Wow, has it really been three years since we first launched this campaign to get "Weird Al" Yankovic inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame for his career as rock music's most successful satirist? It seems like only yesterday.
In the time since, we've received help from such fine folks as Barenaked Ladies, Leslie Nielsen, Patton Oswalt, James Blunt, Emo Philips, Don McLean, Doug Fieger, the Presidents of the United States of America, Bill Mumy, Bowling for Soup, and many, many others. We've been covered by press as far away as Japan, New Zealand, and Australia. We've been on TV in major cities such as Detroit and of course Cleveland. We've been written about by Rolling Stone, USA Today, and Suicide Girls. And just today, Greg was interviewed by the ultimate celebrity news and gossip web site, TMZ.
This campaign has grown into something bigger than can be imagined, and we're all grateful for all the help, time, and hard work everyone has contributed to it.
And of course, we want to thank Al and Jay Levey for giving the campaign room to breathe and grow. The fact that they've graciously allowed us to go on for three years without an incident or a problem from either side says a lot. One shudders thinking about how quickly other celebrities, companies, or organizations could shut down a fan-driven effort with the bat of an eye. So again, to Al and Jay and everyone in their camp, thank you so much!
It seems fitting that this anniversary was preceded by such an incredible weekend for the campaign. On the main page of our site, our signature counter is finally past the 2,000 mark...one fifth down! Again, those are just the signatures that can be sent off to the Rock Hall Foundation right now this second if need be. There are still about another 1,500 to 2,000 signatures out there in addition to the number on the web site. But still, this is big!!!
Also, the Cleveland-area press had finally started coming around to covering the campaign, and it's about time. One particular mention we got last week was from the Cleveland Free Times, one of the two alternative weeklies widely seen around the city. It was a relatively positive mention, but one interesting section intrigued us.
An excerpt from the blurb....
"Weird Al is rock 'n' roll's premier satirist and after 30 years his work is only getting more popular and more critically acclaimed," says Greg Method, who is organizing a petition tour that is following Weird Al to gigs across the country this summer (he plays the Plain Dealer Pavilion on Friday; see page 29).
Granted, Weird Al's stats are impressive. He has earned three Grammys, four gold albums and six platinums. He's also a star of the silver screen (UHF, anyone?) and television (The Weird Al Show). And he is eligible. Nominees must have released their first album at least 25 years ago; Weird Al's Knack parody "My Bologna" came out in 1979.
"Unfortunately, he has been continually ignored by the foundation's nominating committee," says Gordon. To raise Weird Al awareness, Gordon sells a line of "Yankovic '08" clothing online at AllThingsYank.com. His goal is 10,000 signatures by the end of the tour. "The fact that the Cleveland show is smack dab in the middle of [the tour] is a little bit of kismet for us. It will give us the chance to bring the campaign home for a moment."
Does anyone know who the heck Gordon is?
We've checked with everyone officially involved with the campaign, and nobody seems to know who this person is or why they're speaking to the press on our behalf. In the coming weeks we will have an online poll to decide exactly who should be our "Gordon," and we invite any and all suggestions.
Finally, Greg (our real campaign organizer, as opposed to Gordon) was able to speak with Al after the Cleveland show last Friday, during which time Greg presented Al with his own custom version of our popular tour shirt.
These pictures are just meant to chronicle the event and do not imply any personal endorsement from Al, but he was pleasantly surprised to receive it.
So now, here we are, three years in. Will 2007 finally be the year Al gets nominated and then inducted, or is this only the beginning? Regardless, let's just keep going out there until we get him in! Volunteer, spread the word, sign the petition, send off a letter, and do whatever you can to help MAKE THE ROCK HALL "WEIRD!"
