CAMP FREDDY guitarist/founder Billy Morrison (CIRCUS DIABLO singer, former bassist for THE CULT) has issued the following:

"The story so far... my love for Gibson guitars and especially Les Pauls has been no secret for many years. Stemming all the way back to the pictures of Steve Jones playing an aged white custom with pin-up girls on it, my heart lifts when I hear those guitars played loud and hard. As I grew up, I realized that just about every record/band/artist that I loved had a Gibson involved somewhere. From Angus and the SG, through the Zeppelin/Page faded flame Paul and on to the Cantrell/Slash 90's, I began to understand the beauty and power of the marque. Bowie and Mick Ronson?....Les Paul. Noel and Oasis?....335. Synonymous with rock and roll. As I joined bands, formed bands, left bands and generally began making music, I played Les Pauls. My first was a black Standard that I still own. That guitar went all over the place when I was in Stimulator, got dropped, thrown, scratched and marked. But it never cracked or broke anywhere and still plays absolutely beautifully. It sits in one of my racks with my other Gibsons, and I love them all.

So now, in 2009, I find myself awaiting a protoytpe of a Billy Morrison model! Seems it will be part of the Inspired By line of axes. Yeah, it seems amazing to me too, but I have spent some time talking guitar specs/design with Gibson and worked up a killer paint job in Photoshop. In fact it was the paint job that got the "yes lets do this" green light for the whole affair. I am extremely excited and somewhat humbled by the whole thing, but its happening and I believe I have worked up a Les Paul for the next decade - something that will sound full and hard like a good rock rhythm guitar should sound. Something that will play easily and smoothly. Something that will retain an edge of rebelliousness, with a design that reflects my punk roots and rebellious streak. Something that will stand out and bling without being too shiny! I can't wait for people to see it.

Which brings me to next weeks Gibson Guitar events at two SAM ASH stores in SoCal. The dates are Ontario Mills on May 6th and City Of Industry on May 7th. Click here to see more details on the Gibson website.

Each night, Gibson will be hosting an event at the Sam Ash store, and I will be hanging out and giving some shit away! There will be 10 Gibson Swag Bags containing a bunch of wonderful swag from Gibson and Epiphone, as well as a signed Billy Morrison Inspired By Model poster. These will be given out via Twitter. You do NOT have to be at the event to win a Swag Bag. All you have to do is click here to follow me on Twitter and be watching for my clues and questions from 6 PM on each night.

I will give away the 10 Swag Bags over the course of the 2 hour event. I will also be giving away a guitar each night - an Epiphone Les Paul - but you HAVE to attend the event and be following me on Twitter. I will be hosting a live Scavenger Hunt with the clues and questions being sent out over Twitter. A process of elimination will bring us down to the final 3 contestants who will then be sent a clue to the guitars location. Of course I will also try to stream some live video on USTREAM but the last attempt at that didn't work so well!!

Thats it. Thats all she wrote. I am outta here (I better start dreaming up those questions!)

Peace

Billy."