Miller Strat Pack Press Release - - Featuring Phil Manzanera - Mon 20th Sep
Miller Strat Pack Press Release - - Featuring Phil Manzanera
20 September 2004
It was announced today that Fender Guitars is celebrating the 50th birthday of one of rock n’ roll’s greatest icons, the Stratocaster guitar by staging a very special MILLER STRAT PACK anniversary concert at London’s Wembley Arena on Friday 24 September. Sponsored by Miller Genuine Draft, the charity concert will feature many of the world’s greatest living guitar legends in aid of Nordoff-Robbins Music Therapy.
Confirmed so far are Stratocaster-playing heroes David Gilmour (Pink Floyd), Joe Walsh (The Eagles), Hank Marvin (The Shadows), Phil Manzanera (Roxy Music), Paul Rodgers (Free / Bad Co.), Mike Rutherford/Paul Carrack (Mike & the Mechanics) and Jeff Beck who will join forces to pay homage to the world’s favourite guitar.
It has been confirmed that David Gilmour will be playing his serial-numbered 0001 Stratocaster on the night, one of the first made by Leo Fender in July 1954. Spanning five decades of guitar music and with more artists to be confirmed the MILLER STRAT PACK line-up is already a collaboration of the biggest names history has to offer.
Martin Brady, MD Fender Europe Ltd said: “this is an historic occasion for Fender and the Stratocaster guitar. Never before have so many legendary names come together on one stage to celebrate an icon in rock music and Fender are delighted to have Miller Genuine Draft’s support. Nordoff-Robbins Music Therapy is a charity that is close to our hearts and the work they carry out is inspirational. We are incredibly excited about the possibility of helping such a worthy cause through funds raised by the concert”.
Jean-Pierre Van Lin, Managing Director of SABMiller UK and Ireland, made the following comment: “Miller is extremely excited to be involved in such a huge music event which includes so many of the world’s legendary artists and is proud to be supporting Nordoff-Robbins Music Therapy charity. Miller Genuine Draft prides itself in its connections to the music scene. We are actively involved with concerts and festivals in the British Isles and around the world. The MILLER STRAT PACK is another great example of the how such sponsorships can work and how Scottish & Newcastle execute our partnership in the UK”.
"Monies raised from this wonderful concert will help fund our outreach programmes across the UK, making Nordoff-Robbins Music Therapy even more available. We are delighted that Fender are supporting Nordoff-Robbins," commented Audrey Hoare, Director of Fundraising.
First unveiled in the early fifties, the Fender Stratocaster rapidly rose to iconic status through boundary-pushing artists such as David Gilmour with Pink Floyd, Joe Walsh for his distinctive country-rock riffage and, probably the most famous Strat player of all time Jimi Hendrix. Following a stratospheric performance at the Monterey festival in June 1967, Jimi successfully positioned the Fender as one of the most iconic guitars ever when he was photographed on his knees, as his Strat burnt on the stage in front of him.
Tickets will go on sale at 9am on Saturday 19 June 2004 and will be available through the exclusive Fender 50th Anniversary Credit Card Hotline on 0871 2200 260 (24hrs) and Gigs & Tours at www.gigsandtours.com.
WEMBLEY ARENA, LONDON – Friday 24 September 2004
EXCLUSIVE FENDER ANNIVERSARY C/C HOTLINE: 0871 2200 260
Or by calling the venue direct on 0870 060 0870 (venue)
Or by visiting http://web.archive.org/web/20051125092848/http://www.seetickets.com/sjmmaj/event.asp?e%7Cartist=MILLER+STRAT+PACK&e|promoter=372&resultsperpage=200&filler1=gigsandtours