Sex, Drugs, Rock’N'Roll…& GuitarTown, The Sunset Strip’s Newest Attraction

Sex, Drugs, Rock’N'Roll…& GuitarTown! The Sunset Strip‘s Newest Attraction

West Hollywood’s infamous Sunset Strip is a must-see attraction for tourists looking for entertainment, cuisine, or just a good place to people-watch.  The 1.3-mile stretch is home to the hottest Hollywood night spots including small concert venues, night clubs, A-list restaurants and iconic fashion.  This August, Gibson Guitar will launch GuitarTown, a public arts project set to showcase dozens of 10-foot tall fiberglass Gibson Les Paul model guitars created by local and nationally acclaimed visual artists.

These unique sculptures will be scattered throughout the strip amongst the boulevard’s most well-known hot spots.  Even more amazing, each guitar will represent a personality that was significantly instrumental to the history of Sunset Boulevard and Gibson Guitar.  GuitarTown will unify the boulevard’s art,music, and business aspects while highlighting the newly-renovated, pedestrian-friendly environment of the Sunset Strip itself.

“We are very excited about Gibson GuitarTown coming to The Sunset Strip in West Hollywood. GuitarTown is a perfect way for us to celebrate the creative heritage of The Sunset Strip. It allows us to celebrate art and our rock and roll roots,” noted West Hollywood Mayor John Heilman. “We look forward to welcoming Gibson GuitarTown to West Hollywood.”

“Like Gibson Guitar, The Sunset Strip is legendary. It’s also responsible for launching the careers of some of the world’s greatest musicians,” said Henry Juszkiewicz, chairman and CEO of Gibson Guitar. “We are so pleased to be part of The Sunset Strip project and look forward to hosting GuitarTown in what will surely strike a chord with everyone who visits The Sunset Strip.”

Each guitar sculpture will eventually be auctioned off at a Gala Auction where all proceeds will support nonprofit organizations.  Gibson Guitar and Epiphone have hosted similar projects in Nashville, Austin, London, Orlando and Miami that raised hundreds of thousands of dollars for arts, education, health & welfare, and environmental causes.

The opening of West Hollywood’s GuitarTown is slated for mid-August 2010, just in time for the Third Annual Sunset Strip Music Festival, set for August 26-28th.  This three-day, star-studded music festival features headliners performing at music venues throughout the strip including the House of Blues, The Roxy Theatre, and the Viper Room, among others.  This year’s festival honors the legend of Slash and will be headlined by the Smashing Pumpkins.

The launch of GuitarTown will only increase the interest and appeal of Sunset Boulevard as it celebrates rock and roll’s past, present, and future. The official list of artists to be included in the sculptures will be announced sometime this July.  With the inclusion of GuitarTown, one thing is certain: The Sunset Strip will be hotter than ever!