October 5, 2000 – The small-town sights and sounds of Lynchburg, Tenn., took on a whole new look Saturday, when two of rock's hottest bands, the Wallflowers and Third Eye Blind, took over the Jack Daniel Distillery to perform at a surprise birthday party honoring the Distillery's founder.

About 1,000 folks, including Distillery employees, the 361 residents of the town and contest winners, gathered for the event where they celebrated Mr. Jack's 150th birthday throughout the day before being treated to the surprise rock concert.

"Mr. Jack had a philosophy that good music and good whiskey make a great combination," Jack Daniel's Master Distiller Jimmy Bedford said. "I think everyone here would agree that his philosophy is pretty accurate.

"We're used to mash around town, but I must say this was Lynchburg's first experience with a mosh pit," Bedford added.

After Bedford's welcome, Third Eye Blind and then the Wallflowers hit the stage that was set up in the parking lot behind the new Visitor Center, much to the delight of the surprised crowd.

"Y'all should be proud of yourselves, because rock 'n' roll would not have been invented without your product," said Stephan Jenkins of Third Eye Blind. Highlights of the evening included Jenkins joining Jakob Dylan on lead for David Bowie's "We Can Be Heroes." The Wallflowers closed the set with a rousing rendition of the Who's "Don't Get Fooled Again."

"Thank you Lynchburg," Jakob Dylan said with a sly smile. "We'll be back again real soon."

One of America's greatest entrepreneurs, Jack Daniel was born in September 1850, but the exact date of his birth is unknown because a town hall fire destroyed his birth records.

Officially registered by the U.S. Government in 1866, Jack Daniel Distillery, Lem Motlow, proprietor, is the oldest registered distillery in the United States and is one the National Register of Historic Places. Based in Lynchburg, Tenn., the Jack Daniel Distillery is the maker of the world-famous Jack Daniel's Old No. 7 Tennessee Whiskey, Gentleman Jack Rare Tennessee Whiskey, Jack Daniel's Single Barrel Tennessee Whiskey and Jack Daniel's Country Cocktails.