Imagine having nearly $9 billion in the bank—what kind of holiday party would you throw? For Todd Boehly, chairman of Eldridge Industries, the answer was nothing short of jaw-dropping. Last Thursday, Boehly hosted a corporate holiday bash so over-the-top, it felt more like a private rock festival than a company event. And here’s the kicker: the lineup included some of the biggest names in music history. But here’s where it gets controversial—was this a celebration of wealth and creativity, or just a flashy display of excess?
The star-studded event took place at the Capitol Theatre in Port Chester, New York, where Slash led an all-star house band featuring Red Hot Chili Peppers’ Chad Smith on drums, Guns N’ Roses’ Duff McKagan on bass, and super producer Andrew Watt on guitar. Together, they called themselves “The Dirty Bats,” and their performance was nothing short of legendary. Joining them throughout the night were A-listers like Eddie Vedder, Anthony Kiedis, YUNGBLUD, Brandi Carlile, and Bruno Mars—a lineup so ridiculous, it’s hard to believe it wasn’t a public concert.
According to setlist.fm, the night kicked off with YUNGBLUD joining Slash and the band for electrifying covers of Black Sabbath’s ‘War Pigs’ and The Rolling Stones’ ‘Start Me Up.’ Brandi Carlile then took the stage, delivering powerful renditions of Led Zeppelin’s ‘Black Dog’ and her own hit ‘The Story.’ Anthony Kiedis brought the energy with Motörhead’s ‘Ace of Spades’ and Iggy and the Stooges’ ‘Search and Destroy.’
Eddie Vedder’s turn was a highlight for many, as he performed five songs, including Pearl Jam classics like ‘Corduroy’ and ‘Better Man,’ along with a cover of Dead Boys’ ‘Sonic Reducer.’ And this is the part most people miss—Vedder’s raw, emotional delivery turned a corporate event into something deeply personal and unforgettable.
Bruno Mars closed out the main set with a five-song run that included Led Zeppelin’s ‘Whole Lotta Love,’ The Police’s ‘Roxanne,’ and Nirvana’s ‘Smells Like Teen Spirit.’ The night ended with a full-cast encore of Chuck Berry’s ‘Johnny B. Goode,’ leaving everyone in awe.
To put Boehly’s extravagance in perspective, he co-founded Eldridge Industries in 2015, a holding company with stakes in DraftKings, Vivid Seats, the Los Angeles Dodgers, Fanatics, and more. On the media side, they own Dick Clark Productions and the rights to the Golden Globes. Boehly is also a co-controlling owner of Chelsea F.C. and Ligue 1’s RC Strasbourg. For someone of his wealth, funding a private festival lineup was likely just a drop in the bucket—but was it worth it?
Here’s the question we’re left with: Does a party like this celebrate the intersection of music and wealth, or does it highlight the growing divide between the ultra-rich and everyone else? Let’s hear your thoughts in the comments below. And while you’re at it, check out the full setlist and videos from the event—it’s a night that’ll go down in rock history.
Setlist:
1. War Pigs (Black Sabbath cover with YUNGBLUD)
2. Start Me Up (The Rolling Stones cover with YUNGBLUD)
3. Black Dog (Led Zeppelin cover with Brandi Carlile)
4. The Story (Brandi Carlile original with Brandi Carlile)
5. Ace of Spades (Motörhead cover with Anthony Kiedis)
6. Search and Destroy (Iggy and the Stooges cover with Anthony Kiedis)
7. Unknown song (with Eddie Vedder)
8. Corduroy (Pearl Jam cover with Eddie Vedder)
9. Better Man (Pearl Jam cover with Eddie Vedder)
10. Wishlist (Pearl Jam cover with Eddie Vedder)
11. Sonic Reducer (Dead Boys cover with Eddie Vedder)
12. Whole Lotta Love (Led Zeppelin cover with Bruno Mars)
13. Roxanne (The Police cover with Bruno Mars)
14. Fire (Jimi Hendrix cover with Bruno Mars)
15. Dirty Diana (Michael Jackson cover with Bruno Mars)
16. Smells Like Teen Spirit (Nirvana cover with Bruno Mars)
17. Johnny B. Goode (Chuck Berry cover with full cast)
