ISAIAS GIL OF HOUSTON, TX CROWNED GUITAR CENTER'S DRUM-OFF 2010 CHAMPION

January 10th, 2011

Isaias Gil, of Houston, TX has been named the winner of Guitar Center's 22nd annual Drum-Off, the search for the nation's top undiscovered drummer. Performing in front of a capacity crowd this past Saturday, January 8th at The Music Box at Henry Fonda Theater in Hollywood, CA 26-year-old Isaias Gil beat out four other highly skilled Drum-Off finalists from across the country to win a prize package worth more than $40,000 and earning the title of Guitar Center's Drum-Off Champion. Isaias was chosen by a panel of judges that featured some of today's most respected and distinguished drummers including John Tempesta (The Cult), Kenny Aronoff (John Mellencamp) Trevor Lawrence Jr (Herbie Hancock, Eminem) Tony Royster Jr (Jay-Z) Atom Willard (Angels & Airwaves, Social Distortion), Taylor Hawkins (Foo Fighters), Dave Elitch (The Mars Volta), Keith Harris (Black Eyed Peas), Rick Latham (Juice Newton) and Jason Sutter (Foreigner).

More than just a culmination of the world’s largest drum competition, Guitar Center’s Drum-Off Finals, hosted by Stephen Perkins (Jane’s Addiction), featured exclusive performances by many of today’s drumming elite. The evening began with an exclusive collaboration by hip hop and R&B icons Nisan Stewart (50 Cent, Beyonce), Trevor Lawrence Jr(Herbie Hancock, Eminem, Dr. Dre), Cora-Coleman Dunham (Prince) and Tony Royster Jr (Jay-Z), followed by a duet by prog-rock masters Gavin Harrison (Porcupine Tree) and Simon Phillips (Toto, Brian Eno, King Krimson). Up next was Guitar Center’s Drum-Off final competition where the top five undiscovered drummers in the nation competed for the drum world’s ultimate prize. Following the Drum-Off finals was legendary metal drummer Dave Lombardo of Slayer, with surprise guest guitarist Kerry King performing with him on "Reign in Blood". Lombardo then switched kits and performed with PHILM the Los Angeles-based experimental post-hardcore triumvirate featuring guitarist/vocalist Gerry Nestler (Civil Defiance), and bassist Pancho Tomaselli (War). The evening culminated in a world music performance by drum legend Steve Smith accompanied by a who’s who of guests that included JoJo Mayer, Pete Lockett,Jeff Hamilton, Mahesh Vinayakram, Kai Eckhardt, Fareed Haque, and George Brooks.