*** LATE BREAKING NEWS *** Seattle, WA - March 5, 2002 // - To commemorate the debut of Line6's GuitarPort™, jimihendrix.com is making available an exclusive behind-the-scenes video program that takes fans into the recording studio with Buddy Miles, Billy Cox, Eddie Kramer, and Andy Aledort during recording sessions for "Power Of Soul," which will be featured on the new system. [ experience it now ]

Billy Cox and Buddy Miles, the famed Band Of Gypsys rhythm section for Jimi Hendrix, teamed up with Experience Hendrix recently in New York to record new versions of "Power Of Soul" and "Machine Gun".

The sessions, produced by Eddie Kramer, paired Cox and Miles with guitarist Andy Aledort. Cox and Miles had previously performed with Aledort at the September 2001 Street Scene Tribute To Jimi Hendrix in San Diego. Their inspired performance proved to be the highlight of that special evening. Reunited once more by Experience Hendrix, the trio gathered at New York's Clinton Recording Studios on behalf of Line 6, the revolutionary guitar amplifier and effects modeling company.

The impetus for these new recordings was the eagerly anticipated January 2002 launch of GuitarPort, an entirely new musical experience designed for guitar enthusiasts of all levels. Line6 unveiled the new GuitarPort system at the Winter NAMM conference in Anaheim, CA this past January. The event was highlighted by a number of special appearances by the likes of Eddie Kramer, Seymour Duncan, Janie Hendrix, Sheldon Reynolds, Maurice White, and a host of others.

The GuitarPort device hooks to your personal computer and accords guitarists the option to choose between ten classic amplifier models, including a 1953 Fender Deluxe (wide panel), 1959 Fender Bassman 4x10, 1964 Fender Deluxe, 1967 Vox AC30 Top Boost, 1968 Marshall Plexi 50 Watt, 1983 Marshall JCM-800, 1987 Roland JC-120, and a 1994 Mesa Boogie Dual Rectifier. GuitarPort also provides a multitude of speaker cabinets, effects options, and different tones to choose from.

Coupled with its distinctive amplifier modeling capabilities, the GuitarPort also incorporates an audio player that allows you to play along with CDs and MP3s, loop any section you choose, and even slow down songs without changing pitch. Other features include a built-in guitar tuner, a noise gate, and an intelligent hum reducer that "learns" the hum of your particular setup.

GuitarPort is also the exclusive portal to a world of unique guitar experiences through the internet. Line 6 has created an optional GuitarPort Online service that provides a growing library of backing tracks for jamming or practice, playing tools such as matching amps with tracks, new patches, artist and gear info, playing tips, tablature, music news, user forums, a personal "tone locker," and more.

The most exciting element about GuitarPort Online is that its subscribers will have the ability to play along to original recordings made by artists such as Jimi Hendrix. GuitarPort Online members will have unlimited access to an extensive library of both classic recordings as well as newly produced audio tracks exclusive to Line 6. The Line 6 online library features some of the greatest guitar songs of all time. These tracks are available with and without the guitar part, and can automatically set your guitar tone to the right sound for each song. Tablature and lead sheets are available on screen for most recordings as are song maps that let you loop sections such as the chorus, bridge, or solo of the song you select.

For the Jimi Hendrix recordings that are featured as part of the GuitarPort Online library, Line 6 commissioned Eddie Kramer to create individual mixes of songs such as "Bold As Love", "Foxey Lady", "Freedom", "Crosstown Traffic", "Up From The Skies", and others which allow guitarists to listen, study, and play along with each of Jimi's distinctive guitar parts. What is even more remarkable is that the GuitarPort can recreate Jimi's amplifier sound as heard on the original recording of "Spanish Castle Magic" for just one example, while subscribers play along with Mitch, Noel, and Jimi. Subscribers to the online service have the option of selecting mixes that remove Jimi's lead or rhythm tracks. This provides each student with the unique experience of learning Jimi's music as never before.

Working together with Line 6, Experience Hendrix has selected songs from Are You Experienced, Axis: Bold As Love, Electric Ladyland, and First Rays Of The New Rising Sun to make available to the GuitarPort Online library. This cross section of material highlights a variety of sounds and styles that range from the graceful balladry of "The Wind Cries Mary" to "Purple Haze", one of Jimi's best known works.

In addition to the Jimi Hendrix recordings, there will be a host of new and classic recordings available to subscribers. Coupled with the original artist recordings (plus remixes without guitar if the multi-tracks are available), Line 6 has also recorded meticulously crafted recreations of many others including Stevie Ray Vaughan songs recorded with Double Trouble in Austin, Texas and Led Zeppelin material with Jason Bonham and his band at Abbey Road Studios.

As a further bonus to the portfolio of original Hendrix classics that will be available online, Experience Hendrix approached Line 6 with the concept of teaming Billy Cox and Buddy Miles with guitarist Andy Aledort to create new recordings of "Power Of Soul" and "Machine Gun". Sessions were booked in November 2001 at New York's Clinton Recording Studios with Buddy Miles handling lead vocals for both songs. Their enthusiastic efforts sparked interest in Cox and Miles to record a full length Band Of Gypsys album with Aledort and other possible guest guitarists. We will keep you posted as that exciting prospect continues to develop.

To learn more about Line 6, GuitarPort, and GuitarPort Online, visit their website at www.line6.com.

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