'VH1 Rock Honors: The Who' Featuring Live Performances by The Who, Pearl Jam, Foo Fighters, The Flaming Lips, Incubus and Tenacious D to Launch Online as Show Premieres On-Air Thursday, July 17 at 9pm*

Rainn Wilson to Host VH1.Com's Exclusive Behind-The-Scenes Coverage and Backstage Interviews

Sneak Peek Performances From the Show to Launch at Rock.VH1.com Beginning Tuesday, July 15 - Two Days Before Show Premiere

NEW YORK, July 11 -- VH1.com will bring music fans an early look at "VH1 Rock Honors: The Who" with a sneak peek of performances, backstage celebrity interviews and a behind-the-scenes look at the event. Content will launch at Rock.VH1.com beginning Tuesday, July 15. The full show, including exclusive online performances by The Who will be available online at Rock.VH1.com on Thursday, July 17 at 9PM* when it premieres on VH1, VH1 Classic and MHD.

Rainn Wilson, from the upcoming comedy feature THE ROCKER and the hit show "The Office," will act as the backstage host, interviewing both performers and presenters exclusively for VH1.com.

This year's event will deliver a night of high-voltage tribute performances by Pearl Jam, Foo Fighters, The Flaming Lips, Incubus and Tenacious D featuring Jack Black and Kyle Gass, all leading up to the spectacular grand finale performance by The Who as they rock the stage. As a result of The Who's revolutionary and era-defining influence on rock music, this will be the first "VH1 Rock Honors" that salutes just one band.

Taping in Los Angeles at the Pauley Pavilion on the campus of UCLA on July 12, The Who's monumental legacy will be celebrated with a 2-hour tribute that will salute the music and the lasting impact of this groundbreaking band. The influence of The Who will be felt through spoken tributes, filmed packages and performances by some of today's premiere rock acts as well as the legends themselves.

Video Playlists, Photos, Contest and More on Rock.VH1.com

In addition to the lead up performances and exclusive video coverage from the event, Rock.VH1.com is home to extensive music video playlists from each tribute band and The Who, photo galleries and detailed information about the show. Visitors to the site can also enter to win Garnier Fructis' "Stylin Like a Rock Star Sweepstakes" where one person will win one of two prizes -- tickets and a trip to next year's "VH1 Rock Honors" where they will be able to party like a rock star or a spa getaway where they will be pampered like a rock star.

VH1 Digital has also just launched its new "VH1 Framed You" Facebook application, where users can unleash their inner rock stars by uploading their pictures to create and customize photos and videos. In conjunction with "VH1 Rock Honors" users can create a video of themselves and their friends rockin' the classic windmill move from a legendary performance by The Who.

Additionally, the VH1 Blog is currently accepting submissions in the "You Are Who" photo submission contest. Users can go to urwho.vh1.com to print out The Who masks, and then submit a picture of themselves and/or their friends in their most fun and creative pose. Two winners will be randomly chosen from all online entries to win the game Rock Band.

Lastly, VH1.com is calling out great rock-related Web sites. User votes will determine the most popular site in a series of categories: apparel, editorial, venue, and more. The 2008 Best Rock Sites will be revealed on Rock.VH1.com on July 17th.

"VH1 Rock Honors: The Who" is sponsored by Taco Bell Corp, Garnier(R) Fructis(R), Sprint, SOYJOY(R), Subaru and Rhapsody.

"VH1 Rock Honors: The Who" is directed by David Mallet and executive produced by Greg Sills and Lee Rolontz and Rick Krim for VH1. Paul Flattery and Patrizia DiMaria serve as producers with David Wild and Kelly Brock as co-producers.

VH1 connects viewers to the music, artists and pop culture that matter to them most with TV series, specials, live events, exclusive online content and public affairs initiatives. VH1 is available in 90 million households in the U.S. VH1 also has an array of digital channels and services including VH1Classic, VH1 Soul, VH1 Mobile, VH1 Games and extensive broadband video on VH1.com. Connect with VH1 at VH1.com.

VH1 is a registered trademark of MTV Networks, a unit of Viacom International Inc. MTV Networks also operates and offers joint ventures, licensing agreements and syndication deals whereby its programming can be seen worldwide.

*all times ET/PT