Hollywood Hosts Guitar Center’s Drum-Off Grand Finals Competition This Saturday at 7pm.
I will be front and center to provide you lucky devils with the sights and sounds AND I have a fantastic prize to give away – a signed drum head, autographed by Mars Volta! Details below…
Among the panel of top judges of the Guitar Center Drum Off Grand Finals are: Adrian Young (No Doubt), Taylor Hawkins (Foo Fighters), Kenny Aronoff, The Rev (Avenged Sevenfold) and Danny Carey (Tool).
After months of local and regional competitions held at each of Guitar Center’s 214 stores across the country, the top six undiscovered drummers in the nation have been selected from a field of nearly 5,000 competitors. The six finalists will go head to head on Saturday, January 10th, 2009 at Guitar Center’s Drum-Off Grand finals in Los Angeles for a prize package worth over $45,000, as they perform in front of a capacity crowd at the historic Music Box at Fonda Theater.
Stephen Perkins (Jane’s Addiction) will host the evening. Guitar Center will also feature performances from drumming greats Nicko McBrain (Iron Maiden), Jason Bittner (Shadows Fall), an exclusive collaboration by Thomas Pridgen (Mars Volta) and Thomas Lang and a headlining performance by Papa Roach. Street Drum Corps Presents BANG! will perform their signature high-energy, street drumming sets outside the venue to kick off the night.
The Six Finalists are:
Juan Carlos Mendoza (E. Brunswick, NJ)
Jerome Flood III (Lawrenceville, GA)
Anthony Burns (Saginaw, MI)
Ramon Sampson (Memphis, TN)
Sherman Arnold (Englewood, CO)
Tim Newton (La Mesa, CA)
For 20 years Guitar Center’s annual Drum-Off has been recognized by the music community as one of the most important platforms for unsigned talent, and a springboard to stardom for many seriously talented young drummers. Prior Drum-Off champs who have gone on to become successful pro drummers include Cora “CC” Dunham (Prince; Drum-Off ’02 Champ), Eric Moore (Bobby Brown, Sly and The Family Stone, Infectious Grooves, Suicidal Tendencies; Drum-Off ‘03 Champ), Tony Royster Jr. (Jay Z; Drum-Off ’95 Champ) and Thomas Pridgen (The Mars Volta), who became Guitar Center’s Drum-Off champion in 1993 when he was just 9 years old!
This is an all-ages show.
Tickets are $15 at www.TicketWeb.com
Guitar Center’s Drum-Off finals
Saturday, January 10th – 7pm
The Music Box @ Fonda
6126 Hollywood Blvd
Los Angeles, Ca 90028.
One lucky reader of my blog will win a drum head, courtesy of Guitar Center and autographed by Mars Volta drummer, Thomas Pridgen!
Just leave a comment at http://www.Aliontheair.wordpress.com below this blog, on who your favorite drummer is and why. The best response will take home the booty.
Ali MacLean 
My favorite drummer is Art Blakey. When I was a little land I would listen to my dad’s ‘A night in Tunisia Live’ record over and over. He made me a tape of the record so I could listen to it in my room, in the car and on my little walkman when I was playing outside. It is still my favorite
my favorite drummer is Jon Theodore. the first time i saw the Volta [i’ve seen them 15 times] at The Wiltern, i left feeling like i had been Rodney King’d.
i still love the Volta, but i think it says something that 11 of the 15 times i’ve seen them, it’s been with Jon behind the kit. suffice it to say, i miss him terribly. one day as a lion is cool and all, but Jon belongs with Cedric and Omar.
Danny Carey rules!!!
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