Alcohol and rock 'n' roll have had a long partnership.

But Ground Control, a new campaign by Illumina Records, is using rock 'n' roll to cut down on the irresponsible use of alcohol.

Nicole Van Eden, the director of publicity for Illumina Records, said the campaign works to prevent drunken driving and lower the startling driving accident death toll.

When a band joins the campaign, Illumina Records helps to create a MySpace.com page for the band that is dedicated to a victim of a drunken driver.

In return for the band taking an active anti-drunken driving stance, Illumina Records provides support for these up-and-coming musicians, Van Eden said. Giving the band $1,000 in promotions, creating CDs and sending out press releases are some ways that Illumina Records helps to promote the band and the message of Ground Control, Van Eden said.

"When we put out the MySpace page, we're also raising awareness about our message and our cause," Van Eden said.

Currently, Ground Control supports 50 artists who have signed on with Illumina Records to help promote drunken driving prevention. Van Eden added that Illumina Records has a number of different campaigns, and currently more than 1,500 artists nationwide are a part of these programs.

"We go on MySpace and try to find bands that have a lot of potential," Van Eden said. "They're serious bands. We want to help them with professional marketing."

Van Eden added that bands contact Illumina on a regular basis seeking participation in the campaign as well.

"It's not American Idol," she said. "The bands taking part are socially concerned with preventing drunk driving."

Van Eden said the campaign targets more than just "bar bands," but that they are definitely not excluded, adding that bars provide an effective place to have bands promote safety behind the wheel. Music draws people to the bars, so promoting awareness in a setting where it matters is important, she said.

"If they want to help our cause, we want to work together," Van Eden said.

Garrett Bogden, drummer for the local band Cloverleaf, said he feels bands in the area would most likely be interested in Ground Control if they learned all of the specifics of the campaign.

"Especially in a town like State College, where [drunken driving is] such a prevalent issue," Bogden (junior-marketing) said.

Nick Rage, a 21-year-old Pittsburgh native, is an active musician in the Illumina Records campaign.

Performing a variety of different hip-hop styles, Rage said he performs a mix of different club music.

Writing music since the age of 11 and performing for about a year and a half, Rage said his participation with Illumina Records has been worth the hard work.

Rage said he promotes the campaign by providing it with photos for Illumina Records' online magazine, which uses the photos as examples of blossoming artists who promote drunken driving prevention.

By committing his name to the anti-drunken driving message, Illumina created its own MySpace page for Rage that people are directed to from Rage's original Web site, he said. Rage said the Illumina page highlights credentials, some of his tracks and news updates, adding that Illumina also submits Rage's music and the music of the other musicians to a certain number of record labels.

Since he began taking part in the campaign, Rage said he's "been getting a lot of hits" on his page.

A Pittsburgh rock musician, Paul Schacht, 22, said he was first contacted by Illumina Records to get involved in the campaign.

"I've never been in any organizations before," Schacht said. "But as for my personal stance, I've never been for drunk driving in any way."

Schacht said he is in the process of working with Illumina Records to establish his active role in Ground Control. Schacht said his role in Ground Control will be "getting the cause out there" in his area. Schacht said he believes supporting a cause is an excellent choice for anyone.

"I don't believe one cause is right for everyone," he said. "But I would suggest this to anyone who truly believes in it."