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Saving Abel to Release “MISS AMERICA” Tuesday, June 8: Album Named After Band’s USO Tour to Persian Gulf in Early 2010
Virgin Records will release Saving Abel’s highly anticipated sophomore album "MISS AMERICA" nationwide on June 8, 2010. The follow-up to the band’s breakthrough self-titled debut album in 2008, the album’s lead single “Stupid Girl (Only In Hollywood)” is flying up the rock charts and is in active rotation on MTV.
Imags Courtesy of Capitol Music
Avid supporters of the U.S. military, Saving Abel traveled to Kuwait and Iraq in late February, and participated in an eight-day USO tour. During the tour, the band visited four bases and touched the lives of more than 4,800 troops. Touched and inspired by their USO tour, the band entitled their new album “MISS AMERICA.”
“Having just returned from our USO tour we all seemed to be on the same page when it came to naming the album,” said guitarist Scott Bartlett. “Just being out there with those men and women who do so much for us and the country we live in, we really wanted to give them something back. So for all of us, MISS AMERICA was the perfect name, for a perfect situation."
In homage to America’s troops, Saving Abel released a 4-minute music vignette entitled “MISS AMERICA.” Packed with exclusive behind-the-scenes of their USO tour as well as conversations with troops stationed in the Persian Gulf, the video also boost the band’s upcoming single. To view the vignette click on the link below.
Saving Abel - MISS AMERICA (Troop Video)
“The message of the song is simple - it tells a story of a soldier writing home to his/her mom, family, wife, and kids,” said Barlett. “Throughout the song you get the feeling of what it is like to be so far away from your home, your life, and your loved ones, but still having to soldier up and do what you came there to do. It offers the message of not giving up, not losing love, and not running away. We are hoping that this song and our second album MISS AMERICA will spark a fire in some people, and maybe cause a wave of support for all our men and women in the service.”
Just two months after their tour to the Persian Gulf, Saving Abel re-teamed with the USO on their second USO tour. This time to the Pacific Ocean, where they boarded the USS Carl Vinson and spread cheer to more than 2,500 sailors returning from a three-month deployment at sea.
College Football Coaches Rich Ellerson, Chip Kelly, Tim Murphy and Ron Zook Lift Spirits on First-Ever USO/Morale Entertainment Tour
The USO, working with Morale Entertainment, recently deployed four top college football coaches overseas as part of a week-long USO/Armed Forces Entertainment tour to Germany and South West Asia. Making the 15-hour journey to boost morale and bring a touch of home to troops were West Point head coach Rich Ellerson; University of Oregon head coach Chip Kelly; Harvard University head coach Tim Murphy; and University of Illinois head coach Ron Zook.
The first tour for all four coaches, the group will visit six countries in nine days. In the region signing autographs, posing for photos and extending their heartfelt thanks to service men and women, the group will also participate in panel discussions and lead flag football competitions. Among some of the places visited so far are McConnell Air Force Base, the USO Warrior Center at Landstuhl Regional Medical Center and the USS Eisenhower.
In a show of their ongoing support to those in uniform, Under Armour (UA) - the nation’s leading performance sports apparel and footwear company - generously donated athletic apparel to service members throughout the tour. As part of UA's "Freedom" initiative, the coaches will guide troops through an official UA football combine and lead troops in the 3rd annual “UA Dust Bowl” flag football game. The coaches will also distribute hundreds of Wounded Warrior Project backpacks filled with UA gear to wounded warriors as well as distribute more than 14,000 units of product throughout the tour.
Four of today's top college football coaches pose for a group photo. The coaches are currently touring the globe as part of a nine-day, six-country USO/Morale Entertainment tour.
Morale Entertainment photo by Blake Belcher
Want more? Check out news articles and video footage highlighting the tour.
ARTICLES
05.06.10 - ESPN.com - Illinois' Zook will visit troops on USO tour
05.23.10 - Yahoo! Rivals - Kelly sees tour as chance to say thanks
05.25.10 - Yahoo! Rivals - Hospital visit puts face on war for Murphy
05.26.10 - Yahoo! Rivals - Zook: It's all about team in military, too
05.27.10 - Yahoo! Rivals - Kelly: Experience making him a better coach
VIDEO FOOTAGE
05.27.10 - Morale Entertainment (Video) - 2010 Coaches Tour, Part 1
05.27.10 - Morale Entertainment (Video) - 2010 Coaches Tour, Part 2
Toby Keith Performs for Troops on Eighth USO Tour
Award-winning singer/songwriter and entertainer Toby Keith recently set out on a four-country USO/Armed Forces Entertainment tour. Traveling to Korea, Germany and the Persian Gulf, the megastar is on a mission to deliver a much-needed break to troops serving overseas. So far, the 14-day USO tour has lifted the spirits of more than 5,300 service members.
Megastar Toby Keith (L) and singer/songwritter Scotty Emerick (R) pose for a photo with the nearly 3,500 service members in the background, May 5, 2010. Traveling on his eighth USO tour, Keith is on a mission to deliver a much-needed break to troops serving overseas.
USO Photo by Dave Gatley
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5.3.10 - DVIDS (Video) - Toby Keith in the Studio - Interview, Part 1
5.3.10 - DVIDS (Video) - Toby Keith in the Studio - Interview, Part 2
"Sons of Anarchy" Actors Sweep Through the Persian Gulf on First-Ever USO Tour
The USO recently deployed four cast members from the FX original series "Sons of Anarchy" to visit troops in the Persian Gulf on a USO/Armed Forces Entertainment tour. Trading in their motorcycles for body armor were actors Kim Coates, Mark Boone Junior, Theo Rossi and Dayton Callie who signed autographs, posed for photos and extended their gratitude to America's troops.
(L-R)"Sons of Anarchy" cast members Dayton Callie, Kim Coates, Mark Boone Junior and Theo Rossi pose for a photograph with troops and USO staff members at the USO LSA Center, Kuwait, March 13, 2010.
USO Photo by Erick Anderson
Want more? Check out news articles and video footage highlighting the tour.
3.15.10 - DVIDS (Video) - Sons of Anarchy USO- Interview, Part 1
3.15.10 - DVIDS (Video) - Sons of Anarchy USO- Interview, Part 2
3.15.10 - DVIDS (Video) - Sons of Anarchy USO- Interview, Part 3
3.20.10 - War on Terror News - "Sons of Anarchy" Actors Visit Taji, JBB
Saving Abel Participates in USO Tour to Persian Gulf and Broadcast Camp Arifjan Concert On Ustream Thursday, March 4!!
On February 20, 2010, Saving Abel teamed up with the USO and embarked on an eight-day, three-country USO/Armed Forces Entertainment tour to the Persian Gulf. Trekking in and out of Kuwait, Iraq and other locations in the combat zone, the band visited multiple military posts and lifted the spirits of thousands of U.S. troops.
Live video chat by Ustream
Just three days into the tour, the band worked with Ustream and had their USO concert at Camp Arifjan captured on film - giving soldiers who were unable to attend the show, as well as troops stationed around the globe, an opportunity to view the show online. Attended by 1,750 service men and women, the USO concert will be broadcast on Thursday, March 4, 2010, at 10 p.m. EST/7 p.m. PST on Ustream. Visit Saving Abel USO Concert on Ustream for your chance to watch the concert alongside fellow fans and chat "live" on Twitter, Facebook and other social networking sites, or simply watch the recording above.
Throughout the trip, the band performed numerous concerts for troops, signed autographs, posed for photos and, most importantly, spent quality time with soldiers. Saving Abel also hand-delivered cards and artwork designed by students at St. Albert Great School in Louisville, KY. Among some of the installations visited were Al Udeid Air Base, Camp Arifjan, Camp Sykes and Camp Speicher.
Rock band Saving Abel poses for a group photo alongside the 1-43/3-43 Air Defense Artillery Battalion stationed at Al Udeid Air Base on Feb. 22, 2010. Participating in their first USO tour, Saving Abel are strong supporters of those in uniform and, in 2008, the band paid homage to military families stationed abroad by filming their hit song “18 Days” on the USS Hornet.
USO photo by Mike Clifton
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Attell, Bollettieri, Cyrus and Kournikova Join Forces and Extend Thanks on Annual USO Holiday Tour Led by Admiral Mike Mullen
Celebrities from the annual USO holiday tour led by the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Admiral Mike Mullen pose for a group shot . (L-R) multi-platinum recording artist Billy Ray Cyrus, tennis player Anna Kournkiova, world-renown tennis coach Nick Bollettieri and comedian Dave Attell.
USO Photo by Dave Gatley
Four of today’s most recognizable figures in comedy, tennis and music convene in the name of troops as part of the annual USO holiday tour led by Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Admiral Mike Mullen. Centered around saluting America’s armed forces, the group will visit three countries in seven days, sign autographs and talk with troops. Accompanying Admiral Mullen as his special guests are comedian Dave Attell, world-renown tennis coach Nick Bollettieri, multi-platinum recording artist Billy Ray Cyrus and tennis player Anna Kournikova. To view the USO 2009 Chairman's Holiday tour photo gallery click here
Tour Blogs
Part of an annual tradition of partnering with senior leaders and working with celebrity entertainers to bring a touch of home to troops stationed abroad, the USO has worked with the Office of the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff since 2000. Since then, the USO has partnered with four Chiefs of Staff and deployed more than 10 entertainment tours. This trip will mark the first USO tour for Bollettieri and Cyrus, the third for Kournikova, the fifth for Attell and the sixth for Admiral Mullen.
USO Photo by Dave Gatley
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National Cartoonist Society Draws Smiles on Week-Long USO Tour to Germany and Persian Gulf
(Back row from L to R) Cartoonist Jeff Bacon, Stephan Pastis, Mike Peters, Michael Ramirez, Garry Trudeau, (front from L to R) Chip Bok, Rick Kirkman, Jeff Keane, Bruce Higdon, and Tom Richmond pose for a group photo during a USO tour to Germany, Kuwait and Iraq, on Oct. 19, 2009.
USO photo by Jackie Zettles
From October 14 to 23, 2009, ten of the world’s most recognized cartoonists and caricaturists participated in a week-long USO tour to Germany, Kuwait and Iraq. As part of their overseas adventure, the group spent quality time with wounded troops at the USO Warrior Center at Landstuhl Regional Medical Center as well as nine military installations in the combat zone. In total, more than 1,600 service men and women were touched by the tour.
Among those bases visited were Camp Buehring, Camp Virginia, Camp Ali Al Salem/LSA, Q West, FOB Marez, FOB Warrior, FOB Sykes, Camp Victory and Camp Liberty. Tour participants included, Jeff Bacon (Broadside/Greenside); Chip Bok (Creators Syndicate); Bruce Higdon (Army Times, Army Magazine, Soldiers Magazine, and Stars and Stripes); Jeff Keane (The Family Circus); Rick Kirkman (Baby Blues); Stephan Pastis (Pearls Before Swine); Mike Peters (Mother Goose and Grimm); Michael Ramirez (Creators Syndicate); Tom Richmond (MAD Magazine); and Garry Trudeau (Doonesbury).
Tour Highlights (Written by Tom Richmond)
USO Photo by Jackie Zettles
The National Cartoonist Society traces its association with the USO to World War II, when professional cartoonists made repeated trips overseas to entertain troops. Whether visiting military hospitals, entertaining troops with chalk talks, or sharing words of encouragement, approximately one hundred professional cartoonists and caricaturists have participated in military-related trips. In 2008, the USO sponsored eight cartoonists to travel to Walter Reed Army Medical Center, National Naval Medical Center and Landstuhl Regional Medical Center. A similar trip was organized earlier this year.
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