Bruno Mars Teams Up with Fender to Release His First-Ever Signature Guitar

Bruno Mars is striking a new chord…

The 38-year-old part-Puerto Rican Grammy-winning superstar has partnered with Fender to release his first-ever signature guitar.

Bruno Mars

Launched this week, the Limited Edition Bruno Mars Stratocaster pays homage to Mars’ electrifying career with subtle design notes blending vintage and modern.

“I don’t think of myself as a guitar player. I’m more of a frustrated songwriter. Every song is like a puzzle you have to solve, and a good guitar can bring something out of you that can help take you to the finish line. That’s what I wanted from this guitar,” Mars said in a statement of designing the Fender guitar. “It was also important to have a workhorse that I could depend on for performing live and writing in the studio, whether it be rhythm or lead.”

Offered in a brand-new caramel colorway, the limited-edition guitar retails for $2,999.99.

It features a sleek, Mars Mocha Heirloom Nitrocellulose lacquer finish, Heirloom Aged Gold Hardware, a 9.5-12-inch compound-radius maple fingerboard with stainless-steel frets, custom-voice pickups, 2-Point Synchronized Tremolo and Deluxe Locking Tuners for “enhanced tuning stability.”

The guitar’s leopard print strap is a nod to Jimi Hendrix and Prince, two of Mars’ guitar heroes.

“We wanted to fashion a guitar that shows Fender’s respect for the artists marking today’s musical hall of fame, as well as displays Bruno Mars’s supernova qualities,” said Justin Norvell, EVP of Product at FMIC. “Bruno has been a tried and true Fender player since the early days of his career and we’re thrilled to include his signature among our roster. Between the all-new finish to the custom-voiced pickups, we’re confident this will be one of our largest signature launches to date.”

With his own Fender guitar, Mars joins fellow recording artists who have been honored with signature guitars including Hendrix, Kurt Cobain, Juanes, H.E.R. and Steve Lacy.

The Limited Edition Bruno Mars Fender Stratocaster is available at Fender.com.

Dave Navarro Signs Deal with Primary Wave Music Publishing

Dave Navarro has a new deal…

Primary Wave Music Publishing has acquired a stake in the 52-year-old half-Mexican American singer-songwriter-guitarist’s publishing catalog, master revenue streams and writer’s share royalties. 

Dave Navarro

The worldwide publishing deal also includes a co-publishing agreement for Navarro’s future output.

“When I partnered up with Primary Wave, the first question they asked was, ‘So, where would you like to see your music being heard?’ I had never before been asked for my artistic input from a corporate entity and I was instantly relieved to know that I had finally found a home for my catalog,” said Navarro in a statement. “This was something new and fresh. In addition to this being a team partnership, Primary Wave utilizes its resources to put my music in front of ears that would have otherwise never heard it. They protect their artists and their catalog.”

Navarro is a member of Jane’s Addictionand a former member of the Red Hot Chili Peppers, who he played with from 1993 to 1998. 

The Primary Wave deal includes such Navarro-penned songs as “Been Caught Stealing” and “Jane Says” (with Jane’s Addiction) and “Aeroplane” (with Red Hot Chili Peppers). He has additionally released two solo records, including the 2001 album Trust No One.

“We are honored to have a legendary artist such as Dave join our growing Primary Wave family,” added Primary Wave CEO and founder Lawrence Mestel. “Dave’s accomplishments speak for themselves. His contributions to Jane’s Addiction and Red Hot Chili Peppers left an indelible impression, influencing future generations of musicians.”

Founded in 2006, Primary Wave is a full-service music company that has acquired copyrights to over 15,000 songs from legendary artists like John LennonKurt CobainWhitney HoustonSmokey RobinsonAerosmith and Bob Marley.

Leto Wins His First-Ever Independent Spirit Award for “Dallas Buyers Club”

Jared Leto has the spirit (award)…

The 42-year-old part-Spanish American actor/singer picked up the first Independent Spirit Award of his career on Saturday, winning the Best Supporting Actor prize for his performance in Dallas Buyers Club.

Jared Leto

In what’s being called as one of the most memorable acceptance speeches of all time, Leto thanked just about everyone when he claimed his prize, including Justin Bieber and his “future ex-wife Lupita Nyong’o .

Wayne Gretsky, Baby Jesus, River Phoenix, Kurt Cobain, as well as “all the women I’ve been with and all the women who think they’ve been with me” were also on his list of thanks.

It’s the latest award for Leto, who earned an Academy Award nomination for his portrayal of a male-to-female transgender character addicted to drugs and dying of AIDS in the Jean-Marc Vallee-directed film.

Leto has previously claimed his first-ever SAG Award from the Screen Actors Guild in January,

He also won his first-ever Golden Globe and a Critics’ Choice Movie Award for the role.