The Ernie Ball company invented the rock and roll guitar string when they introduced their trademark Slinkys in the early 1960s. Ten years ago, they again led the pack when they registered the choice internet domain name battleofthebands.com, using it to build an international variation on the old high school talent show idea - the Battle Of The Bands.

The modern battle is a enormous undertaking involving over 1500 band entrants this year and has spawned a new Winter event for 2007.

The 2006 Battle wrapped up this week in Hollywood, with the Winner's Showcase at the Key Club. Held on November 30, the event marked the fifth live finale of the annual contest. Warped Tour execs, music industry reps, and label A&R's lined the upstairs VIP section while the general admission crowd filled the club to sell-out capacity.

With so many mainstream industry professionals as judges, it's no surprise the winners are all likely to be favorites...of your little brother. The list of four winners includes San Francisco's Karate High School, whose recordings show an unthreatening radio-friendly DAW project with a singer sporting the obligatory pained/emo plea intercut with - can you guess? Screaming!

Other winners included Ludo of St Louis, Don't Die Cindy of Panama City, FL and Natives of the New Dawn from Los Angeles.

All in good fun (and good business) according to the masterminds of the ten-year-old promotion. "We were very excited by such a large turnout, said Brain Ball of the Ernie Ball Company. We are so pleased to be able to offer this opportunity to every unsigned band in America."

Selected by a panel of industry professionals, all Battle Showcase winners won thousands of dollars in prizes in addition to the chance to play before some of the biggest names in the music industry. Since its debut ten years ago, the Ernie Ball Battle of the Bands has given the best local bands from North America the opportunity to showcase their talents in the world's longest running and largest live music promotion in the music industry.