Released on = March 6, 2007, 3:19 pm

Press Release Author = Sweetapple

Industry = Environment

Press Release Summary = Rockford's Rock Opera is a ground breaking audio book for
children and adults.
With songs, narration and sound effects, Rockford's Rock Opera is an utterly
original experience and an amazing story of hope for our times. The Rockford's Rock
Opera audio book is available FREE, to stream and to download at:
http://www.rockfordsrockopera.com

Press Release Body = Rockford's Rock Opera is a ground breaking audio book for
children and adults. With songs, narration and sound effects, it's a new breed of
audio-visual entertainment, available to stream and to download, at:
http://www.rockfordsrockopera.com

And, in the best hippy tradition, it's FREE!

Oh, and it's here to change the world.

At its heart, Rockford's Rock Opera is an audio book about extinction, about animals
and the effect man is having upon the earth. But it's also an entirely original
musical experience with real hope and which highlights positive moves we can all
make to help reverse the current ecological crisis.

Featuring and scripted by well know writer and performer Steve Punt (The Mary
Whitehouse Experience, The Now Show etc), Rockford's Rock Opera is also very funny,
on one hand a loving return to the hopeful days of the best 1960s concept albums, on
the other, a completely new way to enjoy audio books via the web.

But Rockford's Rock Opera is NOT the focus-grouped creation of a global
entertainment company. It is the work of award winning campaigners 'Sweetapple'
(www.sweetapple.co.uk) and a very small handful of dedicated people working for the
sheer love of a story that they feel has been given to them.

"I believe the world is ready for some positive music. not to mention some hope'
says Matthew Sweetapple, creator of Rockford's Rock Opera. "The Internet provides
opportunities for individuals to reach the world and to make a real difference.

"Rockford's Rock Opera has a unique message of hope that captures the hearts of
everyone who hears it. Rockford's Rock Opera is an idea whose time has come."

What's it About?

Rockford's Rock Opera tells the strange musical tale of Rockford the dog and his
adventures on the Island of Infinity, a bizarre world of extinct creatures amazing
music, psychedelic sound scapes, enchanting illustrations and lovingly animated
videos.

Although the Rockford's Rock Opera audio book will be enjoyed by anyone over the age
of five, it is not simply a children's story. Anyone who enjoys great music with an
original story and who needs to believe we can make a difference to the world will
find inspiration in the unique tale.

"So much entertainment has been hijacked by cynical, spiteful, 'right-on' and
posturing attitudes" says Matthew Sweetapple, "I reckon it's time for something with
real 'heart'.

Rockford's Rock Opera is not a traditional 'stage musical' with hammy songs, its
diverse musical inspiration can be found in The Beatles, The Small Faces,
Genesis, The Lightning Seeds, XTC and works such as Jeff Wayne's 'War of the
Worlds', Roger Glover's 'Butterfly Ball', and Harry Nilssen's 'The Point'.

One legendary fan is Gerry Bron - the man behind bands such like Manfred Mann,
Motorhead, Uriah Heep and the immortal Bonzo Dog Doo Dah Band):

" The growth of the internet, combined with rise of ecological issues requiring
global attention, give Rockford's Rock Opera a unique platform from which to reach
out to the world. Quite apart from a wonderful and timely story, it's a fabulous
collection of pop songs!"

Rockford's Rock Opera (Part One) audio book is 52 minutes long and is available now
as a FREE download and to stream FREE on the web.

For an interview with Matthew Sweetapple, please contact Sweetapple on +44 (0)20
8440 7691 or by email: rockford 'at' sweetapple.co.uk.

Images of Rockford/Rockford's Rock Opera are also available on request.



Notes to Editors

How it all started.

In 2004, a home produced single and animated video released in support of Battersea
Dogs Home in London, entered the UK national charts and sold out across the country.
Re-released in 2006, 'Rockford's Christmas Song', became
a permanent fixture in HMV's Christmas Download Top 10.

The story could have happily ended there but thousands of requests from fans for
'more Rockford music' inspired its writers, award winning creative crusaders
Sweetapple to unleash the audio book, www.rockfordsrockopera.com


About Sweetapple

Matthew and Elaine Sweetapple (Sweetapple) create original ideas - campaigns,
products and promotions for charitable causes and for the benefit of society as a
whole.

Sweetapple ideas are now being adopted by charities and campaigners around the world.

Some recent Sweetapple campaigns included Peeball, an idea created for The Prostate
Cancer Charity (see www.peeball.com) and 'Remember Me', the weeping flower roadside
memorial sign to raise the profile of the road accident victim's charity, RoadPeace.
(www.roadpeace.org).

www.sweetapple.co.uk


About Gerry Bron

Gene Pitney, The Shadows, Manfred Mann, Bonzo Dog Doo Dah Band, Uriah Heep,
Motorhead, Queen, D:Ream - the connection? As producer, publisher, manager or
recording entrepreneur Gerry Bron has helped shape fifty years of popular music.

A selection of just some of the record's Gerry's been involved with:

At the Hop - Danny and the Juniors
24 Hours From Tulsa - Gene Pitney
Pretty Flamingo - Manfred Mann
Mighty Quinn - Manfred Mann
I\'m the Urban Spaceman - Bonzo Dog Doo Dah Band
Very 'evy, Very 'umble - Uriah Heep
Ace Of Spades - Motorhead
The James Bond Theme - Monty Norman
And many, many, many more.


About Battersea Dogs and Cats Home

Battersea Dogs and Cats Home provides temporary shelter, veterinary, behavioural and
animal care to lost and abandoned dogs and cats, while finding them new homes, or
reuniting lost animals with their owners. The mission of Battersea Dogs and Cats
Home is to rescue, reunite, rehabilitate and rehome the lost and abandoned dogs and
cats which come into its care.

Battersea Dogs and Cats Home has three centres: Battersea Dogs and Cats Home in
London, Battersea at Old Windsor in Berkshire and Battersea at Brands Hatch in Kent.
For further information on Battersea Dogs Home log on to:

www.dogshome.org.


Web Site = http://www.rockfordsrockopera.com

Contact Details = SWEETAPPLE
PO BOX 299
WELWYN GARDEN CITY
HERTS
AL6 9WJ
UK