And some dudes named Dave Grohl and LL Cool J.

One year ago on this day, one man in a cold Lakewood apartment changed history by saying to himself, “I’m bored. Hmm…I know what I can do. I can blog.” I am that man. I Rock Cleveland was born.

During the next 12 months, I Rock Cleveland would earn world-wide accolades for its coverage of indie and rock music from Northeast, Ohio, and beyond. I Rock Cleveland’s signature style, which some have described as Kerouac vs Dr Seuss vs that dude who passed out at the GNR show, has made it a favorite of both critics and the common man. Who could forget such memorable moments as Googling Uranus, The Guide To Rock Superlatives, How To Make an iSock, or The Two Sentence Black Angels Review?

As the editor, publisher, critic, and hack of I Rock Cleveland, I’d like to thank each and every one of you for stopping by and making I Rock Cleveland a part of your life. I’d also like to thank the bands, the labels, and the rock and roll machines for allowing me to spread the joy of cool rockin’ music to the masses. Next, I’d like to thank all of my fellow bloggers for letting me be a part of their community. Finally, a thank you speech wouldn’t be a thank you speech without thanking God, and just in case the great one likes one of those other names better, let’s thank Ganesh, Buddha, Odin, Yahweh, Allah, Zeus, and Zool, too.

Lastly, before we get to the birthday videos, I’d like to share a quote with you that means so much in my life. It comes from a famous rock ‘n’ roller who goes by the name Neil Young, and it goes something like this: “Keep on rockin’ in the free world.”

Bill, aka, I Rock Cleveland.

LL Cool J – Goin’ Back To Cali

Foo Figthers – Big Me