University of Michigan student launches anti-Nickelback petition for Detroit Lions halftime show
A University of Michigan graduate student started a petition protesting the choice of Nickelback as the halftime entertainment for the Thanksgiving Day Detroit Lions Game at Ford Field, MLive reported today.
Dennis Guttman told MLive his “jaw dropped” when he learned Nickelback would provide the halftime show for the game he said he’s “been more excited about than just about anything.”
Dennis Guttman says he does not want a Nickelback concert to happen during a Detroit Lions halftime show.
Dennis Guttman
"There's a lot of people who just can't stand listening to Nickelback.” Guttman told MLive. “And there's a lot of people who are upset because they didn't pick somebody from Detroit. And then there's a bunch of people upset because Nickelback's Canadian, and it's American holiday and an American sport.”
From the petition:
“This game is nationally televised, do we really want the rest of the US to associate Detroit with Nickelback? Detroit is home to so many great musicians and they chose Nickelback?!?!?! Does anyone even like Nickelback? Is this some sort of ploy to get people to leave their seats during halftime to spend money on alcoholic beverages and concessions? This is completely unfair to those of us who purchased tickets to the game. At least the people watching at home can mute their TVs. The Lions ought to think about their fans before choosing such an awful band to play at halftime.”
Comments
Mark Moore
Fri, Nov 25, 2011 : 9:54 p.m.
heck This Motown Tribute To Nickelback --> <a href="http://youtu.be/3KzP4bC1Ypg?hd=1" rel='nofollow'>http://youtu.be/3KzP4bC1Ypg?hd=1</a>
michele
Tue, Nov 15, 2011 : 1:33 a.m.
Funny......I never heard anyone complain when Shania performed for the Superbowl halftime show!!!
Meral
Sat, Nov 5, 2011 : 5:36 p.m.
come on people get a life...How long is the half time show, 20 minutes right? The selecting Nickle Back must have come from the top.
say it plain
Sat, Nov 5, 2011 : 3:13 p.m.
I hope some Nickelback fans put up an online petition titled something like : "Dennis Guttman Should Live and Let Live"
say it plain
Sat, Nov 5, 2011 : 3:06 p.m.
All "joking" aside, I think this getting national attention is a truly poor reflection on our community really... I mean, taste is taste. Some people like Nickelback, they surely sell a bunch of tunes don't they? Who, with all due respect, is Mr. Guttman, to launch a hate campaign? They don't rail against some specific group in their music, or diss Americans, or advocate harming animals, or anything untoward, right? I wouldn't buy tickets to a concert of theirs either, and can imagine doing a little eyerolling at a halftime show if I'd be required somehow to witness it, but geewhiz, this is kinda ugly...
Jon Saalberg
Sat, Nov 5, 2011 : 1:09 p.m.
Is this part of Mr. Guttman's graduate studies? I wonder if his parents are aware of how there (fill in the blank) thousands are being spent.
jcj
Sat, Nov 5, 2011 : 2:10 a.m.
What kind of losers watch the half time show?
Ron Granger
Sat, Nov 5, 2011 : 1:40 a.m.
Halftime music? If the bathroom is clear, I'll be making my own music. And for all of your sakes, the bathroom better be clear.
Arboriginal
Sat, Nov 5, 2011 : 1:06 a.m.
I vote for Mayer Hawthorne!!!
average joe
Fri, Nov 4, 2011 : 11:14 p.m.
An online petition to protest a 20 minute show? I thought people bought tickets to a football game to see a football game. This young man needs to focus his efforts on something higher on the important scale.
a2citizen
Sat, Nov 5, 2011 : 1:04 a.m.
Three songs...maybe 10 minutes.
Homeland Conspiracy
Fri, Nov 4, 2011 : 9:23 p.m.
All there songs sound the same!!!! Here's proof <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v2pXfAK8r1k&feature=related" rel='nofollow'>http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v2pXfAK8r1k&feature=related</a>
leaguebus
Fri, Nov 4, 2011 : 9:01 p.m.
Whoever booked this act for the football game needs to be traded to Indianapolis or some other city that is not famous for its music?
Joe_Citizen
Fri, Nov 4, 2011 : 8:51 p.m.
We have many great artist from around her, why would we want them? This is just commercial as pro-sport has gotten. Come-on Lions, you can do better then this.
a2citizen
Sat, Nov 5, 2011 : 1:04 a.m.
Why can't American bands spend their Thanksgiving Day with their families? If they were to perform that would be commercial. But you criticize them for staying home with their families on a holiday.
TMW
Fri, Nov 4, 2011 : 8:47 p.m.
Sorry Jackson, but Mr. Bieber is also from the 51st State....try another act
sunopal
Fri, Nov 4, 2011 : 8:46 p.m.
Mr. Guttman, I would like to thank you for the 'heads-up' on the half-time show; I will be tuning into a game I would not have ordinarily watched, just to see Nickelback. How about some Motown? Now, *that* is Detroit music!!! Sir, if this is the center of your current displeasure, please look around for a meaningful cause; as for me, I have spent more time on this than it is worth.
Gordon
Fri, Nov 4, 2011 : 8 p.m.
More power to the Grad student for being active. Is it worth while? Not so much. If it's Candian & that's why he did it not a good reason! Should be an interesting triva fact if the future. Then, again, frequently Law students become politicians
drut_ferguson
Fri, Nov 4, 2011 : 7:53 p.m.
I don't think I've ever heard Nickleback before, but from what I've heard about them, they're like the Dane Cook of music.
1959Viking
Fri, Nov 4, 2011 : 7:36 p.m.
They put on a great concert and I think the crowd would get into them if they played the halftime show. Is this because they aren't a headline band? Or is it because they are Canadian? I dob't see any reason for the uproar, they're a pretty good band.
smokeblwr
Fri, Nov 4, 2011 : 7:42 p.m.
I guess they were chosen because their music is probably what football players would write if they weren't so busy playing football.
drut_ferguson
Fri, Nov 4, 2011 : 7:34 p.m.
They could at least spend a few cents more and get Quarterback to play. (I'm so sorry)
a2citizen
Sat, Nov 5, 2011 : 6:20 p.m.
Stafford is just fine. Michigan might want to spend some money on a quarterback.
smokeblwr
Fri, Nov 4, 2011 : 7:41 p.m.
HEY-OH!!!! Wish I'd thought of that one. Too bad Dimebag Darell of Pantera met his tragic end, he would have been a decent compromise between the two.
jackson72
Fri, Nov 4, 2011 : 7:19 p.m.
The Lions were probably afraid to book Kid Rock, as they might have been afraid that he would have cancelled at the last minute like he did to the American Cancer Society benefit in Detroit last week. Nice guy, that Bob Richie.
Jennie Clark
Fri, Nov 4, 2011 : 7:18 p.m.
This is the craziest thing I have ever heard! Nickelback is good! And what good bands are from Michigan????
a2citizen
Sat, Nov 5, 2011 : 6:26 p.m.
jcj: I would rather listen to a dead Jim Morrison than a live Nickelback or m&m. That being said, it's a professional football game, not a concert. When the pretentiously self-important venture outside of their little 27 square miles the results are usually not pretty.
jcj
Sat, Nov 5, 2011 : 2:08 a.m.
I think Jennie might have meant bands with a pulse.
a2citizen
Sat, Nov 5, 2011 : 1:01 a.m.
Bob Seger Ted Nugent & The Amboy Dukes Grand Funk Brownsville Station The Supremes The Four Tops Smokey Robinson & The Miracles The Temptations Martha and the Vandellas Anita Baker Madonna Aretha Franklin Stevie Wonder Commander Cody and His Lost Planet Airmen MC5 Frijid Pink Mitch Ryder and the Detroit Wheels The Stooges M&M Kid Rock AliceCooper Marvin Gaye Iggy Pop Glen Frey Rare Earth The Romantics Suzy Quatro Tommy James and the Shondells Wilson Pickett
Terri
Fri, Nov 4, 2011 : 8:28 p.m.
Iggy Pop and the Stooges, MC-5, Bob Seger, Alice Cooper, White Stripes, Howling Diablos...
lindsay erin
Fri, Nov 4, 2011 : 7:49 p.m.
From Detroit: Eminem, Big Sean, The White Stripes, Kid Rock, ... to name a few! Not that any of these popular artists could be booked, but just to answer your question...
smokeblwr
Fri, Nov 4, 2011 : 7:24 p.m.
I wonder if they'll play the song about having your pants around your knees, or doing it in the backseat of a car "like a couple animals", or other such high-brow lyrical content?
jackson72
Fri, Nov 4, 2011 : 7:14 p.m.
Seriously? Mr. Guttman, it's officially time for you to get a life. I do believe that your priorities are WAY out of whack. Clearly you seem to be someone that would have preferred a Justin Bieber half-time show, but word has it that he was busy getting his DNA tested.
time4yourfunfun
Sat, Nov 5, 2011 : 1:21 a.m.
Haha in what way are Mr. Guttman's priorities out of whack? Was it taking ten minutes to make a silly online petition against a band he dislikes? maybe instead of attacking him you should look at your own priorities and not spend so much time on AnnArbor.com
Alan Black
Fri, Nov 4, 2011 : 9:38 p.m.
What is so clear about this that you would think he would prefer Justin Bieber? The guy hates Nickleback, so he must have some kind of head on his shoulders when it comes to music. And get a life? Why don't you?
pegret
Fri, Nov 4, 2011 : 7:19 p.m.
Hilarious.
rkb0929
Fri, Nov 4, 2011 : 7:18 p.m.
hahaha - Justin Bieber is canadian too!
smokeblwr
Fri, Nov 4, 2011 : 7:05 p.m.
Nickelback is terrible. Mouth-breathing-moron-rock.
grye
Fri, Nov 4, 2011 : 6:40 p.m.
Now this is real news, something I can sink my teeth into, controversy that will stimulate hours of deep subliminal thought. I can hardly wait to go home, get surrounded by stuffed animals, and thrash this one out.
grye
Fri, Nov 4, 2011 : 8:26 p.m.
Only the aa.com piece, not the mlive. Quickly filed this under "who cares".
smokeblwr
Fri, Nov 4, 2011 : 7:06 p.m.
You read it didn't you?
grimmk
Fri, Nov 4, 2011 : 6:39 p.m.
Why is this even news worthy when The Civil Wars played Weds night and aa.com hasn't even done an article about it? It was an amazing venue!
Stephen Landes
Fri, Nov 4, 2011 : 7:31 p.m.
an amazing venue? you liked the hall where they played? what about the music?
smokeblwr
Fri, Nov 4, 2011 : 7:06 p.m.
I think what we've got here, is a failure to communicate.
Tesla
Fri, Nov 4, 2011 : 6:44 p.m.
What's so Civil about War, anyway.
jcj
Fri, Nov 4, 2011 : 6:17 p.m.
I am not sure which is more hilarious. The fact that a "University of Michigan graduate student started a petition protesting the choice of Nickelback' OR The fact that one of a2.com's "News producers" thinks it is newsworthy!
Alan Black
Fri, Nov 4, 2011 : 9:36 p.m.
Well Rolling Stone, Sports Illustrated, the Detroit Free Press, CNN, CBS, NBC, and ESPN all found it newsworthy enough to report as well. I love when people think they know what should be in the news.
pegret
Fri, Nov 4, 2011 : 7:21 p.m.
Absolutely, jcj.
say it plain
Fri, Nov 4, 2011 : 6:16 p.m.
Lol, this somehow seems kinda spinaltap spoof-y to me... Like @Tesla says (not that I endorse his nasty spoof of Aretha's name, she'd be just *great* to have at halftime ;-) ), would Kid Rock be more acceptable!? In this day of social media though, you can create a facebook page and maybe try and force The Lions to run a poll for fans to vote on who gets the awesome privilege of being asked to do the Lions' half-time show, now that people might actually tune in to the game again! Power to the people and all...perhaps we can get Patti Smith next year, I would *definitely* tune in for that!!
Tesla
Fri, Nov 4, 2011 : 6:55 p.m.
Thanks alot S.I.P! Got me deleted. :) lol
Hmm
Fri, Nov 4, 2011 : 6:43 p.m.
Yeah that was extremely disrespectful and in quite poor taste imo
a2citizen
Fri, Nov 4, 2011 : 6:13 p.m.
Maybe all the American bands want to stay home and celebrate the Thanksgiving holiday with their families. I remember going to the 1976 Thanksgiving Day game. OJ Simpson rushed for a then record 283 yards and HIGH SCHOOL BANDS PLAYED at half time. The Lions did not sell tickets to a concert, they sold tickets to a professional football game. What's next? Going to a Bob Segar concert and complaining because the Detroit Red Wings don't skate between encores?
a2citizen
Sat, Nov 5, 2011 : 6:17 p.m.
swcornell: For whatever reason I thought Ann Arbor was 36 square miles surrounded by reality, so I checked. You are correct, it is 27 square miles. We will see what happens when the cultivated elite venture outside of their little bubble.
swcornell
Sat, Nov 5, 2011 : 2:49 p.m.
I think trying to boycott Nickelback because they're Canadian is sort of racist. We should be supportive of our Canadian neighbors. Don't we have some Canadians playing for the Red Wings? And what about all of our favorite Canadian actors & actresses. Is this kid boycotting TV shows? What this really shows is: Ann Arbor, 27 sq.mi. surrounded by reality!
Barb
Fri, Nov 4, 2011 : 6:25 p.m.
No kidding - who cares?! Signed, someone who doesn't like Nickelback either but cares about the Lions game itsself.