Opportunity International is a pioneer in offering small business loans, savings, insurance and training in basic business practices to women and men living in chronic poverty. Founded in 1971 as one of the first microcredit lenders, Opportunity International provides small loans – sometimes as little as $50 – and other services that allow poor entrepreneurs to start or expand a business, develop a steady income, provide for their families and create jobs for their neighbors. For more information, visit www.Opportunity.org.

About Foundation Rwanda
During the 1994 genocide in Rwanda, an estimated 20,000 children were born from rapes committed during the genocide.   Due to the stigma associated with rape, these children and their mothers have been severely marginalized by their communities and are not actively seeking help. No existing government or NGO programs have been created to support their specific needs.  Foundation Rwanda was established to improve the lives of these children by 1) providing funding for their secondary school education, 2) linking their mothers to existing psychological and medical support services, and 3) raising awareness about the consequences of genocide and gender-based sexual violence through photography and new media.  For more information or to help sponsor a child’s education, please visit www.foundationrwanda.org.

About Hard Rock International
With 125 high-energy Hard Rock Cafes and nine Hotels/Casinos in 48 countries, Hard Rock International is one of the world’s most globally recognized brands. Beginning with an Eric Clapton guitar, Hard Rock owns the world’s greatest collection of music memorabilia, which is displayed at its locations around the globe. Hard Rock is also known for its collectible fashion and music-related merchandise, Hard Rock Live performance venues and an award-winning website. In addition to the two flagship Seminole Hard Rock Hotels and Casinos in Tampa and Hollywood, Fla., Hard Rock Hotels/Casinos are located in Las Vegas, Biloxi, Orlando, Chicago, San Diego, Pattaya and Bali.  Additional hotel and casino projects have been announced in Macau and Penang, both scheduled to open in 2009; Palm Springs, Atlanta and Panama, scheduled to open in 2010; and Dubai, scheduled to open in 2011.  Hard Rock Park, located in Myrtle Beach, is the world’s first rock ‘n’ roll theme park. Hard Rock International, Inc. is owned by Seminole Hard Rock Entertainment, Inc. For more information on Hard Rock, visit www.hardrock.com.