The Sunset Strip & Gibson to unveil 10-foot Guitar Art for Sunset Strip Music Festival, September 20-21st

Photography by Karen Ostlund

Risk  "Sweet Emotion"

THE SUNSET STRIP and GIBSON FOUNDATION are ready to unveil their next installment of 10-foot, one-of-a-kind art-guitars at The Sunset Strip Music Festival.

Group photo of Gibson guitar-artists at the preview at Hornsburg car dealer in West Hollywood

 

This is the fourth series of guitars since the GIBSON GUITARTOWN ON THE SUNSET STRIP art project launched in 2010. 

Freddie Mercury guitar-art by artist Ruben Esparza

 The guitars, which were created by Los Angeles artists and nationally acclaimed artists to celebrate musicians who have influenced The Sunset Strip, will be auctioned for charity early next year. 

Music fans can view the visually striking 10-foot guitars in person at the upcoming Sunset Strip Music Festival on September 20 and 21 this month.

Following the festival they will be installed along the 1.6 mile Sunset Strip outside of landmarks including the Rainbow, The Roxy, Whisky A Go-Go, Andaz West Hollywood hotel (former "Riot Hyatt"), House of Blues Sunset Strip and The Comedy Store.

"Cyndi Lauper" by artist Lori Antoinette

The guitars will be publicly displayed through the end of the year before being auctioned for charity during the first 3 months of 2015. Since the project's initial launch in 2010, the guitars have raised more than $150,000 for charity.

Past beneficiaries include Music For Relief, which was founded by members of Linkin Park to support disaster relief efforts; Los Angeles Fund for Public Education's "Arts Matter" campaign, supporting art and music education in L.A. public schools; Los Angeles Youth Network, which provides resources for homeless youth in Los Angeles; West Hollywood Arts & Cultural Affairs Commission to support public art efforts; and the West Hollywood Library. Stay tuned for exciting announcements regarding the 2014 GuitarTown charity recipient. 
 

Frank Zappa Audio by artist Gail Zappa

The 2014 Gibson GuitarTown on The Sunset Strip collection celebrates the music of Otis Redding, Jerry Garcia, Steven Tyler, Joe Perry, Elton John, Prince, Cyndi Lauper, Freddie Mercury, Janis Joplin, Jane's Addiction, Bob Marley, Frank Zappa, Rage Against The Machine, David Bowie and Marc Bolan as well as the Viper Room's 21st anniversary. 

'The English Rocker by artist Willard Snow

 The guitars showcase a wide array of motifs and styles and include work by RISK, Gail Zappa and musician Raphael Saadiq. Other works include an exclusive guitar series by Willard Snow and a memorial to the artists of The Sunset Strip by Kevin Llewellyn. GuitarTown supports the work of L.A.'s emerging artists and will be welcoming several emerging artists including Gino Burman-Loffredo, TJ Roe and GuitarTown's youngest ever artist, Forrest Holt (18).

    

Right, Kevin Llewellyn   "Live Fast, Never Die"

                                                   
Visual artists were selected after an open call for submissions. The project was curated by creative producer Mark Cramer whose clients include the City of West Hollywood, Christopher Street West/L.A. Pride, The Gay Men's Chorus of L.A., Halloweenie and Level Ground. Additionally, Cramer owns INSTALL, a public art consulting group that specializes in the development and management of unique art programming in the greater Los Angeles community and works with emerging LGBTQ artists, creating opportunities for interactive exhibitions and public showcases.

Golden Nostalgia by artist Sarah's Icognito

"The launch of new guitars is a highlight each year," says Sunset Strip Business Association Executive Director/CEO Todd Steadman. "Gibson GuitarTown on The Sunset Strip is a great project for everyone involved. Some of our favorite musicians are celebrated through art, and The Sunset Strip serves as a unique art gallery, with thousands of people walking the famed boulevard and enjoying the works of art each day. We are also happy to work with Mark this year to showcase dynamic works by emerging and acclaimed artists in such a public setting."

Janie's Gotta Gun by artist Stacey Wells

 Artist                           Title                                       Honoring the music of: 

Risk                              "Sweet Emotion"                      Joe Perry

Gail Zappa                    "Frank Zappa Audio Tombstone"   Frank Zappa

Stacey Wells                 "Janie's Got a Gun"                 Steven Tyler

Sarah's INCOGNITO    "Golden Nostalgia"                  Elton John

Lori Antoinette                "Cyndi Lauper"                       Cyndi Lauper

Ruben Esparza              "Freddie Mercury Icon"           Freddie Mercury

Joshua Burks                "Double Booked"                  Jane's Addiction/Empire of the Sun

FOREMOST                  "Minneaolitan"                          Prince

Demetra Karras             "Wake Up"                               Rage Against The Machine

TJ Roe                           "Serpent Sirena"                     The Viper Room

Kevin Llewellyn               "Live Fast, Never Die"        

Gino Burman-Loffredo     "The Man Who Sold the World"    David Bowie

Forrest Holt                      "Nothing's Shocking 25th Anniv." Jane's Addiction

Willard Snow                    "Reggae Legend"                   Bob Marley

Willard Snow                     "China Cat"                            Jerry Garcia

Willard Snow                     "The English Rocker"             Marc Bolan

Willard Snow                     "Acid Queen"                         Janis Joplin

Updendo & Raphael Saadiq                                            Otis Redding

Serpent Sirena by artist TJ Roe

  Gibson GuitarTown on The Sunset Strip is supported by the Sunset Strip Business Association, Hornburg Land Rover on The Sunset Strip, City of West Hollywood and Visit West Hollywood. GuitarTown on The Sunset Strip is administered by the Gibson Foundation, the philanthropic division of Gibson Brands Inc. 

Double Booked by Joshua Burks

The man who sold the the world by Gino Burman Loffredo

                     www.TheSunsetStrip.com

Linda Ramone Presents Johnny Ramone's Tribute - 10th Anniversary at Hollywood Forever

By Karen Ostlund

Linda Ramone will present

Johnny Ramone's Tribute - 10th Anniversary

with Fred Armisen, Rob Zombie, Steve Jones, Duff McKagan

Sunday August 24, 2014

at Hollywood Forever Cemetery

Last year, Linda Ramone w/Johnnie Depp (Getty Images)

 This Sunday August 24th Ramones fans will gather to celebrate Johnny’s life at the 10th Annual Johnny Ramone Tribute. The annual Johnny Ramone Tribute will take place at the Hollywood Forever Cemetery, where the eight-foot-tall bronze statue of the punk rock icon was constructed shortly following the guitarist's death.

The tribute is also seen as a memorial  hosted by Rob Zombie, along with Johnny’s friends Steve Jones (Sex Pistols), Duff McKagan (Guns N’ Roses). Fred Armisen (Portlandia, SNL) will also be there & may bring his punk rock alter ego, Ian Rubbish.

On September 15, 2004, Johnny Ramone died in his Los Angeles home at the age of 55 after a five-year battle with prostate cancer, less than a month before his 56th birthday.

Last year, meet-up, cast of Cry-Baby, Johnnie Depp and Director John Walters

 

 

 

Many of his friends and musical contemporaries came to pay their respects. After his death, his remains were cremated with his wife Linda retaining his ashes.

Johnny Ramone,1978 in Toronto, El Mocambo

                                      Johnny Ramone, was best known for being the guitarist for the punk rock band The Ramones.          
 As the founding member of the band, he remained a member throughout the band's entire career, 1974-1996.

                                              In 2003, Johnnie appeared on Time's "10 Greatest Electric-Guitar Players".That same year, he was number 16 on the "100 Greatest Guitarists of All Time" list in Rolling Stone, but in the new version published in 2011, he was ranked number 28.

Johnny Ramone's grave at Hollywood Forever

      

Baby Jane, part of Kirk Hammet's Crypt Collection

 Kirk Hammett’s Crypt Collection of horror memorabilia will be on display in the Cathedral Mausoleum.
Proceeds will benefit the Johnny Ramone Foundation & Dr. David Agus at the Center for Applied Medicine, USC.
Schedule: Gates 5:30pm   Q&;A 6:30pm
LIVE Concert video simulcast 7:30pm
“The Devil’s Rejects movie & panel” 8:30pm

Ticket info:

http://hollywoodforever.ticketfly.com/event/615955-johnny-ramone-tribute-10th-los-angeles/
Photos taken the day of the event: "Linda Ramone Presents Johnnie Ramone's 10th Anniversary Tribute"
by Karen Ostlund 

Rob Zombie, Linda Ramon & Sheri Moon Zombie

Johnnie Ramon's 10th Tribute Statue

 

left, Slim Jim Phantom (Stray Cats) and Rob Zombie

left, Linda Ramon w actress presenter Tracy Lords

left, Duff McKagan , Steve Jones from Six Pistol & comedian/musician Fred Armisen

Cast of The Devil's Reject, Leslie Easterbrook,Danny Trejo, Rob Zombie, Bill Moseley,Sheri Moon, Brian Posehn and Sid Haig

The Devil's Rejects was a 2005 American horror film written and directed by Rob Zombie, and the sequel to his 2003 film House of 1000 Corpses. The film is centered on the run of three members of the psychopathic  antagonist family from the previous film, and now seen as antiheroic protagonists, with Sid Haig, Bill Moseley, and Zombie's wife Sheri Moon Zombie reprising their roles. At the time of its release and in the years ever since, the film has now a cult following.