Song of the Day: 'Baby Hold On' by James Hetfield

I stumbled upon an Eddie Money tribute concert on AXS last night, filmed in 2020 with an assortment of aged rockers (REO Speedwagon, Greg Kihn, Mickey Thomas, Tommy Tutone, Sammy Hagar) doing straight-forward versions of the late rocker's greatest hits. Being the diehard fan that I am, I was loving every second of it, and enjoyed watching two of Eddie's sons play in the band -- one cute, one built. (You may recall that I spent One Night in Paradise back in 2012.) But the highlight of the show for me happened near the end, when James Hetfield performed "Baby Hold On." Damian had to explain to me who Hetfield was, going on to explain that the Metallica front man became hot once he got a haircut at some point -- which made the unplugged arrangement by a heavy metal icon all the more spectacular. Have a listen below. 

Song of the Day: 'I Wanna Go Back' by Eddie Money

 

Certainly seemed apropos that I would hear this while driving around my childhood neighborhood yesterday afternoon in Mesa after dropping my stepfather off for his latest PET scan. I managed to sneak in a coffee with a friend from high school with whom I had a falling out my junior year. Although I don't have many regrets in life, it was painful to see how badly she had been hurt by that year's events -- even all these decades later the pain was still palpable. (She too was back in Arizona following the death of her mother, caring for her father suffering from Alzheimer's.) So while I certainly don't "wanna go back," it would be nice to fine-tune a few moments here and there. It was nice that we were able to tie up some loose ends and commiserate over our current lots in life.

Song of the Day: 'Baby Hold On' by Eddie Money

Very sad to read that Eddie Money says he's battling Stage 4 esophageal cancer, which has spread to his liver and lymph nodes. I was lucky to see the randy rocker in concert a few years ago at B.B. King's in Times Square -- what a fun night! -- and would like to send him all my best in his fight ahead.

Song of the Day: 'Maybe I'm a Fool' by Eddie Money

What "Everybody Wants Some!!" lacked in substance, it made up for in HOT MEN and hot music.

Not Alright (sic)

Although this feud between Eddie Money and Kenny Loggins is about 30 years past its "best-by" date, it's never too late to note that Kenny left his wife for his therapist!!!!

Meanwhile,60-year-old Lydia Cornell of "Too Close for Comfort" fame claims she's never had plastic surgery or a single injection. (But will she admit her hands are members of a tanning salon?) Read HERE.

Money Well-Spent

 It's no secret that I'm secretly obsessed with Eddie Money (huh?). So you can only imagine my reaction to this rather genius commercial he's doing for GEICO!

One Night in 'Paradise'

If you're thinking an Eddie Money concert in Times Square that was promoted with a Groupon would be a 50-something bridge-and-tunnel extravaganza, then step to the front of the line. 

Appearing onstage at B.B. King's at 8 o'clock sharp -- people have bedtimes, after all -- Eddie launched right into his best song, "Baby Hold On," then proceeded to deliver a tight show, including all of his other hits ("Walk On Water," "Two Tickets to Paradise," "Think I'm in Love," "I Wanna Go Back"), leading up to his biggest, "Take Me Home Tonight" (daughter Jesse filled in for Ronnie Spector, and also filled in for Dad while he took a break mid-set, sounding far better than her eliminated-first-from-MTV's-"Rock the Cradle" status might indicate).

The set was filled out with key album tracks, Smokey Robinson's "You Really Got a Hold on Me," "Wanna Be a Rock 'n' Roll Star" and "No Control." But when it came time for the encore, that's when things got rowdy, with me leading the chants for "Shakin'" -- the song I gladly paid full price for on the assumption that it would be performed. Eddie didn't disappoint -- the crowd went wild as the famous drum intro began -- then he quietly came out afterward to sign autographs and pose for photos.

After our initial photo-op failed -- I'd left the camera on movie mode and Michael didn't know how to fix it before Eddie, like an unchaperoned Alzheimer's patient, began wandering out onto 42nd Street -- my friend Yogita tried to sidle up to him for a do-over.

It was at this point when Miss Congeniality Long Island 1974 (above left, all but posing for Michael) tried to shoo her away, screaming rather patronizingly at her: "You don't even know who he is." Not about to let my friend's Eddie Money cred to be besmirched by someone who speaks with a cigarette dangling out of her mouth, I stepped in to inform her that she was mistaken -- that it was in fact Yogi's idea to go to the show. "Well it was MY idea to come to this show, too!" the former debate captain responded, to which I said, "Well, good. But you're still wrong." "I'm not wrong about anything," she insisted, "she's my dawwwwwter's age." "Well, that may well be, but you're still wrong." After playing "I know you are but what am I?" for another round or two, Pamela Des Barres' evil stepsister stopped, looked me in the eye and said: "You know what you are? You're a loser." And then without missing a beat, she attempted to board Eddie's tour bus on what was shaping up to be the greatest night of her life -- she was refused admittance -- and that was, oddly, one of the greatest of mine, too.

That man was Shakin' (and it may have been Parkinson's)

Music Box: Eddie Money

Hey, it's Kenneth here. After staying away from a computer for nearly five days now, I finally caved in when I got to my parents' house this evening. (Even a blogger needs a break once in a while, plus I know Frank will good care of you.) Still, I didn't think it would truly be kenneth in the (212) without a weekly Music Box post, so I had to sneak one in. Last week Michael, my brother Bill and I were debating what is Eddie Money's greatest song ever (there are a lot to choose from). I'm going with "Shakin'," which, if not his greatest, is certainly the best cruising song of all time, as I found out this week on the Sunset Strip. Be sure to cast your vote in the comments section below.

 

Read all Music Box posts HERE.