April 10, 2002

Warm greetings from ELLIS. Hold on to your seats.

It's with great pleasure we announce to you, our amazing friends, family and fans, that the members of ELLIS have been elevated to a short, but intoxicatingly potent list of artists that have been asked to represent a small, important record label in its mission to bring the finest music has to offer to the streets in every part of the world.

Putting it another way, last week ELLIS officially signed a contract with Favored Nations, a progressive record company conceived of, owned and operated, in part, by Steve Vai. A short tour through these Web sites will paint a very colorful picture of the caliber of musician that defines the Favored Nations "brand." It's overwhelming, and a little baffling, to be in the company of Steve Lukather, Larry Carlton, Eric Johnson, Johnny A., Stu Hamm, Billy Sheehan and so on. AND to be the only female signed to the label is at this point an incredible honor (referring of course to Stacey. At last inspection, Mike and Brett were still men.) Obviously we have a lot of work to do to even rank, but aspiring to these expectations IS our definition of fun, and a challenge we're embracing head on.

It's been a thrilling month getting acquainted with Steve and the people we will now call our musical family, hearing his thoughts on the more lovable qualities of ELLIS, and envisioning a future we've imagined for a collective 50 years or more.

First stop on the map is Japan, where E-III will be distributed, marketed, broadcast and, hopefully, purchased in mass quantities. After Japan, the world... with a little luck... and more sonic sensations from ELLIS, this time as Favored Nations recording artists!!!

That's the good news. The "other" news is that as of this moment, Favored Nations is the benevolent keeper and cultivator of E-III, the latest and greatest from ELLIS. Kindly, we've been allowed to retain and sell our meager existing inventory of E-III until such time as a decision is made to release it domestically. So unless you plan to travel to Japan very soon, now's the time to get your collector's item copy through our Web site while supplies last.

We believe this is the break we've always needed to create an impact on a global level. We hope you agree. More than ever, your good, positive thoughts and support are needed and appreciated. Afterall, the impossible battle to the top of the heap is only beginning. And we will not be defeated.

Peace and honor.

ELLIS
Brett, Stacey and Mike