Gibson Guitar and Celebrities Join Forces for Charity Auction

Music and entertainment celebrities such as Sheryl Crow, Rod Stewart, Ellen DeGeneres, Melissa Etheridge, David Carradine, Mick Fleetwood, Joe Perry, and Billy Morrison will join forces with Gibson Guitar to raise money and awareness to help fight against breast cancer. On May 3, 2005, the Los Angeles Hard Rock Cafe will host the first "Designer Gibson Guitar Auction" to benefit the Expedition Inspiration Fund for Breast Cancer Research.

Expedition Inspiration (www.expeditioninspiration.org), the national nonprofit organization that raises awareness and funds for breast cancer research, and Hard Rock Cafe will auction 50 Gibson Les Paul SG Special guitars decorated by music and entertainment superstars live at the Cafe and online at www.juliensauctions.com. Gibson Guitar has donated the instruments, which will feature the original artwork of the celebrity who designed it. Money raised will go to promote promising new research at the USC/Norris and UCLA/Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Centers, both leaders in cancer prevention and research.

"Breast cancer is the leading cause of death for women 35 to 54, and Expedition Inspiration has been instrumental in calling attention to the breast cancer epidemic and desperate need for a cure," said Tea Leoni, actress and auction chair for Expedition Inspiration. "We are proud to partner with Hard Rock Cafe and Gibson Guitar to bring this unique auction that will widely appeal to music and entertainment fans and hopefully raise a lot of money."

As the owners of the world's greatest collection of rock 'n' roll memorabilia and supporters of various philanthropic causes since it was founded in London in 1971, Hard Rock Cafe is a natural venue for this event that allows celebrities to showcase their creativity and decorate guitars for charity.

The live Expedition Inspiration auction at the Hard Rock Cafe in Los Angeles begins at 8:30 p.m. on May 3, 2005, and is by invitation only. However, online bidding for the specially designed Gibson guitars will open to the general public prior to the event on April 24, 2005 at www.juliensauctions.com.

"Gibson Guitar is proud to be part of such an exciting and worthwhile event," said Henry Juszkiewicz, Chairman and CEO, Gibson Guitar. "The musicians who are designing these guitars continue to be leaders in the music industry and much like Gibson Guitar work to contribute to worthy causes such as this. We join in this effort to help find the cure."

[Melissa Etheridge puts the finishing touches on a Gibson guitar she painted and designed for the upcoming Expedition Breast Cancer Designer Gibson Guitar Auction to be held at the Hard Rock Cafe in Los Angeles on May 3, 2005, to a star-studded audience. Etheridge, who is currently under treatment for breast cancer, painted and signed the guitar which will be auctioned off at the event and benefit Breast Cancer Research. Photo courtesy of Gibson Guitar.]

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