5. His Band Is A Supergroup
The E Street band is one of the greatest bands in the history of rock music. Their work with Springsteen aside, many have forged incredible careers in their own right. Here are a few examples: Roy Bittan The keyboard and piano work of Roy Bittan spreads far and wide. Jim Steinman selected Bittan to play almost all of the piano parts on Meat Loafs legendary Bat Out of Hell album. He also returned to play parts on three other Meat Loaf albums. Other credits include Dire Straits Making Movies, Station to Station and Scary Monsters (and Super Creeps) by David Bowie, Bella Donna by Stevie Nicks and Peter Gabriels self-titled record. Max Weinberg Like Bittan, drummer Weinberg also played on Bat Out of Hell and in 1983 he featured on the top 2 singles on the Billboard Top 100, Bonnie Tylers Total Eclipse of the Heart and Air Supplys Making Love out of Nothing at All. In 1993 he and his group, The Max Weinberg 7, became the house band for the hit US talk show Late Night with Conan OBrien. Steve Van Zandt Perhaps best known now for playing Silvio Dante in The Sopranos and Frank Tagliano in Lilyhammer, (which he also co-wrote and was executive producer) guitarist Little Steve Van Zandt made use of his time away from the E Street Band between 1984 and 1999 producing for numerous bands as well as his own, The Disciples of Soul. In 1993 he wrote and produced All Alone on Christmas for the film Home Alone on which the E Street band played behind Darlene Love. He presents a weekly radio show, Little Stevens Underground Garage which focuses on a mix of old and new rock and roll. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XqDj4BxrXG8 Nils Lofgren Before the E Street Band, guitarist Nils Lofgren was a star in his own right having forged a successful solo career after his band, Grin parted ways. He has played on a Number of Neil Young records including 1970s After the Gold Rush and Lou Reeds The Bells before joining E Street. Since then he has continued to release solo material. Clarence Clemons The Big Man was an integral part of the E Street Band and a legendary saxophonist. Outside of E Street he recorded with his bands The Red Band Rockers and The Temple of Soul and worked with many other acts including Jackson Browne, Aretha Franklin, the Grateful Dead and Ringo Starr. As an actor Clemons appeared in Bill and Teds Excellent Adventure, Blues Brothers 2000, Diffrent Strokes, My Wife and Kids and The Wire. The songs Hair and The Edge of Glory from Lady Gagas album Born This Way featured saxophone performed by Clemons. He featured in the video for The Edge of Glory which was shot shortly before his death in 2011. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-PTJHhUeAfc https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QeWBS0JBNzQ
Terry Hearn
Contributor
I have one golden rule: There is no such thing as a guilty pleasure. Any song or film that makes you feel good doesn't need justifying.
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