Despite his string of hits – including “Baby Hold On,” “Two Tickets to Paradise,” and “Take Me Home Tonight” – Eddie Money isn’t beyond making fun of himself, as he does in a recent commercial for GEICO.
Money will perform with Edgar Winter and John Cafferty at 8 p.m. Dec. 1 at the Arcada Theatre, 105 E. Main St., St. Charles.
Ticket start at $35, and are available at www.oshows.com.
Kane County Chronicle reporter Eric Schelkopf had the opportunity to interview Money about his current activities.
Eric Schelkopf: So, are you looking forward to coming to St. Charles?
Eddie Money: I’ve got a lot of friends in St. Charles. My aunt and uncle used to live up there. It’s going to be a really fun show. Actually, Edgar Winter played at my wedding. And John Cafferty had a lot of hits.
ES: Are you going to be able to bring out “Everybody Loves Christmas,” which you did with Ronnie Spector?
EM: We’re definitely going to bring that out too. We’re doing one Christmas song a piece. It’s going to be a fun show. We’re all going to be on stage together. We’re all friends. I’m looking forward to it.
ES: What do you like about the song?
EM: I tell you Eric, isn’t that a great Christmas tune or what? And not just because I wrote it.
Ronnie did a great part on the tune, and I mention my kids’ names in it. Of course, that was when they were little.
And one great thing about a Christmas song, it comes back every year. You get a Christmas hit, whether it’s Alvin and the Chipmunks or even Bing Crosby, it still comes back every year.
ES: And of course, you and Ronnie had the hit “Take Me Home Tonight.” How did you guys hook up?
EM: She knew who I was. I was originally going to use Martha Davis from The Motels on the song.
ES: Did you think you and Ronnie’s voices would blend so well on that song?
EM: We just sing really good together. She’s from Brooklyn and I’m from Brooklyn.
When I was a kid, one of my favorite songs of all time was “Be My Baby.” It was a lot of fun to work with Ronnie.
ES: You’re in the spotlight these days for the GEICO commercial. What made you want to do it?
EM: It was a lot of fun doing it. I’m getting so much recognition from it. I’m taking pictures with people all the time.
It’s always good to get out there and be in the public eye.
ES: It’s a humorous commercial.
EM: I thought it was good. You’ve got to make fun of yourself. That’s what it is all about it.
But a lot of people actually think that I’m down and out on my luck, and that I have a travel agency in Brooklyn.
ES: Are you glad that you switched from being a cop to being a musician?
EM: Oh, yeah. I was on the police department, but I was in a rock band in high school.
I thought about being in uniform for 20 years, and how grumpy my old man was. So the band moved out to California, and then I moved out to California with them.
And then that band broke up. But I stuck with music, and eventually got a deal with Columbia Records and Bill Graham.
ES: So, you made the right choice?
EM: I think so. I would have been a good cop, too.
But I don’t really hang around with a lot of rock stars. I’ve got the same friends that I’ve had since high school.
ES: And you have had a lot of success.
EM: Yeah, I did. I sold 27 million records. I should have saved the money. But I’ve had a lot of fun.
ES: Why do you think your songs have connected so well with people?
EM: I had a therapist once tell me that my songs were successful because I represent the American male inadequacies. I got a kick out of that.
“Take Me Home Tonight” has been a very big song on the radio. They play it in all the clubs when people leave.
I played Madison Square Garden. I’ve been on “Grand Theft Auto.” I’m on “Guitar Hero.” I can say, ‘Eddie Money. I was here.’
It’s been a long trip, and it’s been a lot of fun. It has had its ups and downs, but it’s a living.
