Bruce Springsteen News

Gestern – am 6. Mai 2018 – wurde Steven Van Zandt als offizielles Mitglied der „New Jersey Hall of Fame“ aufgenommen. Die Aufnahmezeremonie fand am Abend im „Paramount Theatre“ in Asbury Park, NJ statt.

Natürlich lies es sich Bruce Springsteen nicht nehmen, im „Paramount Theatre“ selbst aufzutreten und lobende Worte ans Publikum zu richten.

Bruce Springsteen sagte:

Though born in Boston, Massachusetts, there is no purer distillation of the Jersey ethos than Little Steven Van Zandt. He is his own purest creation. Words you will never hear on the street: „Wow, that guy looks just like Little Steven!“

Roaring into New Jersey at seven years old, baptized at 13 in the holy spirit of The Beatles on Ed Sullivan, the Stones on Hollywood Palace, Steve’s vocation, rock ’n‘ roll, chose him early. I first laid eyes on him at the Middletown Hullabaloo Club in 1966. As I walked in, there was Steve with his band The Shadows, knocking out a record-perfect rendition of The Turtles‘ „Happy Together.“ Who knew I had just met my black-vested, paisley-tied, teenaged, wild-eyed brother? One look at Steve and I knew that we’d both drunk the same Kool-Aid.

Then it was fast friendship, weekly trips to Greenwich Village and the Cafe Wha? to watch the bands, arguing about who was better, Led Zeppelin or the Jeff Beck Group, The Beatles or the Rolling Stones; who had the perfect clothes, the perfect guitar, the perfect hair; and thousands of hours of preparation for the day when folks could argue about us. Of course, this all culminated in our brotherhood in the E Street Band, Steve’s service — playing, singing, producing as my irreplaceable lieutenant — and our lifelong friendship.

While I’m always blessed to have Steve at my side, his solo work speaks for itself. The incredible songs and productions he created for Southside Johnny, such as „I Don’’t Want to Go Home,“ „Love on the Wrong Side of Town,“ „It’s Been a Long Time“… Steve is one of the greatest living white soul performers and writers we have. His timely and classic Sun City recording — with an organization he created, Artists United Against Apartheid — was not only brave music but worked hard to combat apartheid in South Africa. His incredible work with his ongoing group, the Disciples of Soul. And all of this before you get to Steve’s great contribution to Jersey lore as an actor: Silvio in The Sopranos.

Did I mention: he’s a radio host, an entrepreneur with Little Steven’s Underground Garage, where he plays all the music you need to hear, and captains the Wicked Cool record label, where he releases great records and gives young bands the shot they deserve.

Steve also has a long career as an activist, too lengthy to go into here, but let’s just say he walks it like he talks it. His Rock and Roll Forever Foundation and his TeachRock program brings an essential curriculum of music and culture into school and makes it available at no cost to educators. In a time of cutbacks in arts funding, Steve’s programs are keeping kids engaged in the arts, and in school — this is his greatest legacy.

To finish off, this is a man who was married to his lovely wife Maureen by Little Richard, who was serenaded down the aisle by the great Percy Sledge, is the sole creator of the male babushka, and is the only man I know besides Hugh Hefner who has figured out how to spend his whole life in his pajamas…. I love you, Steve! Welcome to the New Jersey Hall of Fame, Steven Van Zandt!

Steven van Zandt wurde bekannt als Produzent von Bruce Springsteen, Lone Justice, Southside Johnny und vielen anderen. Auch als Songwriter, Radio DJ, Schauspieler und langjähriges Mitglied der legendären E Street Band feierte er grosse Erfolge.

Little Steven – Men Without Women / Voice of America (Album)

Nach seiner zwischenzeitlichen Trennung von Bruce Springsteens E Street Band veröffentlichte er mit “Men Without Women” (1982), “Voice of America” (1984), “Freedom” (1987), “Revolution” (1989) und “Born Again Savage” (1999) fünf bemerkenswerte Solo Alben.

Artists United Against Apartheid – Sun City (Album)

Auch als Initiator der Initiative “Artists United Against Apartheid” machte er sich einen Namen. Mit 50 international bekannten Künstlern nahm er den Song “Sun City” auf und veröffentlichte am 7. Dezember 1985 das gleichnamige Studioalbum. Am 11. Juni 1988 trat er beim “Nelson Mandela 70th Birthday Tribute Concert” im Londoner Wembley Stadion auf. Gemeinsam mit Jim Kerr (Simple Minds), Meat Loaf, Jackson Browne und anderen Künstlern performte er “Sun City” live vor Publikum.

Darüber hinaus zählte er zwischen 1999 bis 2007 zum Cast der beliebten amerikanischen Krimiserie “The Sopranos”. Ferner schlüpfte er im Jahre 2011 erstmals in der norwegisch-amerikanischen Co-Produktion “Lilyhammer” in die Rolle des Mafiaaussteigers Frank “The Fixer” Tagliano. In 24 Episoden schlägt sich der ehemalige Gangster, der im norwegischen Lillehammer ein neues Leben anzufangen versucht, durch aberwitzige Abenteuer. Unter anderem wurde die Serie beim Fernsehfestival von Monte Carlo zwei Mal in Folge zur besten europäischen Comedyserie gekürt.

Little Steven – Soulfire Live! (Album, 2018)

2017 wurde Little Steven sechstes Soloalbum „Soulfire“ released. Es folgte eine ausgedehnte Welttournee mit etlichen Auftritten in Deutschland. Darüber hinaus überraschte uns der Künstler vor wenigen Tagen mit dem Live-Album „Soulfire Live!“.

Mehr Infos:

• Von den Castiles bis zur E Street Band
• Little Steven auf stonepony.de
• Little Stevens offizielle Homepage