DT: JUNE 24, 2004
FR: KRISTINE ASHTON-MAGNUSON/LIBBY HENRY/ AMANDA HALE/SHAZILA MOHAMMED
VANS WARPED TOUR ’04
KICKS OFF 10th YEAR JUNE 25 IN HOUSTON;
ATTRACTIONS AND CHARITIES ANNOUNCED
The VANS WARPED TOUR® presented by Samsung and Cingular Wireless–America’s longest-running touring festival–kicks off its 10th year June 25 in Houston. The tour wraps August 19 in Boston and will be followed by a special 10th Anniversary show August 20 featuring an all-star line-up of artists from the tour’s 10-year history.
Some of the dozens of bands that will appear on this year’s trek include: Bad Religion, Good Charlotte, NOFX, Thursday, New Found Glory, Simple Plan, The Vandals, Taking Back Sunday, Lars Frederiksen and the Bastards, Story Of The Year, International Noise Conspiracy, Coheed and Cambria, Bouncing Souls, Flogging Molly, Atmosphere, Anti-Flag, Rise Against, The Casualties and Yellowcard. In addition, this year’s prominent athletes from the action sports world will be skaters Steve Caballero, Neal Hendrix, Ruda Lopez, Mike Frazier, Jon Comer, Dan Ehara, Renton Miller, Darin Jenkins, Anthony Furlong and Paul Zitzer, along with BMX riders and tour veterans Rick Thorne and Mike Mancuso.
With cutting-edge musical artists, top athletes in the action sports world and a wide range of attractions, the VANS WARPED TOUR has been instrumental in taking the punk-rock/skate/action sports subculture 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, activities and charities for the 2004 tour.
Attractions and Activities:
Samsung/Cingular Wireless: Samsung and Cingular Wireless have signed on as the official presenting sponsors for the Vans Warped Tour 04. For the first time in the history of the tour, set times for the shows and daily band updates will be distributed daily to fans by Samsung via a text message on the morning of the show in their town. Samsung and Cingular Wireless are connecting diehard fans with their favorite bands like never before by presenting "Wireless Warped" band updates, exciting band promotions and exclusive prizes. Fans can register to receive the daily band schedule by visiting www.warpedtour.com.
Samsung and Cingular Wireless are hosting the "must-see" tour activities, including "P*nk Your Phone." Express yourself by p*nking your wireless phone with leather and lace, studs and stones, and lay those ugly face plates to rest. Check out the "P*nked By Collection" featuring personally p*nked phones by Yellow Card, Taking Back Sunday and other VWT bands, and receive a "Beyond the Band Pass" including exclusive VWT band downloads and images. Also, in Samsung's "Live Lounge," fans can visit with some of the tour's hottest bands to receive autographs and exclusive prizes.
Fuse: As the Vans Warped Tour’s official broadcast partner and presenter, Fuse will present the 10th Anniversary show on August 20 in Boston, MA as a 90-minute concert special which is scheduled to air Friday, September 24 at 7:00 PM Eastern/Pacific. Fuse will build up to this event with weekly “Warped Wednesdays.” Every Wednesday all summer long between 11:00 AM and 3:00 PM (EST), Fuse's will feature the hottest bands on the tour, hosting hours of music videos and sharing Warped road stories. Later in the day, fans can then tune-in to Fuse's live daily studio telecast between 6:00 – 7:00 PM (EST) for a final fix of tour updates, news and exclusive interviews from the road.
PlayStation®2: PlayStation® celebrates its 10-year anniversary sponsorship of the Vans Warped Tour, taking fans down memory lane with the PlayStation® Time Warp tent. Tour-goers can sample the latest and soon to be released PlayStation®2 software titles as well as relive some of the classics from PlayStation platforms.
AOL: RED–the all-new online experience created exclusively by America Online for teens–is sending tour vet Rob Czar (class of '03) on the road once again. This time, Rob's pretty in punk with a rockin' RED RV! Be sure to check it out on-site, say hi to Rob, grab some swag and get in the pit with inflatable AOL running men. Plus, Rob will be interviewing bands and giving RED members a behind-the-scenes look at the real Warped. He'll be looking for fans and AOL members to feature too.
Hot Topic: Teen retailer focused on music influenced fashion and breaking bands has partnered with the Vans Warped Tour this summer and will present autograph signings at their booth.
truth®: truth®, the American Legacy Foundation’s national youth smoking prevention campaign, will be at the tour with a state-of-the-art truck rigged with DJ decks, video monitors and gaming systems. The truth® crew members will energize the crowd with impromptu rap sessions, join-in freestyle demonstrations and giveaways of popular truth® gear including hats and t-shirts all while engaging on a peer-to-peer level with young people to talk to them about tobacco use.
Monster Energy and Hansen’s Sodas: Monster Energy and Hansen’s Sodas have again teamed with the Vans Warped Tour for this summer’s trek. This year, they’ll offer a VIP backstage area for meet and greets with fans and autograph signings.
Alternative Press: Visit the AP booth for the official guide to the tour.
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. Since overseeing the Warped Tour mailing list and producing its recurrent online newsletter, the Vans Warped Tour online fan database has grown to nearly a quarter of a million people. Fanscape also syndicates the Warped news, music, artist features and contests to dozens of music, punk rock and lifestyle destinations on the web.
Slim Jim (limited dates): Slim Jim will be cranking up the excitement at the Vans Warped Tour with free Slim Jim samples, music downloads, CDs, hats and T-shirts. There will be autograph signings by Allister and a few surprise appearances by BMX legend Dave Mirra.
Dodge: Dodge joins the Vans Warped Tour this summer and fans can drop by the Dodge booth and capture the moment in one of two retro photo booths. The fastest car (SRT-4) under $22,000 will be on display and there will be giveaways too.
Warped Unwired: **New in 2004**
The Warped Unwired tent will offer Internet access, games, contests, photo workshops, as well as MusicNow and Memorex Warped digital music services. In the Memorex area, fans can check out the Vans Warped Tour Digital Music Club, listen to Warped radio (powered by MusicNow), purchase, download and burn music from the Warped Music store and check out the Warped TVDesktop by TVDesktop.com. The Warped TVDesktop will enable fans to get daily video updates from the tour. A few of the channels already planned are: The Pit Reporter (daily inside scoop on behind-the-scenes and onstage happenings), Warped Live! (exclusive live videos of performances from the 2004 tour), Warped Discovery (music videos from up-and-coming Warped bands) and Punk Rock Holocaust Online (serialized version of the forthcoming feature slasher film shot on the 2003 tour).
Girlz Garage: Tent featuring the latest fashion, music, DJs, sports, makeup, etc.
Water World: Slip-and-slide water attraction.
Human Cannonball (limited dates): Human cannonball Dave "The Bullet" Smith–returning from his 2000 appearance with the tour–will be shot out of a cannon over the main stage.
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. This area will also have a database with all participating fanzines. Fanzines can conduct band and athlete interviews at the booth as well.
Balls of Steel (limited dates): Stunt show featuring three 16 and 17 year-old motorcycle riders in a steel ball, doing wheelies and back flips.
Hansen’s Climbing Wall: Largest portable rock climbing wall in the country.
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.
Button Booth: Workshop for making customized buttons using photos, artwork, band autographs, etc.
Ernie Ball Stage: In its eighth 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.
Reverse Daycare: A tented, air-conditioned area where kids can drop off their parents while they cruise the action of the festival. There will be a masseuse on hand to take care of the parents and movies will be shown in the tent, which will be equipped with "noise proofed" headphones. Parents will be able to get away from the heat and noise, enjoy cold drinks and discuss the triumphs of parenthood as their kids rock out to the music and activities.
Charities:
Hollywood Heart (www.camppacificheartland.org):
Hollywood Heart is a non-profit organization dedicated to providing recreational opportunities through a summer camping program for children infected and affected by HIV/AIDS. A portion of every ticket goes to benefit this charity. In 2003, the tour’s ticket sales brought Hollywood Heart $116,000.
Take Action! (www.takeactiontour.com):
The Vans Warped Tour teams with Sub City Records to present the Hurley sponsored Sub City Take Action! stage and area. The stage will host many bands and fans will get the opportunity to educate themselves on various non-profits in the area. Take Action! is a tour and compilation delivered each year to help further promote the motto of creating a better world, one voice and one action at a time. The Take Action Tour and CD donate proceeds to the National Hopeline Network (1-800-SUICIDE) and it’s new peer-to-peer line (1-877-YOUTHLINE).
Land Mine Victims:
The number of people who become disabled from landmine explosions is increasing. Cambodia is one of the most land mine-laden countries in the world. There is an estimated 80-100 million landmines around the world that are still active. Land mine injuries can lead to amputation, severe disabilities and psychological trauma, which require extensive rehabilitation. Children make up a considerable portion of land mine victims and die more often than adults. The Vans Warped Tour will encourage concertgoers to donate crutches to benefit these victims in Cambodia. Donations will be given directly to hospitals in Cambodia.
Stand Up For Kids (www.standupforkids.com):
Stand Up For Kids is a national, non-profit, homeless teen and youth outreach charity. They actively search the streets of our nation looking for homeless and runaway kids, offering them friendship, a healthier lifestyle, sobriety, job training, counseling referrals, food, shelter and a place to clean up. This is done through art therapy. Most kids on the street have extreme artistic talent to offer and art has become a universal language for them to express themselves and rehabilitate. It’s Stand Up For Kids’ mission to prevent risk runaways, show love to kids, make them feel valued and provide kids with the opportunity and assistance needed to turn their lives around.
Punkvoter.com (www.punkvoter.com):
Punkvoter.com is one of several political advocacy groups on board for the Vans Warped Tour. The booth will offer free stickers, pins and information. Fans will also be able to register to vote.
TJ Martell Foundation (www.tjmartellfoundation.org):
Through this charity auction, the top bidder receives two tickets to the festival and will watch their favorite Vans Warped Tour band perform from the best seats in the house–on stage. Proceeds from the auction benefit the T.J. Martell Foundation for leukemia, cancer and AIDS research. Almost $12,000 was raised through the auction.
John Lennon Educational Tour Bus (www.jlsc.com):
The John Lennon Educational Tour Bus is a non-profit, mobile recording studio outfitted with traditional musical instruments as well as current technological advances. Once lucky contest winner will receive the opportunity to be a Vans Warped Tour correspondent for their city in association with the John Lennon Educational Tour Bus.
Boarding For Breast Cancer/BBC (www.brbc.org):
Boarding For Breast Cancer (B4BC) is a non-profit, youth focused, education, awareness and fundraising foundation. Their mission is to increase awareness about breast cancer, the importance of early detection and the value of a healthy lifestyle. The Vans Warped Tour Girlz Garage area will help further education by bringing the breast cancer issue to the forefront. Boarding For Breast Cancer has brought in female band members and athletes to help educate girls on sports, health issues and representatives offer advice and literature on breast self-exams.
Vans Warped Tour going GREEN:
The Vans Warped Tour is going green and helping to educate concertgoers about what they can do to improve life and the environment. The tour will be using “tree free” paper made from hemp/flax/post-consumer materials for production office needs. The tour will operate with Bio-Diesel running its generators. In addition, catering will use 100% post consumer cutlery, paper plates and cups and encourage sites to arrange for more recycling containers at the tour stops.
Other charities represented at various Vans Warped Tour stops include: ACLU, AK Press, Amnesty International, Anti Racist Action, Center for Environmental Citizenship, Citizens to Restore Fairness, Cleveland Men Against Sexism, Common Ground Sanctuary, Contact USA, rimethlnc, Crisis Link, The Trevor Project, Educate 4 Justice, John Walsh, EnviroCitezen, Food Not Bombs, Grassroots, Indie Grrl, Kids Konnected, LIFEbeat, Life Line, Lokahi Outreach, Mother Jones, Pr Choice America, National Hopeline network, Not in Our Name, NYCA, Oxfam International, Planned Parenthood, Please for Peace Foundation, Positive Youth Foundation, RAINN, Rock The Vote, SEAC, Vegan Action, Yellow Ribbon and more.
BANDS:
Following is a list of bands confirmed for this year’s tour (not every artist appears on all dates):
20 X
A Thorn For Every Heart
Alexisonfire
Alkaline Trio
All Rights Reserved
Allister
Amber Pacific
Anatomy of a Ghost
Anti-Flag
As I Lay Down
Atmosphere
Audio Karate
Autopilot Off
Avenged Sevenfold
Bad Religion
Billy Talent
Black Fury’s
Bleed The Dream
Bouncing Souls
Bowling For Soup
Boys Night Out
Brazil
Break Dance Vietnam
Break The Silence
Chronic Future
Codie
Coheed and Cambria
Crowned King
Die Hunns
Don't Look Down
Dynamite Boy
Early November
Eight Fingers Down
Eighteen Visions
Fall Out Boy
Fear Before the March of Flames
Fighting Jacks
Flogging Molly
From Autumn to Ashes
From First to Last
Go Betty Go
Good Charlotte
Guttermouth
Happy Campers
Hazen Street
Hidden in Plain View
His Orange
Holden
IMA Robot
Jackson
Jersey
Juliette & the Licks
Kill Radio
Lars Frederiksen and the Bastards
Left Alone
Letter Kills
Lennon
Lillix
Lylha
Madison
Mae
Matchbook Romance
Melee
Monty’s Fan Club
Motion City Soundtrack
Much The Same
My Chemical Romance
New Found Glory
NOFX
Northstar
Opiate For The Masses
Over It
Pepper
Piebald
Pipedown
Planetsmashers
Plans for Revenge
Pot Luck
Pulley
Rise Against
Rose Hill Drive
Rufio
Saosin
Senses Fail
Silverstein
Simple Plan
Slowdance
Stars Hide Fire
Stole Your Woman
Story of the Year
Strait Outta Junior High
Suffocate
Sugarcult
Taking Back Sunday
Texas Terri Bomb
The Beautiful Mistake
The Briggs
The Casualties
The Code
The Early November
The Eyeliners
The F Ups
The God Awfuls
The Hurt Process
The (International) Noise Conspiracy
The Kinison
The Matches
The Q
The Red West
The Revolution Smile
The Silance
The Snakes, The Cross, The Crown
The Sounds
The Swear
The Tossers
The Vandals
Thought Riot
Thursday
Tiger Army
Trophy Scars
Truth In Fiction
Underminded
Unit F
Wanted Dead
Washington Social Club
Windsor
Yellowcard
Yesterday’s Rising
For tour dates and further information, go to www.warpedtour.com.
The Vans Warped Tour® is made possible through the support of Vans; presenting sponsors Samsung Telecommunications America and Cingular Wireless; and Fuse, PlayStation®2, Wrigley’s Winterfresh, AOL, Hot Topic, the truth, Monster Energy and Hansen’s Sodas, Alternative Press and SPIN magazine.
For more information, contact: MSO 818-380-0400
Kristine Ashton-Magnuson (national press, LA and NY shows)
ext. 233 kashton@msopr.com
Libby Henry (national press, LA and NY shows)
ext. 224 lhenry@msopr.com
Amanda Hale
ext. 238 ahale@msopr.com (tour press, daily, weekly and monthly papers)
Shazila Mohammed
Ext. 231 Shazila@msopr.com (tour press, regional TV, fanzines and college)
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