Eddie Money Has Died
Variety brings us the sad and awful news that Eddie Money, the crooner partly responsible for you and your friends melting ear drums by drunkenly scream-singing Take Me Out Tonight during karaoke, died today from complications due to stage 4 esophageal cancer (UPDATE: TMZ says he died from complications due to a heart valve procedure he had a few months ago). He was 70.
Eddie told the world about his cancer diagnosis during the second season of Real Money, the reality show he starred in with his family. His family released this statement today:
“The Money Family regrets to announce that Eddie passed away peacefully early this morning. It is with heavy hearts that we say goodbye to our loving husband and father. We cannot imagine our world without him. We are grateful that he will live on forever through his music.”
Eddie Money came into this world as Edward Joseph Mahoney. He grew up on Long Island, and at first, he wanted to be a cop. He was an NYPD trainee for two years before he answered the call to entertain the planet with his crooning, and moved to Berkeley, CA where he became a regular at the clubs. Eddie got a record contract with Columbia in the 70s, and that led to him gifting us with this classic, which I’m sure my mom (who spent her 20s in 1970s San Francisco) swished and swayed to this while on top of a table at a bar. Mom, don’t even think of getting onto a table now. Your deductible is too high!
And this, which many say is his signature masterpiece:
That song was also a smart move business-wise since it is the dream theme song of every island tourism board.
Eddie put out several albums before his career started to dip as he suffered with addiction to the bad shit (he relapsed in 2001 and joined a 12-step program). But with help from MTV, where he was one of its earlier stars, Eddie’s career started heading on up again thanks to songs like Shakin‘ and Think I’m In Love, whose Dracula-themed video of medieval drama paved the way for Meat Loaf’s theatrical videos of the 90s.
But none of those songs were bigger than Eddie’s biggest hit, 1986’s Take Me Home Tonight, which peaked at #4 on the Billboard Hot 100 with help from Ronnie Spector.
Eddie continued to perform and make music through the 80s, 90s, and 00s.
He’s survived by his wife of 30 years Laurie Harris and their five children: Jesse, Zachary, Joseph, Desmond, and Julian.
Rest in peace, Eddie Money.
Pic: Columbia