Gibson USA Launches Joan Jett “Blackheart” Melody Maker

Gibson Press Release – Tuesday, March 16, 2010
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

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Nashville, TN – Gibson Guitar, the world’s premier musical instrument manufacturer and leader in music technology, announced the launch of the Joan Jett “Blackheart” Melody Maker. In anticipation of the forthcoming film release The Runaways and her recent release of the Joan Jett and The Blackhearts Greatest Hits album, the latest from Gibson USA embodies the hard-rockin’ style of Joan Jett herself with distinct features and attention to detail. The “Blackheart” Melody Maker will be available through select retailers beginning March 19th.

“I needed a black guitar. This guitar has the same body and the neck runs smooth as silk, ” said Joan Jett. ” I wanted some flash of color, so the fret inlays are bright red, and the 12th fret is marked by mother of pearl inlay hearts lying end to end. I am using it onstage now, and it sounds ferocious. But of course, she can play gentle as well. Just like the earlier white Joan Jett Gibson model, it is a great guitar for anybody.”

The legendary Jett is now the subject of a major motion picture, the highly anticipated film The Runaways, starring Kristen Stewart and Dakota Fanning, being released March 19 in select markets and in April nationwide; and Gibson USA’s newest model will give fans the chance to try out a few of Jett’s moves on their own with the “Blackheart” model. Jett got her own original Melody Maker back in 1977 and she has since made it one of the most iconic instruments in rock and roll. It’s the same guitar she used when she was in the renowned band The Runaways and then played on all of her hits including “I Love Rock n’ Roll,” “Bad Reputation” and “Do You Wanna Touch Me.” The Double Cutaway Melody Maker in black features the Mini Grover LP style with a buffed neck for a smooth feel when playing some licks. Going beyond the basic look, Gibson USA adds to the style of the guitar to include features that exude Jett’s personality as the neck is adorned with black heart and red dot inlays and Jett’s own signature on the truss rod cover. For sound, the A Zebra Coil BurstBucker 3 accounts for versatility. Each comes in a Joan Jett hard shell case.

Jett has also released her greatest hits compilation, “Joan Jett and the Blackhearts Greatest Hits”, a 2-disc one stop compilation of Joan’s greatest hits including “Cherry Bomb,” “Bad Reputation,” “I Hate Myself for Loving You,” “Crimson and Clover” and the ultimate rock-n-roll anthem, “I Love Rock N’ Roll.” Eight of the songs on the new release are featured in the film The Runaways, including a previously unreleased track, “I Want You”. Next up for the Rock icon, a photo journey book of Joan’s life by Todd Oldham, which is being released by AMMO Books this spring.

About Gibson Guitar:
Gibson is known worldwide for producing classic models in every major style of fretted instrument, including acoustic and electric guitars, mandolins, and banjos. The Gibson Les Paul guitar is the best selling guitar of all time and bears the name of the late, great Les Paul. Gibson’s HD.6X-PRO Digital Guitar, the Gibson Robot Guitar and Gibson’s Dark Fire represent the biggest advances in electric guitar design in over 70 years. Founded in 1894 in Kalamazoo, Michigan, and headquartered in Nashville since 1984, Gibson Guitar Corp.’s family of brands now includes Epiphone, Dobro, Kramer, Steinberger, Tobias, Echoplex, Electar, Flatiron, Slingerland, Valley Arts, Maestro, Oberheim, Baldwin, Sunshine Piano, Take Anywhere Technology, J&C Fischer, Chickering, Hamilton, and Wurlitzer. Visit Gibson’s website at www.gibson.com

Gibson, 1-800-4GIBSON (1-800-444-2766); www.gibson.com

CONTACTS:

Caroline Galloway, Gibson Guitar, 615-423-4904, [email protected]

Jessica Erskine, Rogers & Cowan, 310.854.8129, [email protected]

Maureen O’Connor, Rogers & Cowan, 310-854-8116, [email protected]

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