Duran Duran to the Rock Hall - www.ddttrh.info: April 2010

Friday, April 30, 2010

Letter sent to Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Foundation 4/30/10

In conjunction with the email to Terry, the following letter was sent to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Foundation. If an answer is received, it will be posted at a later date.

4/30/10

Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Foundation
1290 Avenue of the Americas
New York, NY 10104

To whom it may concern:

I would like information regarding the induction process for Rock Hall inductees. I represent a newly formed non-profit organization seeking to have Duran Duran inducted to the Hall of Fame. We believe Duran Duran as a band represents a form of music that has not received as much attention from the Rock Hall, namely alternative rock and its various forms (i.e. punk, goth, electric, etc.). We are doing and have done extensive research into this group and are learning that Duran Duran became pioneers in this genre and have had an influence for many bands now playing today. Further, our effort has attracted the support of various artists, one of which is a Rock Hall inductee (namely David Bowie). Other artists that have shown support are Pet Shop Boys, the Cranberries, Depeche Mode, the Thompson Twins, and many others (over 100 so far, mostly in this alternative genre branch).

As we continue to drive support for our effort, we would like information on how you induct your bands and if there’s anything we can do to make a stronger case for Duran Duran.

I appreciate any insight you can give.

Sincerely,
Kirk Harrington
Lead Organizer, Duran Duran to the Rock Hall – Official Effort
Email: ddrockhall@yahoo.com

On Facebook: Duran Duran to the Rock Hall – Official Site
On Myspace: myspace.com/ddrockhall
On Blogger: ddrockhall.blogspot.com

Please check out our newly released Youtube video as well:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IPDElpuayMI
Or find with search under “Duran Duran to the Rock Hall”

Letter to Terry Stewart, President/CEO of the Museum

Fans--thought I'd share this with you. Just sent today (4/30/10) the following email to Terry Stewart, the President of the Rock Hall of Fame and Museum. If there is a reply, I will post it at a later date.

----- Forwarded Message ----
From: Kirk Harrington
To: president@rockhall.org
Sent: Fri, April 30, 2010 11:19:08 AM
Subject: Duran Duran to the Rock Hall

Attention: Terry Stewart, President and CEO of The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum

Mr. Stewart:

I am writing you to inform you of a new non-profit effort that I have organized to promote the induction of Duran Duran to the Rock Hall of Fame. I visited the Rock Hall yesterday with my son, and left a flier for you to look at. Did you receive it? Also, I am sending the attached letter to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Foundation today asking for advice on how I can make a stronger case for Duran Duran. I think from reading this letter and from looking at our sites, you will notice a steady growing of support for the band (by fans and bands alike), particularly from what I see as a genre not as highly represented at the Rock Hall, alternative rock. Its amazing the kind of support that is coming in and the things we are learning through research....things I think will show that Duran Duran became a pioneer in this branch of rock.

If you haven't already done so, I invite you to visit our various mediums:

On Facebook: Duran Duran to the Rock Hall – Official Site

On Myspace: myspace.com/ddrockhall

On Blogger: ddrockhall.blogspot.com

Please check out our newly released Youtube video as well:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IPDElpuayMI

Or find with search under “Duran Duran to the Rock Hall”

Please also be advised that we are in the midst of gathering more fans to the effort and will have our first talk with a major newspaper, The Barrie Examiner of Toronto, next week.

If you have any questions of me or would like to more information about what we are doing, please feel free to contact me.

Thank you,

Kirk Harrington

Lead Organizer, Duran Duran to the Rock Hall – Official Non-profit Effort

Email: ddrockhall@yahoo.com

Thursday, April 29, 2010

Duran Duran...out there! Updated 5/25/10

How has Duran Duran music filtered into our society? ONGOING RESEARCH

Don't laugh, but I got this idea from a dream I had. I dreamt I met Duran Duran after a concert here in Cleveland. They brought me into a room backstage...Simon, Nick, and John were there (and Simon's nephew...no idea why a nephew was there...lol!). They told me they liked the work I was doing on bands influenced by them. They were also curious as to where their music has gone in society in a general sense. I told them I'd look into it...thus the reason for this blog. So here goes!

TV
Cold Case, Episode 10, "Justice", "Save a Prayer" from the album Rio was played in the final scene.

Cold Case, Episode 5, "Thick as Thieves", "All She Wants Is" from the album Big Thing was played in the opening scenes.

The Simpsons, Episode 10, Season 19, E Pluribus Wiggim, the episode features "Hungry Like the Wolf" by Duran Duran.
http://duranduran.wikia.com/wiki/The_Simpsons:_E_Pluribus_Wiggum

Ellen Degeneres Show, Episode #: 05x54
Original Airdate: Wednesday November 21st, 2007
Mariah Carey and Duran Duran were featured on this episode

MOVIES
The Saint, 1997, Starring Val Kilmer, song "Out of My Mind"
View To a Kill (James Bond), Title song "View to a Kill"

This website has a slew of entries that I am verifying...
http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0243686/

IF YOU HAVE SEEN DURAN DURAN IN PLACES OTHER THAN WE HAVE MENTIONED, PLEASE LET US KNOW AT ddrockhall@yahoo.com. Thanks! LSO Kirk

Bands influenced by Duran Duran (ongoing research)

Artists inspired by Duran Duran (Ongoing research by Donna Searle)
Updated 5/14/10:

Brian Cox:
http://www.digitalspy.com/tv/news/a216477/cox-wants-lady-gaga-song-on-next-show.html

Manes
http://www.gothtronic.com/?page=23&reviews=2098

Camillo 'Chino' Wong Moreno (Deftones):
http://www.deftonesworld.com/members.htm

Jake Shears(Scissor Sisters):
http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0783283/bio

Foluntear:
http://www.majorearth.com/foluntear

Tamakaze:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/herefordandworcester/content/articles/2009/07/28/tamakaze_group.shtml

The Apollo Effect:
http://www.indiesolo.com/artists/The_Apollo_Effect/interview.htm

Brittlestar:
http://www.garageband.com/artist/brittlestar

Erika Fiore:
http://www.myspace.com/erikafiore

This article listed several:
http://www.experiencefestival.com/a/duran%20duran%20-%20influence/id/1342521
As follows....
Barenaked Ladies
Beck
Jonathan Davis of KoЯn
Garbage
Gwen Stefani
No Doubt
Gavin Rossdale
Bush
Wyclef Jean
Marilyn Manson
Fred Durst of Limp Bizkit
The Orb
Pink have all cited Duran Duran as a key band in their formative years in music
Mark McGrath of Sugar Ray
Dido
Franz Ferdinand
Lostprophets
Goldfrapp
The Killers

Count so far: 23

Monday, April 26, 2010

DDTTRH Sample Letter to Newspapers (by email or letter)

…Date…

…Title of Paper…

Attention: Publication Manager

…Address…

Dear Publication Manager:

I am part of a team who is petitioning the Rock and Roll hall of fame to induct Duran Duran. We have a Face book page, a blog, and a Myspace page dedicated to our cause. We have also produced a Youtube video with comparable stats to other Rock Hall inductees to support our argument. I have included the links for you to look at:

Blogger Site: ddrockhall.blogspot.com
Facebook Site: www.facebook.com/pages/Duran-Duran-to-the-Rock-Hall-Official-Site/183081057489
Myspace Site: myspace.com/ddrockhall
Youtube Video: www.youtube.com/watch?v=IPDEIpuayMI

We believe this is an interesting story and would like you to consider publishing this in an upcoming entertainment section article. Our support is growing and we have even caught the attention of several bands who have been influenced by Duran Duran. We are hoping that through you, our article could reach many people willing to help our worthy cause.

We greatly appreciate your time and hope to hear from you soon.

Sincerely,

…Your Name…Signature if a written letter…

For detailed questions, please contact:

Kirk Harrington, Lead Effort Organizer, Duran Duran to the Rock Hall (Official Effort), email: ddrockhall@yahoo.com

Wednesday, April 21, 2010

Our First Youtube Video

After painstaking effort and several revisions, I am pleased to announce the 'rough cut' of our effort's first Youtube video. Check it out and let us know what you think!!! Just click on the title of this blog to take yourself there. If you have any improvement suggestions, please email us at ddrockhall@yahoo.com. We may release a second edition in a few weeks. A special thank you goes out to Jason Henry for all his hard work!

LSO Kirk

Our first artist interview!!!! Patrick Doval!!!

REPOST Artist Appreciation Week~Patrick Doval~
Current mood:REPOST SURPRISE!
Category: Music
H~E~L~L~O BABY-BATS~

Welcome to my first blog on the DDTTRH page!

This week’s featured artist is none other than Patrick Doval out of Miami, Florida; I first became aware of Pat after my friend Mystic Meera turned me on to him years ago. Patrick Doval is an American musician, singer, producer, and multi-instrumentalist whose "80’s" style fuses elements of rock with a new wave sound. In 2008, he independently released two-albums, “Deliverance” & “Fractured” and quickly built a large following on his MySpace & YouTube pages. His songs have now sold in 12-countries via iTunes. Countries which include: USA, Canada, UK, Italy, France, Spain, Portugal, The Netherlands, Germany, Sweden, Norway and Australia. In addition to singing, Doval plays all the instruments himself on both albums.

Due to Doval’s wide variety of musical influences, his music/voice has been compared to a diverse group of legendary musical artists. Most frequently, bands & artists that include: The Cure, David Bowie, Joy Division, Depeche Mode, Duran Duran. He considers his music “Alternative rock” with a touch of 80’s new wave. He has gained fame for having an authentic “80’s” sound; this is primarily due to Doval recording his songs using an original Roland TR-707 drum machine (1985), which gives his music an 80’s feel.

So after years of admiration from my end as a fan and respect due to our friendship I thought who better than to have a “sit down” with ( so to-speak ) and find out exactly how Duran Duran has influenced and shaped Patrick’s musical world~

*( Ladyaslan, DDTTRH) How old where you when Duran Duran first entered your life & how did they make you feel?
*( Patrick ) I truly can’t remember the first time I heard Duran Duran’s music…. I was born in the 80’s, but I was never fortunate enough to have MTV or cable. Duran Duran’s music truly entered my life not too long ago and there music always made me feel great!!

*( Ladyaslan, DDTTRH ) What is your FAVE album or song(s)?
*( Patrick ) My personal favorites have always been RIO, The Reflex, Girls on Film and Hungry Like the Wolf…but they have so many GREAT songs.

*( Ladyaslan, DDTTRH ) Have you ever seen them in concert and if so, what is the first word that comes to mind?
*( Patrick ) No, never been fortunate enough to see them in concert.

*( Ladyaslan, DDTTRH ) How has Duran Duran influenced you and your music?
*( Patrick ) Duran Duran has been a big influence on my music because great songwriting has always inspired me and Duran Duran’s songs are great. The bass lines in their songs are amazing & addicting, there rhythms make you want to dance, and the singing along with the songwriting has always been superb.

*( Ladyaslan, DDTTRH ) What would you like to say to Duran Duran?
*( Patrick ) Thank you for the great music throughout the decades and inspiring me as a musician.

*( Ladyaslan, DDTTRH ) Do you think Duran Duran deserve to be in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame~
*( Patrick ) Absolutely !

To learn more about Duran Duran to the Rock Hall - Official Effort (DDTTRH), please visit our hub site http://ddttrh.info/.

To find out more about Patrick Doval’s retro sound join him on at:

http://www.myspace.com/patrickdoval

Read more: http://blogs.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=blog.ListAll#ixzz0trgHXZIJ

Tuesday, April 20, 2010

To Drew Fans....

On 4/16/10, our site received permission from Drew Barrymore's official fan site to post a community blog to announce our effort to Drew fans! Here's what we wrote:

Thanks Misti and Chris for giving me permission to post here! As I mentioned, I heard that Drew was a big fan of Duran Duran, so I am honored to announce to her fans the following...a Facebook, Myspace, and Blogger site dedicated to the non-profit effort to induct Duran Duran to the Rock Hall of Fame. I hope many feel the same way we do...that Duran Duran deserves this honor. If fans here feel the same way, please visit our sites:

Duran Duran to the Rock Hall - Official Site (Facebook)
myspace.com/ddrockhall (Myspace)
ddrockhall.blogspot.com (Blogger)

We have some exciting things going on...like an official logo contest, a soon-to-be-released Youtube video, and growing support from fans and bands that have been inspired by DD through the years. Please visit with us! Hope to see you there!

Kirk Harrington, Lead Site Organizer, Duran Duran to the Rock Hall Official Effort

DDTTRH Ongoing History, Revised 5/9/10

When I was young...

My mother used to have music playing in the house, mostly oldies--and she would sing to it. She also loved Michael Jackson and Diana Ross! My mom absolutely loved music and it was her that taught me to appreciate it for its life-soothing qualities (and she gave me her 'adventurous spirit' which helped me do this effort). My father too loved music, he played the guitar. From him I learned to further appreciate the 'artistic' and 'colorful' side of music...I learned of bands like Three Dog Night, The Mommas and the Pappas, The Beatles, Peter, Paul and Mary, and Simon and Garfunkel (I loved when he played the song 'Punky's Dilemma for me! [:).

When I was a teenager I found my favorite music and it came to my home with the album 'Seven and the Ragged Tiger'. I remember that day when I sat in my parents' car and played Duran Duran for them for the first time...and my Dad saying to my mother "Listen honey, this is...'alternative' rock music". They were cool with my music, though still kept listening to their oldies and 70's. It was then I realized that Duran Duran represented something unique and special for me and my generation. Every time I listened to them, their songs, their beats, and the artistic/poetic words of their songs...spoke to my soul in a special way. I'm sure many Duranies experience the same!

January 2009...

I walked into the Rock Hall of Fame for the first time. I was surprised to not see much of Duran Duran there, though noticed mention of them in some videography display (with Simon singing in the famous Rio video).

Surely, I thought..they were inducted, right?

Then one day, I was eating at a restaurant near my home (actual picture of place shown here). I sat down at a table next to a framed T-shirt, showing inductees to the Rock Hall of Fame.
To my surprise, Duran Duran was not on the list!!!! How can that be?!?!?

Thats when the flame started burning for me. 'Something has to be done about that..something has to be done', I thought.

September 2009, I lost my job. Over the next few months, I decided that instead of drowning in despair, I would take the chance to do some things that I've always dreamed of doing...to create something that would give something back to the world...I remembered that day at the Rock Hall and the day sitting in front of that T-shirt...and the idea came to me to start an online networking campaign to promote the induction of Duran Duran to the Rock Hall of Fame.

11/17/2009, 8:47 PM--I sent my first email to Duran Duran's media group through their main web site...I mentioned to them about the promotion of an email address(ddrockhall@yahoo.com). I wanted permission to post on DD's website about the effort and the email address.

11/17/2009, 9:59 PM--Katy Krassner responded to my email, stating that she's passed the message onto the band's management and welcomed me to move forward, and added the clause (which is why you see the disclaimer about non-affilitation on our sites)..."I am not sure this is something the band can be “seen” as participating in". She asks me to keep in touch.

11/19/2009, 11:02 AM--I asked Katy permission to use Duran Duran photos and music clips for a Youtube video about the effort.

11/19/2009, 11:38 AM--Katy oks the use of pictures and clips, though mentions Sony and EMI as the ultimate authority over the music.

In the following months, I created the Facebook page. My first fan was my lovely wife, Claudia.

3/18/2010, 8:54 Our Facebook page's growth had its first boom of growth...from 16 to 593 in one week!

3/18/2010, 3:08 PM--Someone shared with me the recent Washington Post article which speaks about Duran Duran being 'dissed' by the Rock Hall for induction (the same article mentioned on our sites).

April 2010: I named admins to the site, as follows: Jason Henry, Youtube/media support...Anitra DeLorenzo, Myspace and special projects...
Donna Searle (AKA CherryIceCreamSmile on Facebook), Facebook Special Projects.

I worked with Jason on the Youtube video...finished the week of the 19th.

The effort announced the logo contest, the first sample logo comes in by Anitra and myself (the backwards D was Anitra's awesome idea!).

Anitra started the Myspace site. Her idea to ask bands to support Duran Duran starts bearing fruit, with a several bands showing support.

4/20/10: Our first artist interview (by Anitra) with Patrick Duval!!!!

4/21/10: First Youtube video released for the effort. Written by me with Video and Audio support by Jason.

4/29/10: I attended the Rock Hall with my son (Jed) for a field trip. I left a flyer about our effort with the information desk--the guy at information said he would pass it onto the head of the Rock Hall committee, Terry Stewart.

4/30/10: Email sent to Terry Stewart following up on the flier. Letter sent to the Rock Hall of Fame Foundation in New York.

4/30/10: Twitter account opened...under ddrockhall@yahoo.com, username DDTTRH.

5/3/10: We verified our first celebrity friend on Myspace--Vince Vaughn!!!! Still awaiting his 'official yes of support'.

5/3/10: We took count and verified the number of band friends who are our Myspace friends--194! We are currently working on getting 'official' shows of support from them. BIG THING KUDOS to Anitra DeLorenzo for all her hard work on the Myspace site!!!

5/4/10: Our first interview with a major newspaper, the Barrie Examiner out of Toronto. BIG THING KUDOS to Jason Henry, one of our admins, for setting this up! Our first critic (Bob Bruton) responds to our article on 5/9 in the article "Only Those Who Know Chuck Berry Need Apply". Whatever Bob! We love you...thanks for the press! [: [: [:

5/10/10: Durandy came on board! Durandy--you rock!

Lets keep making history!!! LSO Kirk

Sunday, April 4, 2010

The Identity Logo of DDTTRH, CONTEST!

Logos are important. They give those that see it a sense of what an effort represents and can give to the world. For the Duran Duran to the Rock Hall - Official Site, I'd like to create a logo that will contain the essence of our message....that Duran Duran belongs in the Rock Hall of Fame and that this effort is committed to making that happen. I also want the logo to be owned by the fans, thus the reason for this contest. From April 5 to June 30, 2010, I'd like fans to come up with their ideas for what the official logo of our site/effort should be. Once you have created a logo, please upload it to the fan pictures section or directly to ddrockhall@yahoo.com. If you'd like to mail your artwork instead, please email ddrockhall@yahoo.com for a mailing address. Out of the artwork that comes in, 10 finalists will be chosen and judged on by a suitable committee. The winning entry will become the official logo of the effort and the winner will receive a T-shirt with the official logo on it (it may not be an ultra-fancy T-shirt mind you, but it will be something! After all...it is a non-profit effort... :] ). The logo will be used to promote the effort in various promotion-type (though still non-profit) activities. Submitting a logo to the site (by email or mail) means that you are giving up any rights to it in terms of profit-making activities, that it becomes the property of the Duran Duran to the Rock Hall effort, and understand that it will only be used to promote the non-profit efforts of the Duran Duran to the Rock Hall Facebook site and any activities around the official effort.

I look forward to see what Duran Duran fans come up with in terms of artwork...as that my guess is that if they appreciate Duran Duran's creative and intelligent music, that the artwork will reflect that! Good luck and may you reach for the sunrise! Sincerely, Kirk, Lead Site Organizer, Duran Duran to the Rock Hall - Official Effort and FACEBOOK Site.