The Gretsch Co celebrates 125 years with a search for Japan bands

Savannah, Georgia (ANTARA News/PRNewswire-AsiaNet) - To celebrate its 125th anniversary, The Gretsch Company, one of the world's most well-known drum and guitar manufacturers, is kicking off the Next Gretsch Greats Unsigned Artist Competition, an online competition to identify the world's hottest unsigned bands. Japan is one of seven countries eligible for the competition. The competition entry period will begin May 1 and end May 31, 2008.

"George Harrison, Charlie Watts, Chet Atkins, Bono, Brian Setzer, Phil Collins, Chick Webb, Art Blakey -- they're just a few of the 'Gretsch Greats' who made our drums and guitars so famous over the past 125 years," said Gretsch Company president Fred W. Gretsch. "This year, as we celebrate our musical heritage and kick off the next 125 years of 'that great Gretsch sound,' we're looking for the next generation of Gretsch greats who are going to help define popular music."

Every artist who enters will receive a free commemorative Gretsch 125th Anniversary poster, while the top three prizes include the opportunity to perform at Gretsch's 125th Anniversary Concert in New York City and enough Gretsch gear to take an up-and-coming band out of the garage and into the limelight(Flat Pin Plug).