Friday, August 03, 2007

Eddie Vedder is a Cubs fan


They haven't won the World Series since 1908, but the Chicago Cubs never have lacked for big name fans.

Eddie Vedder, lead singer of the once-great band Pearl Jam, threw out the first pitch at today's Cubs-Mets game, and will sing "Take Me Out To The Ballgame" during the 7th inning stretch.

Too bad Harry Caray isn't around to do the interview with him.

If Mr. Vedder says anything interesting, we'll file an update. (The WGN announcer said he's a pal of Kerry Wood, the Texas native pitcher who was activated from the disabled list today.)

Holla-atchya!

UPDATE, 3:20 pm ...
Mr. Vedder, wearing a #23 Cub jersey with "Vedder" across the back, acquitted himself quite well during the 7th inning stretch. "OK, we can do this," he told the crowd, before starting "Take Me Out To The Ballgame."

"Welcome home, Eddie," said a sign someone was holding in the crowd.

It turns out Mr. Vedder and Pearl Jam are performing this Sunday at Lollapalooza (Pearl Jam played last night at the Vick Theater; Randy Hundley, former Cub catcher, was in the audience, Mr. Vedder said.)

Even if he didn't have a gig (that's showbiz talk for "concert date"), Mr. Vedder said, "I probably would have flown in just to see Kerry come back...."

He said hi to his grandma, who was watching the broadcast, and said his 3 year old daughter and several of his band mates came to the ballpark with him.

"He loves this game, and this team and this town," Eddie said of his pal Kerry Wood, who was warming up in the bullpen as the Cubbies tied the game at 2-2.

Evidenty, rock 'n roll and Cubs fans have an amazing mind meld thing going on, based on what the WGN announcer said to Eddie, which was that when Police played Chicago recently and performed the song "Roxanne," the concert crowd would sing "Ron Santo" (instead of "Roxanne") during the famous song's chorus, which made Eddie chuckle.

2 comments:

Anonymous said...

Vedder's true greatness was his Bobfest rendition of the bard Dylan's "Masters of War."
It was a song he and the entire band would reprise on the Letterman show.

H. Brute
formerly of Sharpstown, TX

Anonymous said...

"once-great band Pearl Jam"??