Inspired by years of playing the smoky bar circuits, John Eddie has released his rock manifesto entitled Who The Hell Is John Eddie?. It’s an appropriate title since most people can’t answer that question.
Born and raised in Richmond, VA, John Eddie relocated to New Jersey in the ‘70s, to pursue his musical career. At his peak, in the ‘80s, he filled the East Coast bars that Bruce Springsteen had outgrown. In fact, Springsteen became one of his most loyal fans, often joining John on stage. His energetic live shows attracted an ardent following and caught the attention of several major record labels, including CBS/Sony and Elektra. However, after signing a record deal with CBS/Sony, creative differences left him with two failed albums and no contract.
John Eddie floundered for a decade, releasing several self-produced albums before signing with Lost Highway Records. Who The Hell Is John Eddie? is his acclaimed debut effort for the label.
The first track, “If You’re Here When I Get Back,” was the first song released from the album. Musically, it’s a bittersweet melody, which Eddie describes as “wishful thinking put to music.” Unfortunately, this song never saw the light of day, unless you were blessed to live in a city with a true indie rock station.
On tracks like “It Doesn’t Get Better Than This” and “Nobody’s Happy” it quickly becomes clear that he’s an expert on both personal and professional heartbreak. The most poignant example of this is the second track, “Let Me Down Hard.” If you don’t like this song, chances are you’ve never truly had your heart broken. But keep it close, you’re going to need it someday.
If a musician has been playing the club circuits for almost 30 years, he or she has to have a sense of humor. Eddie definitely masters that in his rockabilly anthems, “Low Life,” “Forty,” and “Sh**hole Bar.” “Forty,” in particular, is a clever ditty lamenting his age but chastising older rockers like Bruce Springsteen and Keith Richards.
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