Cardiff-based music specialist Only 1 Music will this Christmas prove that being good at RedOctane’s stunning guitar-based games Guitar Hero and Guitar Hero II can actually turn you into a proper rock star. The company is holding a unique Guitar Hero competition in its flagship retail stores in Cardiff, with the very best player winning a week’s studio time in Only 1 Music’s state-of-the-art recording studio, complete with engineer – a prize worth £1500.

The competition will take the form of qualifying high-scores, followed by a series of knockout rounds, starting on the 27th December 2006. The Grand Finale, taking place on 30th December, will increase in difficulty – with the final face-off being a random song of the organiser’s choosing, played on ‘expert’ difficulty level.

Guitar Hero II was recently released on the PlayStation 2 computer entertainment system to a rapturous reception. Using the game’s included replica Gibson SG controller, players hit fret buttons and strum in time with the music on screen to recreate 40 of the greatest guitar tracks ever. It’s a phenomenal feeling, and one which allows any PlayStation2 owner to act out their rock god fantasies.

Only 1 Music is one of the leading music retailers in the country, offering a unique package of professional sales combining a Warehouse, Photographic Studio, Internet Sales and a Professional Recording Studio on site. Made up entirely of musicians with a huge range of experience, Only 1 Music prides itself on its friendly and welcoming style focused on giving a little back to the music community they serve.

“As fans of Guitar Hero ourselves, we wanted to offer the best players the real deal - the opportunity for the very best players to record their own guitar tracks,” says Sash Wiener, eCommerce and Marketing Manager, Only 1 Music. “It’ll be interesting to see if those who excel at playing Guitar Hero music can equally excel at creating their own. Who knows – we may even find the winning band record a track which appears in a subsequent version of Guitar Hero!”

“This is further evidence of the strides Guitar Hero is making into the world of music,” adds Dave Noble, business development, RedOctane. “This competition is particularly interesting because it will offer the best Guitar Hero players the chance to record their own music. It would be wonderful to imagine that the winner of this Only 1 Music competition actually gets a record deal from the first prize.”

The Guitar Hero Only 1 Music competition starts on 27th December 2006 and contestants can turn up and play during the qualifying period. Entrants for the knock-out stages will be allocated in advance. For further details and an entry form, please see http://www.only1music.co.uk. Full terms and conditions are available at this address www.only1music.co.uk