MusiCares Benefit Concert Honors Red Hot Chili Peppers' Anthony Kiedis 5/8

The fifth annual MusiCares(r) MAP Fund(r) benefit concert will honor multi-GRAMMY(r)-winning Red Hot Chili Peppers co-founder and lead singer Anthony Kiedis, and it will take place for the first time at Club Nokia in Los Angeles on Friday, May 8, 2009. Kiedis will be honored with the Stevie Ray Vaughan Award for his dedication and support of the MusiCares MAP Fund and for his commitment
to helping other addicts with the addiction and recovery process. All proceeds will benefit the MusiCares MAP Fund, which provides members of the music community access to addiction recovery treatment regardless of their financial situation.

Hosted by Greg Behrendt, comedian and author of He's Just Not That Into You, the evening will feature a special performance by Kiedis along with Red Hot Chili Peppers bandmates Flea and Chad Smith, as well as performances by Thelonious Monster vocalist and "Celebrity Rehab" participant Bob Forrest with his son Elijah Forrest, musician/producer Josh Klinghoffer, the Mars Volta, the Neville Brothers' Ivan Neville, and Iggy Pop. DJ AM will perform live during dinner. Additional artists will be announced shortly.

"Addiction exists in all communities and across all socioeconomic lines, but too often the challenges of making a life in music can lead people down the heartbreaking path of dependence," said Neil Portnow, President/CEO of The Recording Academy(r) and MusiCares. "When circumstances such as the economy and shifts in our industry come into play, the need for our services can become greater than ever. MusiCares exists to offer a beacon of hope and critical resources for members of the music community who are struggling with addiction. Anthony is a strong supporter of our cause and this is a perfect opportunity to recognize and honor his commitment."

"I've seen firsthand the physical and emotional toll addiction takes on people - not just myself, but so many other artists and friends as well," said Kiedis. "The pain of addiction is leveled only by the
promise of sobriety and the MusiCares MAP Fund provides access to the kind of resources that can help people genuinely change their lives. I'm proud to be honored and help raise funds for this critical work."

This special dinner and concert offers Living Room Sets that seat 10 for $12,500, Individual Floor Seats for $1,250 per person, and Preferred Balcony Seats for $100. Contact Wynnie Wynn at 310.392.3777 or wynniew@grammy.com for tickets and information. General admission balcony tickets are available for $50 each through Ticketmaster at www.ticketmaster.com. Out of respect for the clients the MusiCares MAP Fund serves, the event will be alcohol-free.

This year's MusiCares MAP Fund benefit is chaired by Cliff Burnstein, MusiCares Board President John Branca, Todd Ficeto, Peter Mensch, and Mary Pattiz. This event is made possible with the generous support of Goldenvoice, Jackson Limousine Service, Swing House, and Ticketmaster.

MusiCares ensures that music people have a place to turn in times of financial, medical and personal need by providing programs and services including emergency financial assistance, educational workshops, and flu shots, hearing tests and medical/dental screenings. The MusiCares MAP Fund allows access to addiction recovery treatment and sober living resources for members of the music community regardless of their financial circumstances, and Safe Harbor Rooms, weekly addiction support groups and the MusiCares Sober Touring Network provide ongoing recovery support.

Established in 1989 by The Recording Academy, MusiCares provides a safety net of critical assistance for music people in times of need. MusiCares' services and resources cover a wide range of financial, medical and personal emergencies, and each case is treated with integrity and confidentiality. MusiCares also focuses the resources and attention of the music industry on human service issues that directly impact the health and welfare of the music community. For more information, please visit www.musicares.com.

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