Grammy Award-Winning Rock Band LINKIN PARK to be Inducted into Guitar Center's Historic RockWalk

LOS ANGELES, June 2, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- Guitar Center is proud to announce the upcoming induction of Grammy Award-winning rock band LINKIN PARK into the retailer's historic RockWalk. The private, invite only induction ceremony is set to take place on Wednesday, June 18^th, at 12 noon at Guitar Center's Hollywood location on Sunset Boulevard. Adding to the celebratory nature of the day, LINKIN PARK will be releasing their highly anticipated new album, The Hunting Party, on June 17^th.

Since their inception, LINKIN PARK have prioritized innovation. The California based sextet made history with a unique electronic, rock and hip-hop fused sound on their 2000 debut Hybrid Theory - the best selling album in the world that year, that went on to sell over 18 million copies. The success of each album since has proved it wasn't just beginner's luck. LINKIN PARK is the first and only band to score five consecutive number one album debuts on the Billboard 200 this century. With six Grammy nominations and as the biggest band on Facebook with over 61 million fans and counting, LINKIN PARK is heralded by fans and critics alike. The band will be hitting the road this summer with Thirty Seconds To Mars and AFI on The Carnivores Tour, kicking off August 8th in West Palm Beach, Florida.

"We're honored to have our music recognized by our peers," says Chester Bennington, lead vocalist of LINKIN PARK. "But to be added to Guitar Center's RockWalk on Sunset Blvd, right where we started, is pretty surreal. We're really grateful to be here alongside so many of the artists that inspired us."

"Innovative and influential. Those are the two major traits we look to honor with Guitar Center's RockWalk, and LINKIN PARK has them in spades," says Dave Weiderman, Chairman of Guitar Center's RockWalk. "Not only that, but they have one of the largest fan bases of any current rock group. It is due time they put their hands in some cement."

Guitar Center's RockWalk is dedicated to honoring those artists who have made a significant impact and lasting contribution to the growth and evolution of Rock 'n' Roll, Blues and R&B. As the newest RockWalk inductees, LINKIN PARK's handprints will reside alongside the handprints, signatures, and faces of other equally accomplished musicians and innovators such as Eric Clapton, George Martin, Jimmy Page, Iron Maiden, Carlos Santana, Johnny Cash, Van Halen, AC/DC, Aerosmith, Marvin Gaye, James Brown, B.B. King, Stevie Wonder, Run-D.M.C. and Queen, among numerous others.

ABOUT LINKIN PARK
LINKIN PARK is a Grammy-Award-winning, multi-platinum alternative rock band comprised of co-lead vocalist, Chester Bennington, drummer/percussionist, Rob Bourdon, guitarist Brad Delson, bassist Dave 'Phoenix' Farrell, DJ, programmer Joe Hahn and  Mike Shinoda - co-lead vocals, keyboards, guitar. The band has sold over 50 million albums worldwide, and is the biggest band on Facebook - with over 61 million fans and counting. In the span of time since 2000, when Linkin Park debuted on the Billboard 200 – no other artist has had more top 10 singles on the Alternative chart, and no other band has achieved more  #1 albums this century. On their most recent touring cycle, the band played to over a million people, in 79 shows, on six continents.  In 2005, Linkin Park founded Music For Relief, a 501 © (3) non-profit organization dedicated to providing aid to victims of natural disasters and the prevention of such disasters. Since its inception, Music For Relief has raised over 6 million dollars for victims of multiple disasters across four continents. The organization was recognized by UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon for the Download to Donate program to raise funds and awareness in the aftermath of the Haiti earthquake. In recognition of its humanitarian work, Linkin Park received a 2011 Global Leadership Award from the United Nations Foundation  The band is gearing up to release their sixth studio album, The Hunting Party (Machine Shop Recordings / Warner Bros) on June 17, 2014.

ABOUT GUITAR CENTER'S ROCKWALK
Guitar Center's RockWalk became a reality on November 13, 1985 with inaugural inductions including Stevie Wonder, Eddie Van Halen, Creator of the Gibson Les Paul guitar Ted McCarty, Martin Guitar founder C.F. Martin III, Marshall Amplifier creator Jim Marshall. At last, the Rock 'n Roll world could claim for itself an institution every bit as compelling as Mann's Chinese Theatre, and the Hollywood Walk of Fame. Located at Guitar Center's Hollywood location on Sunset Boulevard, all Guitar Center RockWalk inductees are chosen solely by past honorees. In this way, inductees are elected by real "music authorities," those who would best be able to gauge his or her contribution to music history.

ABOUT GUITAR CENTER
Guitar Center is the world's largest retailer of guitars, amplifiers, drums, keyboards and pro-audio and recording equipment, with more than 258 stores across the U.S. In addition, the Music & Arts division operates more than 100 stores specializing in band instruments for sale and rental, serving teachers, band directors, college professors and students since 1984. This year marks the 50th anniversary of Guitar Center's historic first-steps to helping people make music. With an unrivaled in-store experience and passionate commitment to making gear easy-to-buy, Guitar Center is all about enabling musicians and non-musicians alike to experience the indescribable joy that comes from playing an instrument. All we sell is the greatest feeling on earth. For more information about Guitar Center, please visit www.guitarcenter.com

Photo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20140602/93352

SOURCE Guitar Center