Fans of television’s perhaps greatest show ever, Breaking Bad, owe a great debt of gratitude to Tommy James & The Shondells. In what may be the best single use of a pop song in television history, “Crystal Blue Persuasion” plays as Walter White’s meth empire grows from the United States to the Czech Republic (White’s unique method of making crystal meth turned it blue). It’s almost as if Tommy James and company might have seen back then this moment far into the future! But the producers of Breaking Bad are just one in a long line of creatives that have paid tribute to this ’60s band’s songwriting prowess:
• “Mony Mony” vaulted back into the public consciousness when Billy Idol did a cover of it in 1981, along with a killer video;
• “Crimson and Clover” was a hit for Joan Jett & the Blackhearts, also in 1981 (along with a super-sexy video);
• “I Think We’re Alone Now” was made even more iconic in 1987, courtesy of a cover (and again, a great video) by Tiffany.
It all just speaks to the universal appeal the band has had over the decades, culminating in two number one hits, 24 Billboard Top 40 Solid Gold hits and more than 100 million records sold worldwide. And the chart-topping band brings all these hits and much more to the Golden Nugget this week. We figure you won’t need too much persuasion to go.
Golden Nugget, 8 p.m. Nov. 11, $59 plus tax and fee. ticketmaster.com
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