Statement from Rick Garson, ZZYX Entertainment

This statement is issued to clarify some confusion and misunderstanding following

last week‟s press conference announcing the Show of Peace in Beijing on April 17,

and to provide an update on the involvement of Lady Gaga and Black Eyed Peas.

1. At the time of last week‟s press conference, it was anticipated that Lady Gaga

and Black Eyed Peas‟ involvement in the Show of Peace Concert would be

confirmed. Unfortunately, as often happens with music tours, schedules change,

and currently Black Eyed Peas are not available to play live at the Show of Peace

Concert on April 17. I apologize for making an announcement that implied the

band‟s commitment to the Show of Peace Concert. However, ZZYX

Entertainment is currently discussing with Lady Gaga alternative logistics to try

and accommodate their existing tour schedule and maintain the band‟s

involvement in the Show of Peace Concert. A further announcement will be made

shortly.

2. It has been claimed by a blogger that the management of Lady Gaga “have never

heard of Rick Garson and the Show of Peace”. This is completely untrue. We

have been in detailed negotiations with the management of many global artists

including Lady Gaga, whose management I have spoken to personally.

3. A question has been raised about the support for the Show of Peace Concert by

the United Nations‟ NGO Pathways to Peace organization (PTP). PTP has

Consultative Status with the United Nations, and was granted official UN Peace

Messenger status in 1987. Michael Johnson, who attended the Show of Peace

Concert Press conference last week, is a PTP representative to the United

Nations.

Show of Peace Concert producer Rick Garson has a letter of endorsement from

the United Nations in New York, and also received the following statement from

the United Nations in China just before last week‟s press conference: “We

reiterate our support for initiatives from civil society organizations to observe and

raise awareness of International Mother Earth Day. The message of your

campaign is in line with our goal of promoting balance among the economic,

social, and environmental needs and harmony between human beings and the

planet. Our involvement as a „supporting institution‟ will contribute to your

campaign and to the spreading of such messages.”

In clarifying these points, I would like to remind people in China and around the world

why the Show of Peace Concert is going ahead in Beijing on April 17. As Jimmy

Page said at last week‟s press conference, music is the most powerful language in

the world, and it has been my ambition for the last ten years to use the power of

music to do some good for our planet. I am surrounded by people talking about the

environment and world peace. What interests me is actually doing something about it.

I plan to announce the next group of confirmed artists in mid February, just after the

Chinese New Year holiday, and I look forward to welcoming thousands of true music

fans to the free open-air concert in Beijing on April 17 with the wonderful image of

the Bird‟s Nest Stadium as the backdrop for the concert.

Rick Garson, Beijing, January 19, 2010