Eddie Vedder joined Pete Townshend, Billy Idol, and Alfie Boe for a special charity performance of Classic Quadrophenia at the Rosemont Theatre in Chicago last night. The show, which was led by conductor Robert Ziegler and featured the Chicagoland Pops Orchestra and the Chicago Children’s Choir, helped to raise funds for Teen Cancer America.
Pete and Eddie Vedder have worked together before on charity efforts in Chicago, including a benefit show for Teen Cancer America that was held at the Rosemont Theatre in 2015.
Pete discussed Eddie’s role in the Classic Quadrophenia show, and his relationship with Eddie in a recent interview with Ultimate Classic Rock.
“He will probably be playing the role of the punk in the song “The Punk and the Godfather.” And I think I will also ask him to do the song “I’m One,” which is just perfect for him. He and I may do “Drowned” together. We’re going to make the Chicago show a little different because it is a charity show.
I would count Eddie as a family friend. When he comes to London, he goes to visit my brother Paul, who’s a painter and decorator, and he hangs out with Paul and his family and goes to the local pub and gets drunk. He supports my brother Simon in his solo shows, and he’ll often appear with them. He often invites Simon to appear with him when he does solo shows. So, he’s very close to the family. And he and I do have a bit of Chicago history, doing a couple charity shows in the past, so I was really excited when he decided to do it.”
The Classic Quadrophenia tour travels West for one more show at the Greek Theatre in Los Angeles on Saturday September 16th.
Many thanks to Edward Bomba Marshall for all the fantastic photos!