Hank's Rowdy Friends Ready for Some Football
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8/16/2007 While the names of the NFL superstars who have performed on Monday Night Football the past two decades are constantly changing, one participant in the highly-rated show has remained since 1989: Hank Williams, Jr. The legendary singer has earned four Emmy awards (1991-1994) for singing the anthem that kicks off the NFL's weekly primetime showcase game. That legacy continues for the 19th year when Hank Jr. performs the opening theme to ESPN's Monday Night Football this fall, with a new all-star band featuring singer/songwriter Brian Setzer (Stray Cats/Brian Setzer Orchestra), Richie Sambora (Bon Jovi), Gretchen Wilson, and Drake Bell, the 21-year-old actor/singer/songwriter from the popular Nickelodeon series Drake and Josh. In addition to Brian Setzer on guitar, the backing band will feature keyboardist John Ondrasik (Five for Fighting), funk bassist Bootsy Collins (Parliament Funkadelic), and drummer Cindy Blackman (Lenny Kravitz). This year's version of "All My Rowdy Friends Are Here on Monday Night," based on his hit song "All My Rowdy Friends Are Coming Over Tonight," will offer a "boogie-woogie" and big-band flair as 13 members of the horn section from the Brian Setzer Orchestra are also featured. ESPN introduced the all-star band concept during its inaugural MNF season a year ago, and this year's diverse collection of musicians is scheduled to feature new artists representing rock 'n roll, pop, country and funk, including: "Bootsy Collins, Gretchen Wilson, Richie Sambora ... these are definitely some of my rowdiest friends. With names like these in the open for Monday Night Football, this year's theme will get everyone fired up for that pigskin."
