Ernie Ball Announces Winners in the First-Ever Winter Battle of the Bands Competition

Fans and Industry Execs Choose Winners for Rockstar Taste of Chaos Tour Battle of the Bands

SAN LUIS OBISPO, CA (April 26, 2007) - After months of fan-driven voting, amazing stage performances and nervous anticipation, the final results from the first-ever Ernie Ball Winter Battle of the Bands are in!

The Grand Prize Winner in the live portion of the Winter Battle is From Aphony of Seattle, WA, who will take home not only the pride of victory but the following prizes: A $10,000 shopping spree at Guitar Center; four song demos produced by Steve Evetts (Saves the Day, Senses Fall) engineered by Allan Hessler (Story of the Year, The Used) and recorded at the Hurley recording studio; a year's supply of Rockstar Energy Drink; one Music Man guitar and bass of their choice; and a year's supply of Ernie Ball guitar and bass strings.

Teaming with the North American leg of the infamous Rockstar Taste of Chaos Concert Tour, the Ernie Ball Winter Battle of the Bands put fans in the driver's seat, allowing them to vote in the online competition for a shot at winning a spot on the North America Rockstar Taste of Chaos Tour this past winter.

    "This has been a great way to wrap up our first Winter Battle," said Brian Ball of the Ernie Ball Company. "We're confident in the choices that we made, and we love letting the fans speak for themselves. There was a ton of talent to choose from, and it's great knowing that there's even more out there still waiting to be discovered."

The four winners in the online voting competition - as determined solely by fan votes - are: Buried By You of North Point, FL; Close To Home of Cincinnati, OH; Friends For Hire of Charleston, SC; and Stereocell of Hollywood, CA. Each band will also take home a truckload of rock n' roll prizes, including: assorted Electrovoice microphones; a DW PDP Drum Kit in the color of their choice; an M-Audio Guitar Box Pro Tool M-Powered Package; a Markbass Combo Amp; a Krank Distortus Maximus Pedal; a Taylor 210 acoustic guitar; and 24 sets of Ernie Ball guitar strings and six sets of Ernie Ball bass strings of their choice.

Since its debut over ten years ago, the Ernie Ball Battle of the Bands has given the best local bands from North America the opportunity to showcase their talents in the world's longest running and largest live music promotion in the music industry. The online contest allows winners to be chosen by the fans themselves.

    The 2007 Taste of Chaos Tour, the most fan-driven live music festival in North America, hit 38 major venues in the United States and Canada beginning in Seattle, WA on February 15 and ending in Calgary, AB on April 6. The Tour featured scheduled acts The Used, 30 Seconds to Mars, Senses Fail, Saosin, Chiodos, Aiden, and Evaline, among others. For more information on the Rockstar Taste of Chaos Tour, visit www.tasteofchaos.com.

Ernie Ball was the first to offer rock strings with the creation of Slinkys, and further revolutionized the market by offering guitarists Custom-Gauge single strings. The Ernie Ball Company also produces Music Man guitars and basses, volume pedals, and other accessories. The company's strings and accessories are available in more than 6,000 music stores throughout the U.S. The company also exports to 82 countries. For more information, contact the Ernie Ball company at (800) 543-2255, or visit their website at www.ernieball.com.

These products are Ernie Ball trademarks registered in the USA and many foreign countries:

ERNIE BALL®     CUSTOM GAUGE®     SLINKY®     EARTHWOOD®
MUSICMAN®
STINGRAY®     SILHOUETTE®     AXIS®
STERLING®     4+2®     3+1®

Trademark ownership is indicated by the symbol ®, however, for the sake of brevity it is omitted during the story.

Contact:
Brian Ball
Ernie Ball, Inc.
(800) 543-2255

Media Contact:
Keith Negrin
MORSEKODE
(952) 853-9555