Play My Birthday Billy Idol

By Rocky & Kristine Fields

What started out as one man’s dream, is now turning into his reality.

Michael Henrichsen of Seattle, WA decided two years ago that his ultimate dream birthday present would be to have Billy Idol play a show for his own personal birthday party.

He’s the kind of guy that doesn’t take no for an answer, who won’t let anyone tell him that he can’t accomplish something, no matter how big or small. His determination lead him down a path that could have gone nowhere, but instead is actually coming to fruition on October 26, 2012.

With the help of his friends, Michael created a Web site: www.playmybirthdaybillyidol.com. His friends and colleagues began a two-year long campaign to make this dream come true.  They stood on corners with signs, held rallies in Seattle, enlisted the help of celebrities like Nick Cannon, Kevin Nealon, Sugar Ray’s Mark McGrath, Apolo Ohno, Jay Buhner, and many others to record video messages to Billy Idol.

Michael realized that in order to get Billy’s attention, he’d have to go big. Do something for the good of the community, for the good of others. A believer in karma, he developed a band, which he himself fronted, named “Nite Wave”. They began playing benefit shows for the Red Cross, and for Northwest Harvest, accumulating over $7,000 in donations and over 400 lbs. of food! These events became known as Billy Idol Aid, and there have been a total of four of them. Billy took notice!  Just released on August 18, 2012, Billy Idol sent a video message to Michael at the Aid-4 event stating that he would be coming to Seattle and playing his birthday party this year on October 26, 2012!  Tickets are already on sale at the Showbox Sodo Web site!

I sat down and spoke to Michael about his journey. He told me it’s been a whirlwind since he got the news, it’s been surreal. He’s done many interviews, as many as six in one day! Mostly radio, and some TV. He’s very humble and excited this has all become a reality.

I asked what his next big goal was and he said he wanted to pay off his student loans.  It’s impressive that he raised so much money and food and gave it all away to good causes, when he works three jobs supporting himself alone. He wanted to make sure his friends, colleagues and work places got credit for all of this too. Seattle Weekly, Silvertips, and Puma the retail store, he thanks you for your massive support and understanding.  Michael believes that networking is the key to great things, and has proved his theory.

It turns out that Michael is also a big karaoke singer too. In fact, he follows Sandra Dee’s Positive Promotions wherever they go.

I asked him why it was so important to have Billy Idol play for his birthday – why that day? His answer caught me off guard, he said he’d noticed over the years how friends and family had begun drifting away, moving to other states, other countries, getting married, living different lives. And being the consummate socialite, he realized he missed them and wanted to get them all together again somehow. What better way than to have Billy Idol play your birthday?!  A huge lifetime dream achieved, for all his friends and family to witness and enjoy!

When the big day arrives, we will be there to get his reaction and report on how it all went down.

Congratulations Michael, it’s amazing what one man with a dream can accomplish.  Michael says, “don’t ever, ever let anyone, ever tell you you can not accomplish something!” We concur.