Sept. 13, 2019: Eddie Money, Veteran Rocker, Dies at 70
by Best Classic Bands Staff
Eddie Money (Photo: Stewart Volland via AXS TV)
Legendary rocker Eddie Money, who scored with such chart hits as “Baby Hold On,” Two Tickets to Paradise” and “Take Me Home Tonight,” died September 13, 2019. He was 70. Just three weeks earlier, on August 24, it was learned that Money had developed esophageal cancer, and just days before his death he had to halt his treatments for the illness.
The family’s statement of the rocker’s death said, “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.”
The cancer diagnosis was detailed in a special episode of his AXS TV reality show, Real Money, that aired on September 12. Real Money follows the daily lives of Money, his wife, Laurie, and their five children, both at home and on the road.
TMZ was the first to report the news of Money’s cancer diagnosis on August 24, several hours before AXS TV sent out a news release.
From the AXS TV announcement: Money received the diagnosis last fall while taping the second season of his popular reality series, which he and his wife, Laurie, executive produce. “I thought I was just going in to get a checkup,” said Money.
Money was still recuperating from health issues resulting from his heart valve procedure in June. The heart issue was a condition unrelated to his cancer.
Eddie and Laurie Money renewed their wedding vows in Feburary 2019. “Eddie and I felt strongly about getting married in the eyes of God, and his illness prompted us to stop putting it off,” Laurie said. “This ceremony meant more to both of us than the original, since we knew exactly what the words meant that we were saying to each other because we’d already lived it.”
On May 28, he announced that he would be taking time off after his doctors recommended the minimally invasive procedure after Money began to experience shortness of breath. The doctors preferred the surgery be completed the previous week, however Money did not want to cancel his two scheduled Memorial Day weekend shows. The procedure took place while Money had a break in his concert dates.
This ad for Money’s debut album appeared in the June 24, 1978, issue of Record World
Following the heart procedure, Money’s Facebook page offered a brief update on June 6:
“The Money Family appreciates and is very grateful for the thoughts and prayers of Eddie’s friends and fans as he continues to recuperate from his heart valve procedure. He looks forward to getting back on the road very soon, but in the meantime, he hopes that you’ll all join him this Sunday watching one of his personal favorite episodes of Real Money on AXS TV when the Moneys head to Deadwood, South Dakota for some forced family fun!!”
Born Edward Mahoney in New York on March 21, 1949, Money dropped out of the New York Police Academy in the ’70s to pursue a career in music. His biggest-ever hit was a duet with Ronnie Spector of the Ronettes, “Take Me Home Tonight,” which reached #4 in 1986. He’s also well known for such hits as “Baby Hold On,” “Two Tickets to Paradise” and “Walk on Water,” among many others.
Related: Money was mourned by fellow rockers and the NYPD
8 Comments so far
Jump into a conversationPrayers for Eddie
We love you Eddie! You rocked our world and we wanna help you if we can!
OK EDDIE, ALL PRAYERS ARE WITH YOU. YOU ARE A “WINNER”. YOU FIGHT BACK HARD. I AM IN YOUR CORNER…. GOD BLESS…
Fuck Cancer. I hate it. You got this Eddie. Kick Cancer’s ass!
Get well Eddie
He battled and fought it. Eddie had alot of guts and strength and integrity too. His family… I feel your loss and Eddie my be gone but his music lives on forever God bless Eddie always be remembered everyday good bye my friend
Eddie produced some great songs and was a great guy!
One off Eddie’s songs that deserved better was “Get A Move On” from his third LP, and used in the much overlooked movie “Americathon”.