The Apocolypse is upon us.

What happened to musicians helping musicians buy and use gear?

From ProSoundNews.com

Guitar Center To Be Purchased For $1.9 Billion
By
Jun 27, 2007 - 11:14:53 AM



New York (July 27, 2007)--Guitar Center has agreed to be acquired for $1.9 billion by Bain Capital Partners, LLC, a global private investment firm. The total transaction value, including assumed debt, is approximately $2.1 billion. Under the agreement, stockholders will receive $63.00 per share of Guitar Center stock--a 26 percent premium over the $50.06 that the retailer's shares closed at yesterday on June 26, 2007. In early trading following the announcement, the stock shot up to over $60 a share on the NASDAQ.


Guitar Center is comprised of more than 210 U.S. stores. Revenue last year was $2.03 billion, more than six times what it was earning annually when the company went public in 1997; at that point, the stock debuted at $15 a share.


Marty Albertson, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Guitar Center, stated, "We believe this transaction delivers outstanding value for our stockholders, and is a strong validation of the Company's accomplishments over the years as well as our future growth prospects. Following a comprehensive review process, our Board of Directors concluded this transaction is in the best interests of our Company and our stockholders and it has the full support of the management team. Bain Capital has a successful track record and significant investment experience in the retail industry and we look forward to partnering with them going forward. We are committed to maintaining our vendor relationships and ensuring our customers will continue to experience the same quality and selection of musical instrument products as well as the high level of service and professional advice through our stores and our websites."

"As the leading retailer of musical instruments in the U.S., Guitar Center enjoys great brand recognition among musicians nationwide, a loyal customer base, and a track record of significant growth," said Jordan Hitch, a Managing Director at Bain Capital. "We look forward to working with the Company's experienced and capable management team to continue to build the business."

This isn't the first major acquisition for Bain; the organization has been previously purchased Toys R Us, Burlington Coat Factory and Michael's. The transaction is expected to close in the fourth quarter of 2007 and is subject to customary closing conditions, including the approval of Guitar Center's stockholders.

A three hour tour....a three hour tour...

Mishiwaka(SP?) summerfest. I drove 3 hours with guitar player, bass rig and guitar player's rig crammed in the back of the Explorer. ipod gained a few hours of use listening to Blow By Blow, Big Head Todd and a few others. Arrive and park behind the stage along with the army of SUV's. Thankfully drummer snagged some beer on the way up. Dry festival. Who does that? Who decides to hire a stage, production, and a facility; sell elephant ears, glow sticks(i guess they just discovered them in northern Indiana) and sausages but not sell BEER!? Whatever.
Watching the Blues Brothers cover band from behind while sitting in bass players SUV, it becomes evident that it is actually a Blues Brother, the "Elwood-Akroyd" brother niether sang or danced much. Jake did all the singing. I think Elwood was the only person who fit in the suit, hat and glasses. Easy gig for him.
After a couple of diet beers it was time to put on my BE hat. (Band Engineer-a person who travels with a particular artist and provides his\her talent solely for that artist) This is fun because for a brief moment I get to point, yell, describe, and harass all the hands. In a nice way.
i stumble through the sea of foldable beach chairs, feeling a million eyes, and make it to the tent. my first impression: sounds wierd.
The Rig:JBL Vertec. (don't remember the model, and don't care) Nicely flown with some ground stacked subs that no one seemed to know what they were. All Crown IT amplifiers. A rack full of DBX comps, Drawmer gates, 990's, D2, and the new 2000. A newer PC lap running Smaartlive, and the console. A midas venice 32. The fucking LD had a bigger console. I introduced myself with the old robere joke; "Honey,I shrunk the console!!"
laughs all around and everyone was nice and helpful.
After Blues Brother and Co. finished, I took a hold of rockstars amp and found its home on the stage.Then gave monitor guy a 5 min description, we ran through the wedges and IEM's.
i went out front and started the frenzy mix.
Took a song, then another to get me happy. All I can say is, i like Vertec and IT's. The mic sounded like it was right in front of me all night. Maybe it was the sober gig?

Thuuuuurrrsssday

Another So-So Thursday. An old friend Bo stopped by and entertained me with stories of new clients, Colts players, DUI's and overall bitching about the people we know. He also pulled that- I want to help you guys wrap cables and load the truck even though I can no longer stand on my own. God love ya Bo!
Big festival show this weekend 3 hours north. Maybe I'll hijack the off-brand digi-camera from the office so I can post a pic or two. Love the briefcase gigs.
Happy Birthday to my friend B.Q.
Friday night off, guess I'll watch The Departed for the 68th time.

Rich Guy

hey, thanks for the shot rich-guy-in-town-amazed-by-my-computer-and-sound system-operating skills.How about fronting me 100K to buy a nice system to keep me busy 4 nights a week? Don't get me wrong, I LOVE Yeager, but money talks my man.

Another Wednesday Night

In a mere hour I will be headed out to the ritz-ee part of town. I will attempt to help a group of musicians entertain for three straight hours. I will drink Bass Ale, smoke 1/2 a pack of Camels and fight off the urge to tell some drunken soul to eat me when they ask me if the band knows "Brown Eyed Girl".
I gotta super sweet girlfriend and she keeps me company by e-mailing the blackberry during the 3 hour tour. I think she digs me, which is cool 'cause I dig her. all together now, AWWWWW.....
BTW, if you ever have a chance to own a minature pinscher, hmmm.....call me.

Who Am I?

ok, so I have been this knock around guy working in nightclubs since the age of eighteen. Don't expect any writing or journalism awards here, I never attended college and learned to type about 5 years ago. I promise not to come home drunk and post idiotic and unreadable stuff.What I will do is post my observations of human behavior at its best: DRUNK PEOPLE.
My friends and I are what you would call Pro's. I have mellowed quite a bit so this enables me to notice my surroundings. I have friends in their late 30's that are single, and will stay so.

I am going to make my first comment on this douchbag:
the guy who thinks it's clever to whistle along with the band.....you know that whistle where you put your fingers in your mouth thing and its REALLY FUCKING LOUD???
He tries to "play along" to the music. I spend prob 20 mins looking for this dumb ass every wednesday. He is allusive. He will be mine. After I kick him in the balls for being pathetic I will have him barred. Do the people at his table find this amusing? don't they get tired of it? WAIT-maybe he's alone....ok, more updates to come.