Fourth Annual MusiCares MAP Fund Benefit Concert on May 9 to Honor Alice Cooper and Slash

Business Wire, March 20, 2008

Concert Event -- Sponsored In Part By Gibson Foundation -- At The Music Box @ Fonda In Hollywood Raises Funds For MusiCares([R]) Addiction Recovery Services

SANTA MONICA, Calif. -- The fourth annual MusiCares MAP Fund(SM) benefit concert, honoring legendary artist Alice Cooper and renowned guitarist Slash, will be held on May 9, 2008, at The Music Box @ Fonda, 6126 Hollywood Blvd., Hollywood, Calif. All proceeds will benefit the MusiCares([R]) MAP Fund, which provides members of the music community access to addiction recovery treatment regardless of their financial situation. The benefit is sponsored in part by the Gibson Foundation.

Cooper will be honored as the recipient of the Stevie Ray Vaughan Award for his dedication to and support of the MusiCares MAP Fund and his devotion to helping other addicts with the recovery process. Slash will be the recipient of the MusiCares From the Heart Award for his unconditional friendship and dedication to the mission and goals of the organization.

"The issues of addiction and recovery have been front and center this past year," said Neil Portnow, President/CEO of The Recording Academy([R]) and President of MusiCares. "And our annual MusiCares MAP Fund benefit draws attention and raises funds to support the critical resources we offer members of the music community from all walks of life who may be struggling with addiction. We thank Alice and Slash for being strong supporters of our cause -- it's more important now than ever before."

The evening will feature a buffet dinner and a special performance by Blind Melon (Glen Graham, Brad Smith, Rogers Stevens, Christopher Thorn and Travis Warren). In addition, there will be a performance by the all-star group Camp Freddy (Chris Chaney, Donovan Leitch, Billy Morrison, Dave Navarro and Matt Sorum) along with some special guests. The evening will also feature special performances by Cooper and Slash. A range of other artists and guests will be announced shortly. Out of respect for the clients the MusiCares MAP Fund serves, the event will be alcohol-free.

"When I got sober more than 20 years ago, the MusiCares MAP Fund did not exist," said Cooper. "It's so important that musicians and other music industry people have access to the kind of resources MusiCares and the MAP Fund provide and I'm proud to be honored this year and help raise funds to support this significant work."

"There are specific challenges to being sober in the music world, but for individuals who have addiction problems, every story has a common thread," said Slash. "And that is the first step to recovery is to ask for help -- for music people, the MusiCares MAP Fund provides that assistance."

Tickets are offered at three price levels: floor placement in a private living room grouping of 10 for $12,500; floor seating for $1,000 each; and balcony seating for $100 each.

About the Honorees:

Alice Cooper

Being described as a legend in one's own time is certainly a blatantly abused cliche, but no one has taken a vivid imagination and unusual persona to the people with as much controversy and success as Alice Cooper. Cooper touched a deep nerve in the minds of teenagers everywhere, bringing him countless gold and platinum albums from around the world, including Love It To Death, Billion Dollar Babies, Welcome To My Nightmare and Trash, featuring such anthems as "Eighteen," "Elected," "School's Out," and "No More Mr. Nice Guy," as well as the classics "Only Women Bleed" and "Poison."

With plans for a new album in 2008, he shows no sign of slowing down. Cooper's recently released book Golf Monster, an autobiographical book about how he transferred his alcohol addiction to a golf addiction, is chock full of anecdotes, photos, golf tips, and his trademark sense of humor. The book was published in hardcover in North America in May 2007 and in the UK in September 2007, and will be released in paperback in May 2008. Recent tour highlights have included a stop at the legendary Montreux Festival, filmed for a recently released live DVD, three shows in 2006 in North America as special guests to the Rolling Stones, and concerts throughout North and South America, Europe, Australia, New Zealand, and Asia. The road is still Cooper's second home as he continues to tour extensively throughout the world, with a full schedule planned for his 2008 itinerary.

Slash

Saul Hudson, also known as Slash, formed Guns N' Roses in 1986 with Steven Adler (drums), Duff McKagan (bass), Axl Rose (vocals) and Izzy Stradlin (guitar). Shortly thereafter, GNR was known across the globe as a new rock and roll sensation. After the successful "Use Your Illusion" tour, GNR decided to take a break. Needing to play music, Slash formed his own band Slash's Snakepit, which issued its successful album It's Five O'Clock Somewhere in 1995.

In 2003, Velvet Revolver was formed by former members of Guns N' Roses -- Slash, McKagan and Matt Sorum (who replaced Adler on drums in 1990) -- along with Scott Weiland (vocals) from Stone Temple Pilots and Dave Kushner (guitar) from Wasted Youth. Their 2004 debut album, Contraband, sold incredibly well and garnered them a 2004 GRAMMY Award for Best Hard Rock Performance for "Slither." With the release of their second album, Libertad, in 2007 and the subsequent world tour, Velvet Revolver has become a rock band of magnitude, and Slash has earned his title as one of rock and roll's great guitar players.