NASHVILLE |DATE: NOVEMBER 2, 2006
FROM: MITCH SCHNEIDER/TODD BRODGINSKI/MARCEE RONDAN–MSO
ANDY HALL–ESPN
AEROSMITH, NASCAR ON ESPN AND ABC TO ROCK IN 2007:
ESPN/ABC TO TAPE LIVE PERFORMANCE, INTERVIEWS AND
PROMOS AT AEROSMITH’S NOVEMBER 4 CONCERT
AT THE MGM GRAND IN LAS VEGAS, NV
ESPN/ABC TO TAPE LIVE PERFORMANCE, INTERVIEWS AND
PROMOS AT AEROSMITH’S NOVEMBER 4 CONCERT
AT THE MGM GRAND IN LAS VEGAS, NV
America’s biggest, loudest and hardest-hitting band of all time–AEROSMITH–is collaborating with the worldwide leader in sports, ESPN, and its coverage of America’s biggest, loudest and fastest-growing sport, NASCAR. Millions of viewers will get to experience the high-octane thrills beginning in February 2007 when NASCAR returns to ESPN/ABC for the first time since 2000.
While full details of the AEROSMITH ESPN/ABC alliance will be revealed later, the band is recording a special live version of its immortal “Back In The Saddle” that will be an integral part of the network’s NASCAR telecasts in 2007. The taping will take place Saturday, Nov. 4 at the band’s concert at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas.
“Other than being an astronaut, there are two things I can think of that can give you the same rush as sitting on a rocket: driving down the straightaway at Talladega at 200 miles an hour, and being the lead singer in Aerosmith,” says STEVEN TYLER. "Aerosmith and NASCAR on ESPN and ABC couldn't be more appropriate,” says the group’s JOE PERRY. “’Go faster’ is our middle name. Between the five of us, we probably own 25 or 30 cars and half of those are American muscle cars. In fact, when we're off the road and we can't find Brad, he's probably on the infield at a NASCAR race. This is a dream come true for us. See you at the races!"
AEROSMITH–TYLER, PERRY, BRAD WHITFORD, TOM HAMILTON and JOEY KRAMER–are all NASCAR enthusiasts, and their relationship with the sport was highlighted in 1999 when driver Kenny Wallace drove the AEROSMITH-sponsored #55 Chevrolet.
ESPN and ABC will have live coverage of the final 17 races of the 2007 NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series, including the entire 10-race “Chase for the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup” on ABC. In addition, ESPN2 will be the home of the NASCAR Busch Series for the entire season, starting with the season-opening event at Daytona International Speedway on Feb. 17.
”The magnitude of having the legendary American rock & roll band Aerosmith involved in our NASCAR coverage speaks volumes,” said Rich Feinberg, ESPN Senior Coordinating Producer. “The sheer energy and stage personality that they bring to the screen will greatly enhance our telecasts and their enthusiasm for this project will serve our viewers throughout 2007.”
"Over the past 10 years MGM MIRAGE has had a prosperous partnership with both ESPN and Aerosmith," said Richard Sturm, MGM MIRAGE President of Sports & Entertainment. "Saturday night's filming inside the MGM Grand Garden Arena will not only be exciting for the fans in attendance but for the television viewers as well."
About AEROSMITH:
For more than 30 years, AEROSMITH has defined American Rock 'n' Roll. Just a brief overview of their remarkable career is truly mind-boggling: over 100 million albums sold, induction into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, countless awards (4 Grammy Awards, 8 American Music Awards, 6 Billboard Awards, and 12 MTV Awards), and a diehard “Blue Army” fan-base numbering in the millions worldwide. The members of Aerosmith remain creatively vital, and are the platinum standard for artistic and commercial success in the music business. Through it all they have defeated the odds, silenced their critics and have undeniably withstood the test of time.
While full details of the AEROSMITH ESPN/ABC alliance will be revealed later, the band is recording a special live version of its immortal “Back In The Saddle” that will be an integral part of the network’s NASCAR telecasts in 2007. The taping will take place Saturday, Nov. 4 at the band’s concert at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas.
“Other than being an astronaut, there are two things I can think of that can give you the same rush as sitting on a rocket: driving down the straightaway at Talladega at 200 miles an hour, and being the lead singer in Aerosmith,” says STEVEN TYLER. "Aerosmith and NASCAR on ESPN and ABC couldn't be more appropriate,” says the group’s JOE PERRY. “’Go faster’ is our middle name. Between the five of us, we probably own 25 or 30 cars and half of those are American muscle cars. In fact, when we're off the road and we can't find Brad, he's probably on the infield at a NASCAR race. This is a dream come true for us. See you at the races!"
AEROSMITH–TYLER, PERRY, BRAD WHITFORD, TOM HAMILTON and JOEY KRAMER–are all NASCAR enthusiasts, and their relationship with the sport was highlighted in 1999 when driver Kenny Wallace drove the AEROSMITH-sponsored #55 Chevrolet.
ESPN and ABC will have live coverage of the final 17 races of the 2007 NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series, including the entire 10-race “Chase for the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup” on ABC. In addition, ESPN2 will be the home of the NASCAR Busch Series for the entire season, starting with the season-opening event at Daytona International Speedway on Feb. 17.
”The magnitude of having the legendary American rock & roll band Aerosmith involved in our NASCAR coverage speaks volumes,” said Rich Feinberg, ESPN Senior Coordinating Producer. “The sheer energy and stage personality that they bring to the screen will greatly enhance our telecasts and their enthusiasm for this project will serve our viewers throughout 2007.”
"Over the past 10 years MGM MIRAGE has had a prosperous partnership with both ESPN and Aerosmith," said Richard Sturm, MGM MIRAGE President of Sports & Entertainment. "Saturday night's filming inside the MGM Grand Garden Arena will not only be exciting for the fans in attendance but for the television viewers as well."
About AEROSMITH:
For more than 30 years, AEROSMITH has defined American Rock 'n' Roll. Just a brief overview of their remarkable career is truly mind-boggling: over 100 million albums sold, induction into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, countless awards (4 Grammy Awards, 8 American Music Awards, 6 Billboard Awards, and 12 MTV Awards), and a diehard “Blue Army” fan-base numbering in the millions worldwide. The members of Aerosmith remain creatively vital, and are the platinum standard for artistic and commercial success in the music business. Through it all they have defeated the odds, silenced their critics and have undeniably withstood the test of time.
About ESPN/ABC:
ESPN and ABC will have comprehensive, multi-platform coverage featuring telecasts of the final 17 NASCAR NEXTEL Cup races including the 10-race “Chase for the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup” championship on ABC. Additionally, ESPN2 will be the home of the NASCAR Busch Series all season.
ESPN aired 262 NASCAR Cup Races over a 20-year period starting in 1981. The network's award-winning, live flag-to-flag coverage on ESPN was honored with 17 Sports Emmy Awards, as well as many industry honors. It is widely credited for helping to popularize the sport nationwide. NASCAR races have appeared on ABC for decades, beginning with broadcasts on the award-winning Wide World of Sports program in the 1960s.
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AEROSMITH, NASCAR ON ESPN AND ABC TO ROCK IN 2007: ESPN/ABC TO TAPE LIVE PERFORMANCE, INTERVIEWS AND PROMOS AT AEROSMITH’S NOVEMBER 4 CONCERT AT THE MGM GRAND IN LAS VEGAS, NV
