Goo Goo Dolls To Headline American Music Festival

Business Wire, May 7, 2003

Entertainment Editors/Assignment Desks

VIRGINIA BEACH, Va.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--May 7, 2003

National recording artists the Goo Goo Dolls will headline the 10th Annual Verizon Wireless American Music Festival, August 29 - September 1, in Virginia Beach, Virginia. Other national acts include Foreigner, Little River Band, The Commodores, Kansas, and Cracker.

The four-day festival is the largest outdoor music festival in the Eastern United States, and includes performances by national and international recording artists on ten stages along the oceanfront boardwalk in Virginia Beach.

The Goo Goo Dolls concert on Sunday, August 31, is the post-race concert for the third annual Rock 'n' Roll Half Marathon(TM), which features live bands staged approximately every mile along the 13.1-mile course to provide runners and spectators with continuous entertainment.

Patterned after the popular Suzuki Rock 'n' Roll Marathon in San Diego and the Country Music Marathon & 1/2 Marathon(TM) in Nashville, the Rock 'n' Roll Half Marathon attracts 15,000 runners and walkers each year, including a field of elite runners vying for an $80,000 prize purse. Race participants receive free admission to the Goo Goo Dolls and all other concerts.

The Goo Goo Dolls' fourth major record label release, Gutterflower, has been burning up the radio waves since its release last spring, adding to the band's impressive six million in world-wide sales from previous albums.

The Verizon Wireless American Music Festival celebrates America's diverse music genres including country, rock 'n' roll, latin, pop, jazz, blues and disco. Bands for this special anniversary festival were selected by a People's Choice contest that included bands from the pervious nine festivals. The lineup includes War, Camper Van Beethoven, Marshall Tucker Band, The Embers, Romantics, and Producers among many others.

Most concerts are free, with the exception of The Commodores, Foreigner/Little River Band and Goo Goo Dolls, which require tickets purchased in advance or the day of show. Passport Pins, which provide entry into all ticketed shows, may be purchased through the Rock 'n' Roll Half Marathon website, RnRHalf.com, or by calling 1-800-311-1255. Individual tickets for the Goo Goo Dolls, Foreigner/Little River Band and The Commodores ($8 in advance/$10 day of show) and may be purchased through Ticketmaster locations or at the door.

For event information, call the Rock 'n' Roll Half Marathon at 1-800-311-1255 or visit RnRHalf.com or BeachEvents at 757-491-SUNN (7866).