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Metallers Come Out For Japan Earthquake Relief


The Clint Eastwood "35 Films 35 Years" DVD collection autographed by the legend himself, an "Amazing Spiderman" comic book signed by Stan Lee, and a Johnny Depp signed T-shirt are just some of the gems that will be auctioned off over the next several weeks to raise money for Japan Relief. The celebrity auction, adding new items on a weekly basis, starts Monday, May 16.

Other items going up for auction include:

* a Red Hot Chili Peppers MTV Europe Award belonging to Anthony Kiedis
* Al Jourgensen's one-of-a-kind Ibenez mandolin that was used on Ministry's 2003, 2004 and 2005 world tours
* Autographed guitars from Anthrax's Scott Ian and Limp Bizkit's Wes Borland
* Robert Pattinson, Reese Witherspoon and James Franco signed t-shirts
* Front row tickets to a "Chelsea Handler Live" taping
* A limited edition signed artwork print of Marilyn Manson's "Lest We Forget" album
* Two tickets and a meet'n'greet to any 30 Seconds to Mars show on the band's 2011 tour
* Hello Kitty designer Yuko Yamaguchi autographed Yoshikitty iPod Touch case

"I am so grateful to everyone who has donated these very special items for this auction, including some of the members of the Hollywood Foreign Press Association," said Yoshiki, whose Yoshiki Foundation America is spearheading the celebrity auction in conjunction with Yahoo! Japan and will funnel all proceeds raised to the Japanese Red Cross. "There are nearly 140,000 people who are still living in shelters," he continued, "so much needs to be done to help the Japanese people return to their normal lives. What we raise from this auction will help the victims."

Log onto http://www.yoshikifoundationamerica.org/?page_id=1252 to check out all of the items to be auctioned off and to place a bid.

The Japanese born Yoshiki is leader of the multi-million-selling Japanese rock band, X Japan, and was in Tokyo recording the band's first album for global release when the earthquake struck. In the aftermath of the earthquake and tsunami, he was so shocked by the large-scale damage across Japan, he and his X Japan band mates put the March 15 release of their first U.S. single, "Jade," on hold so they could focus their time and energies helping with the recovery.

History of Yoshiki Foundation America
Yoshiki Foundation America is a California non-profit, public benefit, 501(c) Corporation founded in 2010 by Japanese musician Yoshiki of the multi-million-selling rock band X Japan. A number of personal experiences brought Yoshiki to the launch of his Foundation beginning with the loss of his own father when he was just a teenager. Like so many people around the world, he read news accounts and was deeply moved by the devastating effects of the 1995 earthquake in Kobe; in 2009, he paid an emotional visit to an orphanage in Sichuan, still reeling in its recovery, with so many children still displaced and orphaned. Additionally, and as a tribute to Yoshiki's late X Japan band mate Hide, who embraced the support of children with bone marrow disease, the Yoshiki Foundation provides funds to offer assistance through music to children with this debilitating illness. The Foundation, which has supported such causes as St. Vincent's Meals on Wheels, Make-a-Wish Foundation, and the Grammy Foundation will, for the foreseeable future, be 100% dedicated to assisting in the relief efforts of Japan.

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Tags:  Charitymarilyn mansonAl JourgensenMinistryAnthrax

    May 11, 2011

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