Yesterday, rock band Linkin Park held a release party for the Linkin Park Soundwave Transformers Special Edition Figure at the SURU store in Los Angeles. Members of the band were in attendance to celebrate the release of the special edition figure, which marks one of the first celebrity-designed Transformers figures in the brand’s 30-year history. Read on for the full press release and pictures! Edit – additional pics from @linkinpark and @SURU_LA added!
HASBRO AND LINKIN PARK RELEASE SPECIAL EDITION TRANSFORMERS ACTION FIGURE
The LINKIN PARK SOUNDWAVE TRANSFORMERS Figure Launches Today as Part of the Brand’s 30th Anniversary Celebration
Los Angeles, C.A. and Pawtucket, R.I. – September 20, 2013 – Premier global branded play company, Hasbro, Inc. (NASDAQ: HAS) and world renowned rock band, LINKIN PARK, released a special edition action figure of the TRANSFORMERS character SOUNDWAVE today at the SURU store in Los Angeles, C.A. The LINKIN PARK SOUNDWAVE TRANSFORMERS action figure also marks the first celebrity designed TRANSFORMERS figure in the brand’s 30-year history.
LINKIN PARK is no stranger to the ‘MORE THAN MEETS THE EYE’ brand having provided songs for three TRANSFORMERS movie soundtracks and with members of the band growing up as fans of the ‘ROBOTS IN DISGUISE.” Joe Hahn of LINKIN PARK, worked closely with TRANSFORMERS designers at Hasbro, and has been a life-long TRANSFORMERS fan and collector.
“I grew up playing with TRANSFORMERS toys in the 1980’s and still collect TRANSFORMERS figures to this day,” said Hahn. “As a fan, providing music for the movie soundtracks and creating a LINKIN PARK inspired TRANSFORMERS action figure is beyond any fan’s dream come true.”
The LINKIN PARK special edition figure is in the “Generation 1” or “G1” style of the fan favorite SOUNDWAVE TRANSFORMERS character, features a gold deco treatment and is packaged in a unique cassette tape-inspired box. “LINKIN PARK chose the SOUNDWAVE character in the ‘G1’ style for his retro-appeal,” Hahn continued. “In the original animated series from the 80’s, SOUNDWAVE converts into a tape deck, has cassette tapes as minions and battles the AUTOBOTS with blasts of sound; he was an easy choice to represent our band.”
“LINKIN PARK are best in class, iconic musicians and we consider them part of the TRANSFORMERS team,” said Jay Duke, Vice President of Global Brand Marketing, Hasbro. “The TRANSFORMERS brand is thrilled to have LINKIN PARK be one of the first celebrities to inspire a TRANSFORMERS action figure. The LINKIN PARK collaboration is an exciting part of the TRANSFORMERS 30th anniversary celebration.”
SURU will be the exclusive retailer for this special edition action figure beginning today at the SURU store in Los Angeles and online at www.suru-la.com through October 3rd. TRANSFORMERS fans can keep up with all of the latest brand news including the 30th Anniversary on the official TRANSFORMERS Facebook page at www.Facebook.com/Transformers.
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About LINKIN PARK
LINKIN PARK is a Grammy-Award-winning, multi-platinum alternative rock band comprised of co-lead vocalist, Chester Bennington, drummer/percussionist, Rob Bourdon, guitarist Brad Delson, bassist Dave ‘Phoenix’ Farrell, DJ, programmer Joe Hahn and Mike Shinoda – co-lead vocals, keyboards, guitar. The band has sold over 50 million albums worldwide, and is the biggest band on Facebook – with over 55 million fans and counting. In the span of time since 2000, when Linkin Park debuted on the Billboard 200 – no other artist has had more top 10 singles on the Alternative chart and, with the release of their latest album, LIVING THINGS (Machine Shop Recordings /Warner Bros), which reached #1 in over 20 countries, no other band has achieved more #1 albums this century. In 2005, Linkin Park founded Music For Relief, a 501 © (3) non-profit organization that has raised over 5 million dollars for victims of natural disasters and environmental projects. www.linkinpark.com
About Hasbro, Inc.
Hasbro, Inc. (NASDAQ: HAS) is a branded play company dedicated to fulfilling the fundamental need for play for children and families through the creative expression of the Company’s world class brand portfolio, including TRANSFORMERS, MONOPOLY, PLAY-DOH, MY LITTLE PONY, MAGIC: THE GATHERING, NERF and LITTLEST PET SHOP. From toys and games, to television programming, motion pictures, digital gaming and a comprehensive licensing program, Hasbro strives to delight its global customers with innovative play and entertainment experiences, in a variety of forms and formats, anytime and anywhere. The Company’s Hasbro Studios develops and produces television programming for more than 170 markets around the world, and for the U.S. on Hub Network, part of a multi-platform joint venture between Hasbro and Discovery Communications (NASDAQ: DISCA, DISCB, DISCK). Through the company’s deep commitment to corporate social responsibility, including philanthropy, Hasbro is helping to build a safe and sustainable world for future generations and to positively impact the lives of millions of children and families every year. It has been recognized for its efforts by being named one of the “World’s Most Ethical Companies” and is ranked as one of Corporate Responsibility Magazine’s “100 Best Corporate Citizens.” Learn more at www.hasbro.com.
Shepard Prime
I kinda like it. With a touch of paint detail and a gloss over, this would sit just fine on my shelf.
Not $150 fine but should the price drop drastically I want it.
Billabongi
Im guessing its no longer a limited edition of 2000 now huh?
Hellion42
I'm kind of proud of these guys. In a mere 11 years they've moved up from using a KO Gundam for an album cover to having an actual Transformer. That's progress, folks.
Who says the American dream is dead?
BooyakaDragon
It would be better than the monstrosity it is now.
phoenixliger
I just want the box can I get the box please the box looks awesome best thing about this the box why is it Soundwave doesn't look like the box
Raiju
^ Wouldn't that just end up looking like Soundblaster though?
BooyakaDragon
I still like Linkin Park, but that thing is hideous. What's so hard about just making him black and white like LPs actual colors??
sh002
pass
AnAutobot1985
In the voice of Comic Book Guy…
"Worst…Soundwave…EVERRR!!!"
Shin-Gouki
Kevin XI
Glad they're all so proud of it. I would liked to have seen this collaborative process.
"Please, help yourself to this nice cheese tray."
"THIS, this, make it look like this. Done!"
Citricon
By the looks of it, I thought I was the only one. Even if it was the gold version I wasn't going to open it, doesn't matter to me.
CURAMEN
I plan on buying it.
Trikeboy
Is anyone actually willing to purchase that ugly, unneeded, waste of plastic?
Starscream Gaga
I'm pretty sure it's because they're pretty bad. Not "Pitbull bad", but still bad.
pulsedragon20
Soundwave doesn't look great but the packaging looks terrific in comparison
shock24wave
Hey Linkin Park? Guess What? Your soundwave toy SUCKS.
Raiju
I like LP (and their music), always have, and I'm glad they're fans of the TF franchise and want to share their love of the brand same as any other fans.
That said, the final colors on Soundwave+minions is a bit disappointing. Was expecting metallic gold paint or at least glossy gold plastic (GPS, oh noes!) with metallic flake. The matte butter yellow plastic is underwhelming and unflattering on the molds, to say the least.
Aptom
what a foul pile of cheese/toffee/poo stuff. the box is nice tough id say stick with making music to linkin park but they suck at that too. this looked way better when it was actually gold not cheese colors.
Ultrawave
I don't understand why everyone hates Linkin Park… is it just because they shifted the direction of the music style?
I actually think this thing is kinda cool. The only problem with the entire thing I have is why Laserbeak and Buzzaw, when they look exactly the same? Frenzy or Rumble would have made a good replacement for one of them.