Guitar Hero III and VH1’s Save The Music Foundation Party Like Rockstars

Guitar Hero III: Legends of Rock hosted a pre-Grammy party to benefit VH1’s Save the Music Foundation. This star-studded event took place at the Hollywood hotspot Boulevard3. Among the stars showing their support and gracing the red carpet were: Audrina Pattridge from MTV’s The Hills, Olympic Gold Medalist Tara Lipinski, from the hit NBC show “Gladiators” Justice and Siren, singer/actress Christina Milian and that’s just to name a few. The evening hosted a slew of amazing performances from up-and-coming artists, as well as games and prizes. And it was all to benefit the VH1 Save The Music Foundation.

Party at the Boulevard
Boulevard 3 is known for its lavish appeal and celebrity draw, and it certainly lived up to its reputation. There was a great mix in the crowd. From punk rock types, to the hip hop heads, to the glam, everyone came to enjoy the party and help raise money. The outdoor reception was setup with cabanas, chaise lounges, and a nice bar. The walkways were lined with votive candles encased in glass. The fresh air and starlit sky created such a romantic and elegant ambiance, there was almost no need for the roaring fire in the fireplace that led to dance hall and added to the mystique.

Benji on the 1’s and 2’s!
Benji Madden, back-up vocalist and guitarist for the band Good Charlotte, rocked the house and kept the party going all night in the d.j. booth. During the opening of the evening he had the crowd live with great tunes. Guests enjoyed drinks by Heineken, Ecstasy, and Red Bull. Stars like Shar Jackson got their boogey on in the VIP balcony. Others practiced their Guitar Hero skills in preparation for the competition that would come later.

Let the Festivities Begin
Grammy-nominated Ryan Shaw opened the show performing his newest songs. He rounded out his set with a lively rendition of “Try A Little Tenderness”, that really got partygoers pumped! A Vh1 rep gave us a run down on the foundation and its valiant fight to keep the music programs in the public schools. The goal for the night was to raise $10,000. It seemed surefire that the goal would be reached by the time the next band made it to the stage. Chicago-based rock band Dot Dot Dot fired up the night and brought the crowd in. Performing songs like “Another Stupid Love Song”, “Stay”, and “Take Me Away” reminded us what good music was about, and why you need music in the schools. And as the lead singer Adam said, who better to give back to the Save the Music Foundation than musicians and music fans! With the silent auction going and the live music blaring, it created the perfect scenario for donating, which is why we were all there.

Who Says Actors Can’t Sing?
In the “I’m With the Band” celebrity jam session, guests were pulled on stage and sang lead vocals on songs, while Dot Dot Dot backed them up. Amber Stevens & Scott Michael Foster from the hit show “Greek” sang “I Want You to Want Me”. Grammy winner Delious Kennedy (All for One) sang a soulful rendition of “Summer of 69”. Shar Jackson sang “Don’t Stop Believin”. It was all in good fun, and all for a good cause.

Legends of Rock Battle
The moment we’d all been waiting for finally came with the battle royale on Guitar Hero III: Legends of Rock game consoles. Everyone gathered to watch as contestants dueled against each other for bragging rights and fabulous prizes. The songs ranged from “When We Were Young “ by The Killers, to “Black Magic Woman”, to “Welcome to the Jungle”. While most set their difficulty to easy (total cop out), some were actually confident enough to set it to hard. The Gin Blossoms and Trey from P.O.D. battled. By the end of the seven rounds prizes of Dodger tickets, Earth, Wind, & Fire box set, and autographed memorabilia had been handed out.

Save The Music
In the end there were no losers and the real winners were VH1’s Save The Music Foundation and the public school students who would be able to pick up an instrument in the school and learn how to play music. Music in its essence speaks universally to all, and so we were all winners.