Seattle man hopes to leverage Billy Idol birthday success into PR job
Oct 23, 2012, 11:45 AM | Updated: Oct 11, 2024, 1:03 pm
Michael Henrichsen poses for a photo in his bedroom at his home in Seattle next to a poster of rock star Billy Idol. Henrichsen created a website and enlisted friends and celebrities around the world in a two-year effort to convince Idol to come play a concert on Oct. 26, 2012 at the Showbox SoDo to raise money for charity and celebrate Henrichsen's birthday. (AP Photo/Ted S. Warren)
(AP Photo/Ted S. Warren)
Having Billy Idol agree to play your birthday isn’t just a guarantee of a fun time. Seattle’s 26-year-old Michael Henrichsen also hopes his two-year long Play My Birthday Billy Idol campaign will help him launch a career.
“I’m going to be pushing hard to get my foot in the door in a full time PR and communications job,” Henrichsen tells KIRO Radio’s Ross and Burbank Show.
Henrichsen currently works two internships and a part-time retail job at Billabong in Bellevue Square. It was at work at Billabong that Henrichsen finally heard from Billy’s manager that his birthday wish was to be granted.
“He basically dropped the bomb that he was coming and I pretty much lost it. I think I ran a lap around Bell Square just hooting and hollering. I couldn’t believe that it’s happening.”
Idol was agreeing to play Henrichsen’s 26th birthday party Friday at Showbox SoDo.
“This whole thing feels like a total movie right now,” he says.
Henrichsen began his quest to get Billy to play his birthday back in 2010. He started a website playmybirthdaybillyidol.com and solicited famous folks and notables to record messages to Billy encouraging him to play his birthday.
As Henrichsen’s 25th birthday approached in 2010, he got the “bummer” news that Idol wouldn’t be appearing via video message from the star. But he says he wasn’t prepared to give up.
“After they sent that, it kind of made me want him to come here more. It definitely pushed me to work even harder.”
In his reinvigorated efforts, Henrichsen added charity to the docket of tools to lure Idol. He organized four Billy Idol Aid events to raise money for good causes.
“It’s just kind of a nice thing to do, and definitely a way to get the word out to Billy like, hey we’re doing some really cool stuff for people in need,” says Henrichsen. “It was just another way to convince him to come out here.”
Henrichsen’s charity events ended up raising a bunch of money for the American Red Cross and Northwest Harvest. He thinks those efforts were a big part in getting Billy to his party.
“I think since we raised over $13,000 for charity because of this project, it definitely helped convince him to come up here.”
His efforts, he says, stand as a great example of just what can be done if you are determined to accomplish your goals.
“I’m the type of person to not give up,” says Henrichsen. “If you have that attitude in everything that you do in life, who’s to say that bigger and better things couldn’t happen.”
After his birthday Friday, Henrichsen says his sights will be set on his next mission.
“Once the project is over this Friday, it’s to focus full attention on getting a full time job.”
Dave Ross says his prospects look pretty good at this point.
