Fullerton Band Wins Contest, Tokyo Date

Stikkitty, a hard-rock band from Fullerton, will receive $10,000 and a date at Tokyo’s famous Budokhan Theatre as winner of a national contest for unsigned rock bands.

The “Soundcheck” contest finals took place Tuesday night at the Roxy in Hollywood and were judged by a panel of record producers and major label talent scouts. Stikkitty defeated four other contenders--from Santa Monica, Detroit, Atlanta and New York City--after each band played two original songs.

Stikkitty’s singer, Vincent K., also received $1,000 as outstanding vocalist in the contest, which is sponsored by Yamaha. Another Stikkitty member, Dwayne Allen, won $1,000 as outstanding bassist. Stikkitty, which also includes guitarist John Gurzi and drummer David Outzs, will represent the United States at “Band Explosion,” an international rock festival in Tokyo on Oct. 28.