My Biggest Lesson from DDTTRH
On the eve of the Rock Hall induction ceremony, I wanted to share what, for me, is the biggest lesson I learned with DDTTRH and the effort I created, made press with, had a decent outreach with, and many amazing fans supported since it started.
The lesson for me is this...Duran Duran never wanted this or sought after it. That became evident when I, with my nieve and excited self, called in a question to iHeart radio on 1/25/2010. Here is the transcript from that:
""Simon: It's a long one, that can be your bit.
Roger: Kirk this is from...I know the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame is political and one would question their choice of artists in many cases. However, there are amazing bands that have been inducted like U2, Michael Jackson, Michael Jackson...that's not a band...'Simon: Hmmm...
Roger: Madonna and REM, Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers for example. I'm reading this very badly (Roger laughs).
Simon: No, I like it, its quite Shakespearean actually.
Roger: In my mind, Duran Duran is legendary and many Duranies feel the same. If the Rock Hall called you and said they wanted to induct you, what would you say?
Simon: Ummm...I have to say personally I have a bit of a problem with it, I find its that whole kind of respectability...'inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame'...I find it all personally a little bit pompous...the idea of having to put on a black tie rock and roll event is just...seems all wrong to me.
Roger: I would agree, its not something that particularly feels important to us at this moment...like something we 'must have' you know.
Simon: Its funny how things like this can come along...people can...they impose themselves on...the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame has imposed itself on the industry...and say 'Right! We are setting ourselves up as this body who decide who deserves to be in this Hall of Fame and who doesn't.' And I think its completely bogus. I really do. Especially when you've got you know when you've sold as many records as we have or had as many people come to concerts as the bands who are not mentioned on this list."
After this call, I will admit...I was heartbroken and hurt. First, that I'd embarrassed myself by calling Michael Jackson a 'band'...idiot..lol...and that basically my favorite band in the world didn't want what I wanted for them...or at least what I imagined I wanted for them. It was after this that I had a bit of a identity crisis with DDTTRH as I removed 'Rock Hall' from the name and called it instead 'Duran Duran to Timeless Rock History'. I also decided to make it a minor project under something bigger that I wanted to do, Duran Duran Worldwide. It became less important to promote Duran Duran solely to the Rock Hall and to do so more in general and to show how they influenced music and popular media to a much wider audience...which I still do today.
The word 'impose' bothered me as well. Was I 'imposing' on the band? Did I 'impose' on the fans? Not once did I stop to think that Duran Duran didn't want this award or that many fans would be against what I was doing. Further, I made missteps with some celebrities that I regret, and bad decisions of who to trust in my inner circle.
There were also many good events that happened as well...and many friends made along the way. The press, the interviews, the writing, the outreach, the raising awareness for snow leopards. Meeting Warren in Second Life and talking intimately with people who'd worked closely with or collaborated with the band.
Through the bitter and sweet, this journey has been a deep, personal, and valuable learning and growing experience for me. And, I came to know and understand who Duran Duran really is and what they value.
Behind the nice clothes, pretty girls, wild boys image, makeup and style...are humble and talented men striving to positively contribute to the great library of music that brings us together, inspires us, and motivates us to live each day. And they absolutely love and appreciate their fans.
I have also realized that awards and accolades aren't really needed to validate who you are. As Simon sings in All You Need is Now... "Everybody's gunnin'...for the VIP section. But you're better off in runnin' in the other direction."...we too don't have to run after awards or honors to find true worth in ourselves. To me, our lives will have more meaning if we just try and contribute and serve without seeking glory and honor. There's more meaning and happiness there than we can imagine.
This all said, I am proud of certain things that I'd like to call out about DDTTRH...
- I later learned, after I had started my effort that there was a small effort prior to mine that I believe had a petition. I don't know who they were but I was happy I had the chance to carry the torch after them. There was also an effort by someone (that I still know) to make a Change.org petition right around the time we took Rock Hall out of our name and supported a less a focused effort. At one point, I even offered to give my signatures to this effort which this person declined....so DDTTRH kept them and kept the petition open.
- Even with these other petitions in mind, we gained more signatures and were able to get really good names (like Nile Rogers) to sign on. I am proud to declare that no other effort had the reach and visibility that DDTTRH had.
- Making press was also very rewarding for us. Knowing the right people and being brave enough to put DDTTRH out there also gave us success.
- I was able to work with amazing people from all over the world...who truly became 'friends of mine'. You know who you are and I have named you in other posts.
- I am proud I pulled off a playful prank on Simon when he had a moustache...and that Katy and my good friend Emily Vernon were in on it.
- We had a t-shirt, marketing materials, artists do our logos and a talented tech guy in Christian Helwig. I don't talk as much as I should about Christian, but its thanks to him and artists like Nabeel Shahid and Nuno that we've had a positive face to the world and its given us some legitimacy.
- I've had the pleasure to work currently with Tracey Elena, who I was proud to make a partner and who has breathed new life into us. There was a time when I was going through the darkest moments of my life after many family deaths, a divorce, and a very hard spell of unemployment. Great loss over an extended period of time really had a traumatic effect on me...and it was people like Tracey and other close Duranie friends who continued to believe in me that kept Duran Duran Worldwide, DDTTRH, and my spirit alive.
- We got a call of support from Roger Taylor! I got that call at a time I really needed it and it was nice to know the band cared enough to share their appreciation with me.
In conclusion, I just want to thank all those that that knew of and supported the little effort that started in Cleveland and became FABULOUS...DDTTRH. I hope we all will find happiness tomorrow as the Rock Hall announces their inductees and one of them is Duran Duran.
Notorious-ly yours,
Kirk Harrington
Lead Effort Organizer, Duran Duran Worldwide - a fan effort
& DDTTRH, a project under DDWW
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