The halls of Montclair High School will truly be rocking this fall when one of MHS’s most renowned alum, legendary Rock and Roll Hall of Famer and Eagles’ guitarist, Joe Walsh, will visit Montclair for a two-day event on October 2–3.
To kick off the exciting weekend, in celebration of the high school’s 100th anniversary, Walsh will start his visit in town with Montclair High School students and faculty during a school day assembly on Friday, October 2. The following evening, Saturday, October 3, Walsh and his band will give an intimate benefit concert at the Montclair High School auditorium. In addition to the high school celebrating 100 years, 2015 also marks 50 years since Walsh graduated from MHS.
“Montclair was a great place to grow up. It was, and still is, the kind of place where kids could really be kids,” says Walsh. “Montclair itself has successfully maintained some of that by preserving so much of the town and its independently owned stores. There was a real innocence, and that gave kids the opportunity to try new things, to explore. That was especially true at Montclair High School. I had a music teacher, William McClellan, who encouraged me to try lots of different kinds of music. I wouldn’t be the musician I am without him. I am honored and thrilled to have the opportunity to return to the school and give back a little of what was given to me,” he adds.
The concert is being presented by Montclair High School and MFEE (the Montclair Fund for Educational Excellence). Funds raised from the concert will be used to renovate the school’s library and transform it into a state-of-the-art media center for all students to enjoy
“Bringing Joe Walsh to Montclair to perform at the high school is a dream come true,” said Sue Weintraub, event co-chair, MFEE board member and MHS class of 1984. “We are so excited for an incredible weekend of music and fun, all to benefit MHS.”
“We are truly excited to have one of our most distinguished MHS alumni, Joe Walsh, hold a benefit concert for the high school,” said James Earle, Principal of Montclair High School. “It’s wonderful that Joe has so many special memories of his time at Montclair High and we are looking forward to a great event.”
Tickets to the concert will be on sale to the public in early September through the MFEE website — www.mfee.org. Ticket prices will range from $30 for MHS students to $200. Sponsorships of the event are also available.
Finally! I’m going! Been talking about this for years. I was still at MHS when rumors were going around that Joe was coming, but apparently it was shot down by the MHS principal at the time.