Guitar Center Sessions Exclusively On DIRECTV Returns with New Episodes Featuring Slash, The All-American Rejects, Alanis Morissette and more

WESTLAKE VILLAGE, Calif., May 7, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Guitar Center and DIRECTV have announced that the 2012 season of their award-winning live performance and interview music television series Guitar Center Sessions will begin airing this May exclusively on DIRECTV. The new season will showcase seven new episodes featuring groundbreaking artists including Alanis Morissette, The All-American Rejects, Colbie Caillat and more. The season kicks off with legendary guitarist Slash featuring Myles Kennedy and The Conspirators on May 18, at 9pm in 2D hi-definition on DIRECTV's The Audience Network (channel 239). DIRECTV will also air the series in 3D on DIRECTV's n3d.

(Photo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20120507/LA02281)  

View the trailer here: http://bit.ly/JXHG2v

Guitar Center Sessions features intimate interviews conducted by renowned music journalist Nic Harcourt which offer a rare behind the scenes view into the storied careers of music icons and the inspirations behind their music. Each episode also showcases exclusive live performances by the artists captured at Guitar Center's famous Hollywood, CA location.

"With each episode we aim to present more than just the exceptional live performances given by our guest artists," says Nic Harcourt. "We provide music fans a glimpse into the creative process behind the music and histories of their idols, revealing their unique stories of successes as well as struggles, offering a realistic inside look at what it takes to succeed as a musician."

Upcoming Guitar Center Sessions 2012 Episode Schedule:

• May 18th     Slash featuring Myles Kennedy and The Conspirators
• June 1st      The All-American Rejects
• June 15th     Colbie Caillat
• June 29th     Alanis Morissette
• July 13th      Megadeath
• July 27th      Switchfoot
• August 10th  Sublime with Rome

Guitar Center's musical expertise as the worlds largest retailer of musical instruments and equipment, paired with DIRECTV – the world's largest pay TV provider - ensures that each episode is delivered in the highest audio and visual quality. This dynamic pairing lead Guitar Center Sessions to receive the International 3D Society's award for Best Music Television Series in 2010.

"Our goal with Guitar Center Sessions is provide artists, emerging and established, with a highly credible platform to expose their music and riveting back stories to a large audience," says Dustin Hinz, Director of Music Marketing and Artist Relations for Guitar Center. "By continuing to develop high quality original music programming that focuses on conversations and themes pertinent to the artist's craft and creative process, Guitar Center continues to further its commitment to helping artists be heard in an ever changing, uncertain music business."

Since its premiere in August of 2010 with the iconic Peter Gabriel, Guitar Center Sessions has gone on to feature 31 episodes with today's most compelling artists including, Weezer, Jane's Addiction, The Cult, CAKE, Jakob Dylan, Blondie, Social Distortion, Seether, Rodrigo y Gabriela, Bush and Peter Frampton.

About Guitar Center
Guitar Center is the world's largest retailer of guitars, amplifiers, drums, keyboards and pro-audio and recording equipment. Our retail store subsidiary presently operates 224 Guitar Center stores across the U.S. We are also the largest direct response retailer of musical instruments in the United States through our wholly owned subsidiary, Musician's Friend, Inc., and its catalog and Web site, www.musiciansfriend.com. In addition, our Music & Arts division operates more than 100 stores specializing in band instruments for sale and rental, serving teachers, band directors, college professors and students. More information on Guitar Center can be found by visiting the Company's Web site at www.guitarcenter.com.

SOURCE Guitar Center