More:  Local Photography  •  Local Interviews  •  Previews  •  Columns & Features  •  Blogs  •  Roster  •  About  •  Contact
AP Music Awards make remarkable debut in Cleveland
OOTB PUBLICATIONS | OOTB646.COM
Local & National Entertainment Coverage Since 2001. For The Fans, By The Fans.
Review & Photos By NEIL SHUMATE
The setting of the inaugural Gibson Brands Alternative Press Music Awards (APMAs) fueled by Monster Energy Drink
on Monday welcomed a fresh departure from many of the aged, glamorous awards presentations televised annualy on
major networks. Alternating presenters and performers shared a single large stage standing before a cheering swarm
of more than 6,000 fans in a relaxed, outside festival concert environment behind the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and
Museum in the Voinovich Bicentennial Park area, positioned between the downtown Cleveland skyline and the Lake
Erie shoreline. Hosting the AP Music Awards in Cleveland was ideal as the city is home to Alternative Press Magazine
which started as a fanzine in 1985 by CEO Mike Shea.

Following the red carpet jaunt, co-hosted by wrestler CM Punk and singer Juliet Simms outside the main entrance to
the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, APMAs 2014 host Mark Hoppus (Blink 182) kicked things off on stage as the live
broadcast began on AXS TV. The warm sun began to hide behind Lake Erie and seagulls flew close overhead as fans
packed the grounds while Panic! At The Disco vocalist Brendon Urie sang classy covers of Frank Sinatra's "Luck Be
A Lady" and "Fly Me To The Moon" alongside the tenacious 100-member Cleveland Contemporary Youth Orchestra.
The Contemporary Youth Orchestra remained on stage throughout the awards ceremony performing intros to
presenters and backing up many live performances. (See "Red Carpet Photo Highlights" Below)

Although sections were blocked off near each side of the stage for artist VIP areas, everyone in attendance felt like
a Very Important Person as some artists roamed the grounds pausing for photos and handshakes to meet the most
significant guests of the event: their fans. Each of the 15 APMAs categories were voted on and chosen by fans
through an online voting process. (See "Awards Winners" Below)

The four-hour APMAs moved at a swift pace, but never felt rushed allowing award winners plenty of time for thank you
remarks. A stand out decision of the event was working in enough time for many of the performers to play two or three
songs each instead of only one song as most awards shows permit; after all, it's a
music awards show, fans want to
hear live music and the APMAs made it happen. (See "Performance Collaborations" Below)

CM Punk introduced Billy Corgan (Smashing Pumpkins) as the recipient of the Vanguard Award citing Corgan as a
"God" in the realm of music. Corgan included in his acceptance speech: "The kids rule. The kids should always kick
mother*** like me out of the way and I mean that. I'm no legend. Your favorite song is legend, your favorite band is
legend, your favorite concert is legend. That's what makes it work, you make it work. Every generation deserves its
dreams, its bands, its artists, its voices and I'm glad to see you have those bands here tonight..."

Laura Jane Grace (Against Me!) presented Joan Jett with the Icon Award saying, "She didn't knock on the door and
ask to be let into the boys club, she kicked the f*** door down." Jett included in her speech with a smile, "Being the
first is kinda dirty and it's great, I love being their first!"

Joe Perry (Aerosmith) presented Slash with the Guitar Legend Award.

The APMAs made a remarkable debut and mother nature cooperated for the one-of-a-kind outdoor event. Attendees of
various generational backgrounds with diverse music preferences witnessed artist presenters sharing the stage
together for the first time and once in a lifetime, historical live song collaborations.

Awards Winners
Best Vocalist presented by Victory Records – Brendon Urie, Panic! At the Disco
Best Live Band presented by Vans Warped Tour – Pierce the Veil
Breakthrough Band presented by Beats Music – Crown the Empire
Best Bassist presented by Dyin 2 Live – Jaime Preciado, Pierce the Veil
Best International Band presented by Zepeda Brothers Productions – Bring Me the Horizon
Artist Philanthropic Award presented by Sub City/Take Action – All Time Low
Best Guitarist presented by Gibson – Phil Manansala, Of Mice &Men
Vanguard Award presented by AXS TV – Billy Corgan
Best Drummer presented by DW Drums – Mike Fuentes, Pierce the Veil
Icon Award presented by Blackstar Amplification – Joan Jett
Most Dedicated Fans presented by Fearless Records – Black Veil Brides
Guitar Legend Award presented by the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame – Slash
Song Of The Year presented by Epitaph Records – All Time Low w/Vic Fuentes of Pierce the Veil, ‘A Love Like War’
Album Of The Year presented by Journeys – Bring Me the Horizon, ‘Sempiternal’
Artist Of The Year presented by Monster Energy – Fall Out Boy

Performance Collaborations
Falling In Reverse, Coolio, Tyler Carter (Issues) -- Coolio's "Gangsta's Paradise"
Asking Alexandria, Jonathan Davis (Korn) -- Duran Duran's "Hungry Like The Wolf"
Twenty One Pilots, Contemporary Youth Orchestra, Michael Bohn (Issues) -- "Car Radio"
The Misfits, Andy Biersack (Black Veil Brides) -- The Misfit's "Dig Up Her Bones," "Die Die My Darling," "We Are 138"
Joan Jett & The Blackhearts, Billy Crooked (The Vacancies) -- "Bad Reputation"
Joan Jett & The Blackhearts, Laura Jane Grace (Against Me!) -- "Soulmates To Strangers"
Joan Jett & The Blackhearts, Slash -- Rolling Stones' "Star Star"
All Time Low, Vic Fuentes (Pierce The Veil) -- "A Love Like War"
Body Count, Contemporary Youth Orchestra -- "There Goes The Neighborhood," "Talk Shit = Get Shot"
Fall Out Boy, Contemporary Youth Orchestra -- "The Phoenix"
Machine Gun Kelly, Contemporary Youth Orchestra -- "See My Tears"
Sleeping With Sirens, Machine Gun Kelly -- "Alone"
A Day To Remember, Neck Deep -- "City Of Ocala"

Red Carpet Photo Highlights
Out Of The Blue
Publications Association, LLC
©Copyright 2001-2014
Jerry Only
(Misfits)
Jerry Only
(Misfits)
Bryan Stars
Dez Cadena
(Misfits)
CM Punk with
Juliet Simms
Juliet
Simms
Ronnie Radke
(Falling In
Reverse)
Anthony
Raneri
(Bayside)
Josh Dun
(Twenty
One Pilots)
Laura Jane Grace
(Against Me!)
Caleb Shomo
(Beartooth)
Ice-T
(Body Count)
Benn Suede
(Crown The Empire)
Cristian Machado
(Ill Nino)
Miss May I
Mark Heylmun
(Suicide Silence)
Machine
Gun Kelly
Miss May I
Machine
Gun Kelly
Andy Biersack
(Black Veil Brides)
Chris Fronzak
(Attila)
Machine
Gun Kelly
Hayley
Williams
(Paramore)
Mike Hranica &
Jeremy DePoyster
(The Devil Wears Prada)
Andy Biersack
(Black Veil Brides)
Andy Biersack
(Black Veil Brides)
Billy Corgan
(Smashing Pumpkins)
Jeremy DePoyster
(The Devil Wears Prada)
Myles Kennedy
(Slash, Alter Bridge)
Craig Owens
(Chiodos)
Billy Corgan
(Smashing Pumpkins)
Billy Corgan
(Smashing Pumpkins)
Oliver Sykes
(Bring Me The Horizon)
Joan
Jett
Jeffree Star
Jeffree Star
Oliver Sykes
(Bring Me The Horizon)
Cassadee
Pope
Jeffree Star
Shane Told
(Silverstein)
Chris Motionless
(Motionless In White)
Shane Told
(Silverstein)
Fieldy
(Korn)
Brendon Urie
(Panic! At The Disco)
Brendon Urie
(Panic! At The Disco)
Chris Motionless
(Motionless In White)
Ray Luzier
(Korn)
Mark Hoppus
(Blink 182)
Fieldy
(Korn)
Chris Motionless
(Motionless In White)
Mark Hoppus
(Blink 182)
Tyler Joseph
(Twenty One Pilots)
Mark Hoppus
(Blink 182)