Yes, that was Eddie Vedder at Wrigleyville bar’s open mic night
BY ARIEL CHEUNG Staff Reporter/acheung@suntimes.com July 1, 2011 2:12PM
Eddie Vedder | Scott Stewart~Sun-Times
Updated: July 2, 2011 2:01AM
Patrons of a Wrigleyville bar were treated to an impromptu performance by Pearl Jam frontman Eddie Vedder after the Cubs-San Francisco Giants game Thursday.
Beth Murphy, co-owner of Murphy’s Bleachers just beyond Wrigley Field’s famous scoreboard, convinced Vedder to perform during the open mic night, she said.
“He was on his way out and he wanted a hot dog,” Murphy said. “I told him hot dogs take about seven minutes, and I told him that’s enough time for two songs.”
Vedder “didn’t hesitate much,” Murphy said, and took the stage to sing Cubs tribute “All the Way” and Neil Young’s “Rockin’ in the Free World.”
“It was great — we had all our regulars in here,” Murphy said. “We had real Murphy’s people in here, and they just went crazy.”
Harold Share, 63, of Wrigleyville, is a frequent patron who was thrilled to see Vedder perform, he said.
“He just got up and started singing,” Share said. “You don’t expect to see something like that, not on a game day at Wrigley. It was awesome.”
Vedder sang “Take Me Out to the Ball Game” with former Cub Jose Cardenal during the earlier game and then spent four hours at the bar, Murphy said.
“Eddie’s come here for many years,” Murphy said. “He considers Murphy’s a second home.”
