Blue Meridian Wins Best Rock Band at the 2002 Orlando Music Awards

Saturday, October 12 at the Hard Rock Live in Universal Citywalk, Blue Meridian was honored with
their 6th consecutive OMA. Thanks to all the fans who continue to support the band in impessive numbers.
Congrats also go out to some of our friends who were also among the nominees and winners. Cider, Hindu Cowboys,
Amy Steinberg, Gargamel and Emily Stine. With the December release of "Minerva" and all the excitment the
Helly Bock is causing... 2003 promises to be an even more eventful year.


from left to right: Manny Rivera, Donovan Lyman, Kevin Kirkwood & accepting on behalf of bassist Dean
Pichette (who could not attend), Zachariah Selwyn. Photo by Ann Gabele

The following article was published in the Orlando Weekly on October 10th.
Written by Music Editor Jason Ferguson

Don't ever tell Donovan Lyman of Blue Meridian that he has sold out. Not because he'd get pissed off, but because it's too late.

"Nobody can ever accuse me of selling out," says the talkative front man and co-founder of the group, "because I've always wanted to be successful. I sold out when I wrote my first song."

In fact, it appears that "selling out" -- not in the pejorative sense, but in the sense of "Live! Tonight! Sold Out!" -- is exactly what Lyman has in mind for his band. Although their radio-friendly brand of supermelodic guitar rock is seeing a resurgence on the radio, Blue Meridian has managed to weather the storms of teen-pop and nü-metal trends.

"The shelf life of a band never seems to be more than two years, tops," he says. "But we're one of the few exceptions to that rule, and I've decided that this music is going to be my life."

In fact, when a recent label deal fell through, Lyman didn't wait for another to pick up the tab. Instead, he liquidated one-third of his vintage comic-book collection to help finance the completion of the sessions. (The album is titled "Minerva" and is tentatively scheduled to be self-released by December.) Still short of funds, the band recently turned to their fans, offering a chance for them to "executive produce" "Minerva" by donating money directly to the band. Yes, you read correctly. And no, there doesn't seem to be anything Lyman wouldn't do to ensure success.

And that includes creating a Blue Meridian beer. Collaborating with a local Hops, Lyman (in what must be among the most genius strokes of rock & roll marketing since, well, ever) managed to get the restaurant to brew up the "Blue Meridian Helly Bock" which made its unofficial debut a month ago.

And yes, with six kegs and 100 pint glasses purchased, it looks as if it was another sellout.

—Jason Ferguson