PENNYWISE to perform at Long Beach GP
The hugely popular Southern California-based band will be featured at 6 p.m. Saturday night at the Tecate Light Rock-N-Roar Concert Presented by KROQ, to be held on the concert stage in front of the Long Beach Convention Center.
PENNYWISE, who also played to a standing room-only crowd at the Grand Prix's 2005 Rock-N-Roar Concert, will be followed on the stage by the Tecate Light Miss Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach Pageant, the final event of the day. In the past, the Rock-N-Roar Concert series has featured such artists as Taking Back Sunday, Bad Religion and the Goo Goo Dolls.
Using California hardcore as a foundation, PENNYWISE released their debut album "A Word from the Wise" in 1989 on Theologian Records and were promptly signed by Epitaph Records. Other hits followed promptly, including the acclaimed "Unknown Road," "About Time," "Full Circle," "Straight Ahead," "Live at the Key Club," "Land of the Free?," "From The Ashes" and "The Fuse."
"Loud, hard and fast….it's what we're comfortable playing and we know that's what people expect from us," said Lindberg. "We try to keep the songs and messages timely and engaging within the style of music we've always played."
PENNYWISE–Jim Lindberg (vocals), Fletcher Dragge (guitar), Byron McMackin (drums) and Randy Bradbury (bass)–will release their landmark new album Reason To Believe March 25 via MySpace Records. Fans around the world will be able to obtain a high quality, DRM-free, 320kbps MP3 free download of the Reason To Believe CD from MySpace for a period of two weeks.
On the same day, PENNYWISE and MySpace Records will also release a CD version of the album to retail outlets for sale, containing the same songs as the downloadable version.
The collaboration between the seminal Southern California punk band, their new label MySpace Records, MySpace.com and Textango sets a music industry precedent. It marks the first time a U.S. record label has provided an artist with the opportunity to offer a new album free of charge and the first time MySpace has offered a full album download worldwide.
PENNYWISE and the pageant will put the finishing touches on a day of racing that includes the 32nd Annual Toyota Pro/Celebrity Race, Tequila Patr¢n American Le Mans Series race and EZ Lube Drifting/Super Lap Competition, along with practice and qualifying sessions for the Champ Car World Series, SPEED World Challenge and Imperial Capital Bank Atlantics.
In addition, Saturday will also spotlight alternative energy vehicles as part of the Grand Prix's groundbreaking "Green Power Prix-View" and Lifestyle and Alternative Energy Expo. All Green Power and Expo activities are free to fans holding a race ticket.
Ticket prices for the three-day Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach range from $42 for a Saturday General Admission ticket (no reserved seat) to $125 for a three-day ticket that includes Saturday and Sunday reserved seating in grandstand upper levels. Pre-paid parking packages are also available.
Credit card orders for the 2008 event can be placed by calling the toll-free ticket hotline – (888) 82-SPEED – or online by visiting www.gplb.com. Handicapped seating, Champ Car Paddock Passes, Super Photo tickets and a wide variety of Hospitality Club packages are also available. A ticket brochure that includes a circuit map, ticket prices and order form can be obtained by calling the hotline.
For more information on PENNYWISE visit: myspace.com/pennywise or pennywisdom.com.