NASHVILLE |DATE: AUGUST 8, 2005
FROM: KRISTINE ASHTON-MAGNUSON/LIBBY HENRY/AMANDA HALE
VANS WARPED TOUR 2005–"THE TOUR THAT WON'T DIE"–UNDERWAY
WITH FULL LINE-UP OF ATTRACTIONS AND CHARITIES
"…America's most successful festival." (Rolling Stone, June 30, 2005)
Coming off its most successful year, the VANS WARPED TOUR® presented by Samsung Mobile and Cingular Wireless–the all-day punk rock summer camp featuring the best in underground, independent and free-minded music and action sports–is now in the midst of its second decade.
Bands appearing on this year's tour include: All American Rejects, Atreyu, Avenged Sevenfold, Dropkick Murphys, Fall Out Boy, Hawthorne Heights, Motion City Soundtrack, MxPx, My Chemical Romance, No Use For A Name, Senses Fail, The Bled, The Explosion, The Matches, The Offspring, The Starting Line, Thrice, Transplants, Tsunami Bomb and Underoath, among others. Go to www.warpedtour.com for the full band line-up.
With cutting-edge musical artists, top athletes in the action sports world and a wide range of attractions, the VANS WARPED TOUR®–the self-proclaimed "tour that won't die"–has been instrumental in taking the punk-rock/skate/action sports culture from the underground to the forefront of American youth culture. By teaming with corporate sponsors in the tour's grassroots fashion, the VANS WARPED TOUR® has continued not only to be successful, but it gives back to the community by donating to charities worldwide.
Following are many attractions and activities for the 2005 tour.
ATTRACTIONS & ACTIVITIES
Cingular/Samsung Deliver Big Warped Perks: Samsung and Cingular Wireless will host the following exclusives for VWT fans:
· Show Me Your Cingular: At the Cingular Lounge, just whip out your Cingular phones for "ultra" exclusive access (for you and a friend) at the Cingular Lounge where you can chill and enjoy free beverages courtesy of Monster Energy Drinks!
· "Skip the Line" Gate: Look for the "SKIP THE LINE" banner, flash your Samsung or Cingular phone, and go straight into the concert without having to wait in line.
· Special Updates and Promotions via Text Message: One of the unique aspects of the VWT is the rotating performance schedule and daily activities. To help fans get the most bang for their buck, Samsung and Cingular will provide performance and autograph session schedules and special promotions, such as the scavenger hunt for prizes and last-minute VIP seating on stage, via special text messages. To opt-in, concert-goers can simply sign up for their particular city at www.warpedtour.com, www.rucingular.com or receive the text code once at the concert venue.
· Samsung/Cingular Signing Stage: Fans can meet their favorite bands and get autographs on limited edition VWT credentials and posters designed by renowned rock-poster artist Brian Ewing. Participating bands include Dropkick Murphys, Hawthorne Heights, MxPx, Thrice and All American Rejects.
· Ink Your Phone Booth: Samsung and Cingular created the Ink Your Phone Booth where tattoo artists will personalize fans' phones with an array of designs. While in the booth, fans can purchase limited edition Brian Ewing-designed VWT hats and T-shirts and register with the Samsung Fun Club for exclusive downloads and contests. Proceeds from Ink Your Phone Booth merchandise sales will benefit the LA-based youth organization My Friend's Place, which assists homeless and high-risk youth and their children to build stable, self-sufficient lives.
· Reverse Daycare Tent: Since parents and their teens don't always have the same taste in music, concert-goers can drop off their parents at the air-conditioned Reverse Daycare Tent. While teens are rocking out to their favorite bands, parents can enjoy a cold beverage, a massage and a movie with the help of soundproof headphones.
MySpace Tent and Tour Activities:
MySpace Tent: The MySpace tent is 30' x 30' foot space, set-up as a lounge and featuring a small stage. MySpace encourages emerging artists on the Warped Tour to utilize the space just as they use the site: as a way to connect with fans. In addition to the MySpace featured artist, every day MySpace hosts multiple meet & greets and impromptu performances from various tour artists.
MyWarpedSpace: MyWarpedSpace is a ten week online promotion on the MySpace music home page; the site maintains MyWarpedSpace with rotating "featured artists" from each week on the tour.
MySpace Featured Artist: Each week of the tour (eight total weeks) the featured artist from MyWarpedSpace makes an appearance in the MySpace tent at Warped Tour including artists such as The Transplants, The Offspring, MxPx, Motion City Soundtrack, Reggie & The Full Effect and Fall Out Boy. Appearances are both meet & greets with fans and acoustic sets.
Jupiter Sunrise: The MySpace house band, performing short sets throughout the day of both original and cover songs. Attendees are encouraged to "sing along" with Jupiter Sunrise creating live punk karaoke in the MySpace tent.
Raffles and Giveaways: MySpace hosts multiple raffles throughout the day with prizes including MySpace gear, side-stage viewing for the band of the winner's choice and passes to the after-show BBQ.
Fuse:
Fuse is fully Warped this summer starting with "Warped Wednesdays." Every Wednesday, all summer long between 12 PM and 4 PM (ET), Fuse will feature the hottest bands on the tour, hosting hours of music videos and sharing Warped road stories. Additionally there will be Warped-related programming on "Steven's Untitled Rock Show," "Daily Download," and "Dedicated Live." For full coverage information, give-aways and contests visit www.fuse.tv.
PlayStation®: PlayStation® is on the road once again with the Vans Warped Tour. Tour-goers can sample the latest and soon-to-be-released software titles for PlayStation®2 computer entertainment system, as well as join the portable entertainment revolution by checking out the new PSP(tm) (PlayStation® Portable) entertainment system. The Vans Warped Tour is one of the few places where gamers will get hands-on time with PSP and the hottest software titles on the market. Year after year, PlayStation® and the Vans Warped Tour bring you the best of the punk rock lifestyle.
Amateur Skate Jam: 2005 marks the first Amateur Skate Jam, presented by Vans and Lost Energy Drink. This is a daily contest where pro-skaters will judge 20 local amateur skaters in each market who will compete for various levels of prize money. Skaters must register in advance at their local Vans store. For more information, go to: www.warpedtour.com.
Fanscape: Fanscape is the official grassroots marketing company for the Vans Warped Tour and proliferates the Warped lifestyle and message to millions of people around the world throughout the year. During their three years working on the Vans Warped Tour, Fanscape has helped grow the Warped Tour mailing list and produce its recurrent online newsletter, the Vans Warped Tour online fan database has grown to nearly 400,000 people. Fanscape also brings in tour sponsors and syndicates the Warped news, music, artist features and contests to dozens of music, punk rock and lifestyle destinations on the web.
Energizer® e2(tm) Titanium Encore: At each tour stop, one band will be chosen to play 10 minutes longer that day. Each band will be selected in advance through voting held on the "Contests" section of www.warpedtour.com.
Girlz Garage: The 2005 Girlz Garage is bigger and better than ever. The Shoe Gallery has returned where personalized Vans–each individually designed by Warped bands are auctioned off for charity at www.warpedtour.com. In The Chop Shop, fans can use spray paint, scissors, needles and thread to turn your boring shirt into a DIY fashion find. Proceeds made in the Chop Shop will go to 1-800-Suicide and other teen suicide hotlines. The Girlz Garage will also have various raffles for a Hooligan Girlz Garage skate deck, Ernie Ball Girlz Garage guitar and other prizes from Hurley, Le Tigre, DKNY Jeans, Garnier Fructise, Tampax and Bic. Proceeds from the raffle will go to the Girls Inc. Organization.
Freestanding within the Girlz Garage is the Keep A Breast Organization where they will have signature breast casts on display in connection with their efforts to raise money and awareness for the fight against breast cancer.
The Tsunami Relief Project: The Tsunami Relief Project will raise awareness and funds to help those affected by the tragedy. If you'd like to help out in any way, please contact them via the link below. http://www.myspace.com/tsunamirelief
truth®: truth® is once again hitting the road this summer to reach out to thousands of teens, traveling with signature orange state-of-the-art truth® trucks rigged with DJ decks, video monitors and gaming systems. The truth® crew will provide anti-tobacco messages in cool settings, engaging in peer-to-peer communication. Each stop will feature impromptu rap sessions, join-in free-style demos and giveaways of popular truth® gear such as hats, flip flops, wallets and t-shirts, including two limited edition shirts designed exclusively for this year¹s initiative by pop culture artists Jeff Soto and Typestereo. Scratch lessons will be available through the Scratch DJ Academy, a group of DJs who show newcomers the fundamentals of DJ¹ing, scratching and mixing music.
Punk Rock Museum: The 500 Greatest Shots Of Rock 'N Roll Photography Collection: 60 of the best punk rock 'n roll pictures from some the world's top musical photographers will be on display featuring rock stars such as Billy Idol, The Sex Pistols, Sum 41, the Ramones, The Damned, Debbie Harry and Blondie, as well as a special tribute to legendary music club CBGB's and Punk Magazine. Based in Las Vegas, the privately held collection features the work of rock photo legends Bob Gruen, Mick Rock, Roberta Bayley, Richard Godlis, Punk Magazine founder John Holmstrom, author Steve Blush, David LaChappelle and many others.
Alternative Press: Visit the AP booth for the official guide to the tour.
Download Punk (the official provider of digital downloads for the tour's emerging artists): Fans can head to the store front to find digital releases from the up and coming artists as well as check out the artists playing the Hot Topic Kevin Says and Ernie Ball stages, keep up on news from the tour, download free tracks, buy exclusive tracks and sample songs from full albums before purchase. Downloadpunk.com is an online music retailer geared specifically towards serving the punk community with digital downloads. They carry the deepest punk, hardcore, emo, metal and indie catalogs. The site currently features over 300 labels and more than 60,000 songs. Check it out at http://www.downloadpunk.com/warpedtour.
Take Action! At Warped: In an effort to "create a better world, one voice and one action at a time," Take Action! has teamed with the Vans Warped Tour to once again present the Take Action! stage. In addition to spreading the Take Action! message of personal empowerment, Take Action! is once again teaming up with our benefiting charity, The National Hopeline Network 1-800-SUICIDE (nationwide hotline that provides 24 hour, confidential attentive help for people in a crisis highlighted by and often leading to suicide, depression, drug abuse, domestic abuse, etc.). This year's Take Action! area features a variety of support and community outreach for non-profits that feature literature, outspoken bands, petitions, voter registration etc. The stage is also ore prominent than last year with the generous support of Hurley (www.Hurley.com) and there are items to buy that support various organizations.
Hurley Stage: This is the second largest stage on the tour and features bands such as Bedouin Soundclash, Dillinger Escape Plan, The Bled, Motion City Soundtrack, Over It, Mae, Funeral For A Friend, Reggie & The Full Effect and others.
Hot Topic Kevin Says Stage: This stage features a wide variety of undiscovered, up-and-coming, and prominent bands from underground and independent music scenes across the country and the world. For the first time since the inception of the "Kevin Says Stage," the stage was booked in advance through an application process in which bands were picked for their work ethic, talent, and uniqueness. Ranging from punk to ska, from hip hop to hardcore, the Hot Topic/Kevin Says Stage has become a hot spot for discovering new music on the tour this year.
Ernie Ball Stage: In its ninth year, the Ernie Ball Battle Of The Bands offers bands from across the country an opportunity to compete for various prizes such as: spots on the Ernie Ball stage, gear and instruments, as well as recording contracts.
Shiragirl Stage: In the words of Shiragirl: "If u need a reminder of why girls kick ass, stop by the Shiragirl Stage this summer- featuring the hottest in-yr-face potty-mouthed rocker chix screamin their mind and doin their thing. all-girl and girl-fronted bands, all different soundz! brought to u by the feisty electro grrrls Shiragirl, yes the same crazy ladiez who crashed Warped last year in their hot pink bus. DIY lives!"
Fanzine Region: This area is dedicated to the numerous fanzines that have supported the tour throughout the years and dedicated their time to VWT bands. Fanzine editors will have the chance to exhibit their fanzine in their city, providing samples and giveaways, zine history, as well as information on subscriptions and zine distribution locations.
Locker Box: An avid VANS WARPED TOUR fan arranged this much-needed VWT Locker Check-In area. It allows concert-goers the chance to collect items and merchandise and then check it in when it's too much to carry. Coats, backpacks, bags, cell phones, shirts, hats, pants and shoes are all welcome.
Go to www.warpedtour.com for the full list of tour dates and bands.
The Vans Warped Tour® is made possible through the support of Vans, title sponsors Samsung Telecommunications America and Cingular Wireless, Fuse, PlayStation®, Wrigley's Winterfresh, AOL, Hot Topic, truth, Monster Energy and Hansen's Sodas, Lost Beverage, Dodge, MySpace.com, Hurley, ELLEgirl, Circuit City, Energizer® e2(tm) Titanium, MasterCard, The Army, Alternative Press and SPIN magazine.
MSO Contacts: (818) 380-0400
Kristine Ashton-Magnuson kashton@msopr.com ext. 233
Libby Henry lhenry@msopr.com ext. 224
Amanda Hale ahale@msopr.com ext. 238
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