The Hardgroove Project: Music History in the Making

Public Enemy's Col. Hardgroove and fundraising portal 'Kickstarter' go viral for first major 'fan funded' album. End Quote

(1888PressRelease) September 19, 2011 - Santa Fe, New Mexico: "The Hardgroove Project," the brainchild of renowned Public Enemy bassist, Col. Hardgroove and his business partner Lynn Marie Rusaw officially launched its fundraising efforts today. The upcoming album, scheduled for release in June 2012, will be the first major test for crowd funding and independent marketing with artists and producers of this caliber. A grass-roots project from start to finish, this album intends to serve as the new paradigm for artist production by taking rock n' roll back to its roots and also into a realm where no band has gone before.

Recognizing the groundbreaking premise of this project, two legendary producers have signed on to produce The Hardgroove Project: Jack Douglas, who's worked with John Lennon, Aerosmith, Cheap Trick, Alice Cooper and Miles Davis - and Eddie Kramer, renowned for his work with Jimi Hendrix, Led Zeppelin, Rolling Stones, David Bowie and Santana.

Hardgroove is:
Col. Hardgroove - Vocals, Bass (Public Enemy, Fine Arts Militia and Bootsy Collins)
Khari Wynn - Guitar, vocals (Public Enemy)
Victor Burks - Keys, vocals (Chuck D, Fine Arts Militia)

Rocky Bryant - Drums, vocals (Peter Frampton, Cyndi Lauper, Daryl Hall, Billy Joel and Fine Arts Militia)
Also signed on with The Hardgroove Project is Bill Rahmy, one of the top tour and production managers in the industry today (Foo Fighters, Dave Matthews Band, Green Day, Pearl Jam, Nine Inch Nails, Lenny Kravitz, R.E.M., Red Hot Chili Peppers).
To turn this project into a reality, the goal is to raise $90,000.00 in 59 days, and there is no exclusion to financial participation. This may be the very first opportunity of its kind opened up to the fans, with any investment of $5.00 dollars and up receiving recognition from The Hardgroove Project.

Col. Hardgroove states, "This goal is the highest seen to date on Kickstarter for a music project. This is an opportunity for anyone to take part in a unique moment in music history. As the center of gravity continues to shift away from the record labels and into, well, into who knows what, the chance to take the music back, to give artists and producers autonomy, or, as I like to call it, 'Artonomy,' to invite people to participate in the music that they want to listen to ― that moment is NOW. The opportunity is right here, right now."

Hardgroove goes on to say, "As for Douglas and Kramer, they've agreed to produce this project at a fraction of their fee. Why? Because of their belief in this project and in what we intend to do - not just musically, but in terms of how we're going about getting there. FAN involvement on any monetary level will provide the band with the 'artonomy' to create - and we fully intend to recognize those fans for their belief in us and this project."

Lynn Marie Rusaw, Hardgroove's business partner elaborates further: "Hardgroove's fans are at the nucleus of helping to create this new rock n' roll paradigm. Don't be fooled by the labels into thinking that musicians are thriving. As awash as the world is in music nowadays, and as awash as the industry is in money―through digital downloads, ringtones, and various licensing agreements with TV, film and video games ― most of that money's going right back into the pockets of the labels, not the musicians. And very little of it goes into finding and nurturing the next Hendrix, the next Patti Smith. Which is where HARDGROOVE, Eddie Kramer, Jack Douglas, Bill Rahmy―and just as importantly Kickstarter comes into play."

Endorsements: Due to Hardgroove's long standing endorsement relationships, the band will be giving signed Gibson guitars to upper level investment supporters. Additionally, Hardgroove and David Missal (National Market Development manager for Sennheiser) have agreed to film the recording sessions for future online seminars sponsored by Sennheiser.

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