U2 AND GREEN DAY’S “THE SAINTS ARE COMING” GARNERS GRAMMY NOMINATION
Download Available via iTunes with Proceeds to Benefit Music Rising Charity Administered by Gibson Foundation
Los Angeles, CA…December 8, 2006….U2 and Green Day’s collaborative performance of “The Saints Are Coming” garnered a GRAMMY® nomination for Best Rock Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal it was announced yesterday by the Recording Academy® at the Music Box at the Fonda in Hollywood. This version of “The Saints are Coming,” which is currently available for download on iTunes, was preformed by the two super-groups at the re-opening of the Louisiana Superdome on September 25, 2006 and has become an anthem for the Gulf region that was devastated by Hurricanes Katrina and Rita. Proceeds from the sale of the song on iTunes will directly benefit Music Rising, a campaign launched in late 2005 by U2’s the Edge, producer Bob Ezrin and Gibson Guitar Chairman and CEO Henry Juszkiewicz with a mission to replace the musical instruments that were lost in the devastation of the Gulf Coast hurricanes.
Music Rising has now extended its mission to its second phase dedicated to helping churches and schools of the Gulf Coast region. To date, Music Rising, has helped over 2,200 musicians regain their livelihood and has been recognized by President Bill Clinton when he presented a Gibson Music Rising guitar to a recipient in Baton Rouge. It has also been the recipient of the 2005 Halo Award for Cause Marketing, the 2006 Billboard Humanitarian Award and a generous grant from the Bush-Clinton Katrina Fund.
The hurricanes left 80% of New Orleans under water and destroyed 200,000 homes. Most of the musical instruments from the region were also lost in the flooding. Music Rising is dedicated to helping to rebuild the musical culture of the region by replacing those lost instruments.
To download “The Saints Are Coming” with proceeds to benefit Music Rising please go to:
http://phobos.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewAlbum?id=204741943&s=143441
About Music Rising:Music Rising is a national campaign created by U2’s The Edge, producer Bob Ezrin, Gibson Guitar Chairman and CEO Henry Juszkiewicz along with support from Guitar Center Music Foundation and MusiCares. The campaign is the recipient of the 2005 Halo Award for Cause Marketing and the 2006 Billboard Humanitarian Award. It has been recognized by former President Bill Clinton through his own Katrina Fund and continues to be recognized around the world by media. Partners such as Guitar Center Music Foundation, MusiCares, Musician’s Friend, VH-1 Networks, MTV Networks, Rolling Stone Magazine, The Kennedy/Marshall Company, Ticketmaster, ABC News Now, ESPN, The NFL, Real Networks/Rhapsody and Live Nation constitute the most dynamic and comprehensive organized group to launch a relief program since the hurricanes hit the United States. The campaign’s goal is to help rebuild the musical heart and culture of the Gulf Region by replacing the musical instruments and gear that were lost by musicians. Phase II was launched to help rebuild churches and schools and is administered by The Gibson Foundation.
