Rock Band delivers four music games in one challenging rockers to master lead/bass guitar, drums and vocals or play collectively as a whole band, spanning all genres of rock and includes many master recordings from legendary artists.Last night, Pepsi, MTV, and MTV Games awarded Nerds in Disguise the "2009 MTV Video Music Awards for Best Performance in a Pepsi Rock Band Video" for their performance of Lit's "My Own Worst Enemy." The band, from Springfield, Illinois, is the first Rock Band band ever to win an MTV Video Music Awards Moonman for their music video submission.
In May, Pepsi and Rock Band announced a call for bands and music lovers alike to make the most creative music videos playing Rock Band -- and after receiving more than 650 submissions, the top five videos were chosen. It was then up to the fans to decide, and hundreds of thousands of votes placed, Nerds in Disguise were declared the winner.
"We congratulate Nerds in Disguise on winning this historic Moonman," said Ralph Santana, VP of colas, Pepsi-Cola North America Beverages. "They showed a refreshing creativity by producing a music video that was innovative and fun to watch."
Nerds in Disguise arrived in New York and began their rock star treatment, walking the red carpet and being featured in a spot which aired during the VMAs last night showing off their winning video. The group also shot a spread for Spin Magazine, which will appear in the November issue.
"It was overall a very surreal experience," said Matt Hartzler of Nerds in Disguise. "Stuff like this doesn't happen to 18-year-olds from central Illinois. We really appreciated the opportunity to show off our talents on a national and global scale. It's not often that when you put so much work into a piece that it gets that level of exposure."
"Nerds in Disguise is a gifted group of college students, aspiring film makers and Rock Band lovers with real talent," said Christina Glorioso, Vice President Marketing Partnerships for MTV Games, "Their video was really creative, and clearly the fans agreed."
Nerds in Disguise Band Members include:
- Alec Veldhuizen, freshman at University of Colorado,
- Ben Parks, freshman at Miami University in Ohio
- Charlie Clausner, freshman at Tulane University
- David O'Brien, freshman at Iowa State
- Jake Giganti, freshman at University of Colorado
- Matt Hartzler, freshman at Amherst College
- Mike Ranos, freshman at Elmhurst College
- Shane Reynolds, freshman at University of Kansas
- Taylor Blake, freshman at Southeast Missouri State University
More articles about Rock Band