with Eddie Money and he talks a little bit about our hero -http://www.concordmonitor.com/apps/pbcs ... TAINMENT03
Money talks. We're more than happy to listen
Words of wisdom from an '80s icon
By ALLISON STEELE
Monitor staff
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August 10. 2006 8:00AM
Eddie Money, who's playing the Hampton Beach Casino Ballroom tomorrow night at 8, recently took the time to talk about groupies, why he's got beef with Elvis Costello, and those irritating dropped cell phone calls.
Concord Monitor: So, I'm calling from a newspaper in New Hampshire, where you're coming this week.
Eddie Money: I just love New Hampshire. I can't begin to tell you. It's one of my favorite states.
Really? Why?
Oh, everything. The people are super, super nice. I like all of New England. I like Maine, but I think I like New Hampshire better. I think Maine's a little more laid-back. I also think the people are slightly less intelligent in Maine.
Boy, you better not be going to Maine after this.
I like Maine, too. I just like New Hampshire better.
I notice that this seems to be your personal cell phone number. Aren't you afraid I'll pass it out to all my friends so they can call you in the middle of the night?
Geez, I hope you wouldn't do that.
But I could.
Usually when you give your number to a journalist, they're professional about it . . .
I mean, I'm not going to do that. I'm just saying.
That doesn't usually happen. And if it did, I'd just change my number if people started bothering me.
What if I just wanted to talk?
Fine, give me a ring!
So you're still getting the love from the groupies?
Sure, I mean, it's nice to have female fans. It's nice to not be in a band like Metallica, where you have all guys in the audience or something, getting drunk and puking all over the place.
(Brief interruption as the phone connection is lost, and the Monitor calls back.)
Hello?
(Singing) Aaaa-llison . . . I love that song. I hate Elvis Costello, he's a [jerk], but I love that song. He reminds me of the kind of guy in high school that you'd knock the books out of his hand, like a little nerd. I can't believe he's in the Rock 'n' Roll Hall of Fame and I'm not. I'd love to kick the s-- out of him.
Really? Why's that?
I had a run-in with him back in the '70s. We were playing a show together and he gave me s-- because he was opening up for me and thought I should be opening for him or something. I didn't even care -
(The connection is lost again. The Monitor calls back.)
You know, with as much money as you probably have, you can probably afford better cell phone service.
I got Cingular because I saw an ad about how they have the fewest dropped calls. And it's been fine until the last week or so. Lately, they've been dropping all of my calls.
Now, where was I? What's the most rock 'n' roll thing you think you've ever done?
I'll tell you one of the most embarrassing rock 'n' roll things that ever happened to me. I was in Kansas City, and I was in a karaoke bar, and everyone was doing stuff like Debbie Boone, "You Light Up My Life," Aerosmith, stuff like that. And no one there recognized me. And there was a bunch of Eddie Money material there. So I entered the contest, and did some Eddie Money stuff. And I lost.
No way!
(Laughs) I lost! Can you believe that s--? I was Eddie Money, and I lost!
Who won?
Someone who was doing, I think, Karen Carpenter. I think I came in third. There were other people there doing Eddie Money material. Thank God they didn't win. That would have been really embarrassing.
It's pretty embarrassing as it is.
Yeah.
So, what about Ronnie Spector? What was it like to work with her in the '80s on that song? Did she talk trash on her ex-husband?
Yeeeah! You wanna talk about a dysfunctional marriage? He used to take a shower with his wig on! Can you imagine taking a shower with a wig on? How crazy is that? She knew he was bald! He was trying to hide it from his own wife! I can't believe that guy's out on bail. There was no reason that poor woman had to die.
I understand you started out as a member of the NYPD. What's something you learned as a cop that you transferred to your singing career?
I'll tell you, there's a lot I didn't learn about being on the police force. I didn't leave on the best terms.
What do you mean?
I don't want to get into it. You know, I was growing my hair long, smoking some pot. I wasn't the perfect cop.
Enough said. . . . Okay, just one more question. I've got two tickets to paradise. Where are we going?
You want to know the truth? If I had two tickets to paradise, I'd stay home. Play golf on my own golf course, get my hair cut. I'm on the road so much, two tickets to paradise for me is just being at home.
