Hank Williams Jr. to perform opening theme on ESPN's Monday Night Football
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HANK WILLIAMS, JR. TO PERFORM OPENING THEME TO ESPN'S MONDAY NIGHT
FOOTBALL
Music Legend to Star in MNF Intro for 16th Year with All Star Band
Monday Night Football is the signature television property in all of
sports - an American institution - and legendary singer Hank
Williams, Jr. has played a defining role in that tradition since 1989,
earning four Emmy awards (1991-1994) and national acclaim among fans
for the MNF anthem he has made famous. That legacy will continue on MNF
when the familiar face and voice of Williams, Jr. will perform the
opening theme with a new twist, bridging the series' past with its
bright future on ESPN.
Based on his hit song "All My Rowdy Friends Are Coming Over
Tonight," Williams, Jr., will perform "All My Rowdy Friends Are
Coming Over Monday Night" for the first time with an all star jam
band representing musical influences from country and classic rock 'n
roll to hip-hop.
Band members will include:
Guitarists Chris Burney (Bowling for Soup), Rick Nielsen (Cheap Trick),
Steven Van Zandt (E Street Band);
Keyboardists Little Richard and Bernie Worrell (Parliament Funkadelic);
Fiddler Charlie Daniels;
Saxophonist Clarence Clemons (E Street Band);
Bassist Bootsy Collins (Parliament Funkadelic);
Drummers Angela Webster (The Believers) and ?uestlove (The Roots).
"When Hank says 'Are you ready for some football?' it injects a
surge of energy and excitement before the Monday Night Football
kickoff, and that will definitely be true on ESPN this fall," said
Norby Williamson, executive vice president, studio and remote
production, ESPN. "Hank and this legendary group of musicians will
give ESPN's MNF a new, high-energy opening every week of the season
that will have fans in a frenzy just as the teams hit the field."
Williams, Jr. added: "Bocephus ain't hard to find. ESPN is now
officially one of my rowdy friends - hold on to your hats, it's
going to be an exciting season."
The MNF opening video will feature team-specific lyrics and visuals
each week based on the 17 regular season ESPN match-ups. Filming is
taking place Tuesday at House of Blues Orlando with all of the
musicians. Van Zandt and John Colby are producing the music with lyrics
by Greg Jennings. Stephen Levy of Habana Avenue is producing the video,
and Wayne Isham is directing.
The MNF video will debut prior to kickoff of ESPN's MNF regular
season-opening doubleheader Sept. 11 - Minnesota Vikings at
Washington Redskins (7 p.m. ET) and San Diego Chargers at Oakland
Raiders (10:15 p.m.).
With more than 70 albums to his credit, Williams Jr. has a fascinating
career to reflect upon for a legend still in his prime. His discography
chronicles a bold profile of growth from adored offspring of a
legendary father, to titan of the modern country rock movement in his
own right. For more than a decade, America has come to its collective
feet each fall Monday night when this larger than life superman of a
musician looks into the camera and unleashes the national anthem for
viewers of Monday Night Football - 'Are you ready for some
football?' Those simple words have won Williams, Jr. an entirely new
generation of fans and given him the distinction of being the first
country performer to ever win an Emmy.
ESPN's Monday Night Football will engage fans with an immersive,
all-day, multimedia approach each week throughout the NFL season across
all ESPN platforms -- ESPN television networks, ESPN Radio, ESPN.com,
ESPN360 and Mobile ESPN. With a 36-year tradition of innovating and
entertaining, MNF is sports television's longest-running and most
successful series. ESPN continues to provide the most comprehensive
coverage of the NFL throughout the year with signature shows Sunday NFL
Countdown, Monday Night Countdown, NFL Live, SportsCenter and other
news and information programs.
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