Two Tickets to Paradise — The Eddie Money Memorial Procession
It was a golden afternoon in Columbia, South Carolina — the kind of day Eddie Money himself might’ve sung about. The sun hung lazily over the city streets, while the sound of drums echoed from miles away. Today wasn’t just any day. Today was his day.
Years after the world lost Eddie Money — the iconic rocker known for hits like “Take Me Home Tonight” and “Two Tickets to Paradise” — his fans had decided it was time. Time for a procession. Time for music. Time for celebration.
Leading the charge? None other than the University of South Carolina Gamecocks marching band — the Mighty Sound of the Southeast.
Decked out in their garnet and black uniforms, the band began their march down Assembly Street, playing a booming brass rendition of “Baby Hold On.” The crowd roared in approval — fans from every generation lined the streets, waving signs that read “Money Never Dies” and “We’ve Got Two Tickets To Eddie’s Paradise.”
Behind the band came vintage cars — convertibles with giant cutouts of Eddie’s face, local radio DJs blasting his greatest hits from loudspeakers, and fans singing every word.
A float decorated like a stage followed — complete with a leather jacket draped over a microphone stand, surrounded by roses and neon lights spelling out “Eddie.” It was raw. It was beautiful.
As the procession reached the Horseshoe on campus, the Gamecocks band shifted into a soulful, slowed-down version of “I Wanna Go Back.” People wept. People laughed. And in true Eddie Money fashion — people danced.
At sunset, the ceremony ended with the entire crowd singing “Two Tickets to Paradise” in unison, the Gamecocks band building to a thunderous finale that echoed across the city.
No one wanted to leave.
Because for one day — Eddie Money was back.
And Columbia, led by the Gamecocks band, made sure he knew it.
