The Glitz world of Ticketmaster is a never ending cycle of frustration and flashbacks to prior years of trying to score Springsteen Tickets. At first all the posted times for the five shows in the NYC area 2 Izod Center, 2 MSG and 1 at Prudential Center were for 10:00 AM. This morning, the times were staggerd. Izod at 10:00, Prudential 11:00 MSG Noon. So both Marie my wife and I were at the ready at 10:00 AM. I was going for opening night at the Izod Center, she was trying for night two sitting at her office. We both got caught in the endless loop of 15 minutes. I got bumped with an error message, she kept going. At 11:30 she called would call it quits soon and go to see a patient. I gave up after the error message at 10:45. At 11:00, I was trying my luck at Prudential Center. Again, after the captcha, I was endlessly looping at 15 minutes. After 30 minutes of waiting (I was preparing my marketing plan and proposal for my own little tour of coffee shops I am trying to put together.) I was sent an error message. Marie called to let me know she was still looping at 15 minutes what should she do, I said keep with it and see what happens. I felt it was our best chance, she was still in que! I told her I was out, no chance to get tickets this late in the hour. Even though she was still in the game, she was going to her appointment. When she hung up, I said what the hell, I did what any true Bruce fan would do, try again. This time I got a 3 minute waiting message that shifted to 15 minutes and shifted back again. At this time all hope was gone. If you ever got on this quickly this late int he game, you would be getting the tickets not availble at your number or price. It did this for about 3 minutes. Guess what? Two tickets appeared on my screen! Shocked, I grabbed them at once. I fired off a voice and email message telling Marie we’re in. Then off I went to run errands. At 12:30, while on the drive back from the super market, my phone rang, it was Marie, I asked if she saw my email or listend to my message and she said no. she then said she had gotten tickets. After she left for her appointment, she kept the computer at the ticketmaster screen. When she got back, the screen was asking for the captcha, she filled it in and she too was looking at two tickets. So, after a frustrating 2.5 hours of the two of us waiting and getting error messages and timing out, we were going to two shows! Shit like this never happens when you try to get Springsteen tickets through Ticketmaster. Maybe someone was looking out for us? I wonder if….
Springsteen & Ticketmaster, SOS & Problems Continue
New Bruce Album Coming?
Roger Kisby, Getty Images
While Bruce Springsteen’s official plans remain unclear following longtime E Street Saxophonist Clarence Clemons’ passing in June, the rumor mill heavily suggests that we could see a new Springsteen album this fall, sans E Street Band, with an E Street tour possible for 2012.
The popular Bruce fan site Blogness On The Edge Of Town collected the best of the circulating rumors in a recent post. Evidently, there have been a couple of high profile names leaked in association with the project, which first began taking shape (at least in the minds of Springsteen rumor mongers) back in April.
Producer Ron Aniello (who has a Springsteen link, having worked on Patti Scialfa’s ‘Play It as It Lays’ album) updated the discography listing on his personal website to add a production credit for the “forthcoming album” from Bruce Springsteen. Then, that information was quickly removed, which makes sense, since Springsteen historically likes to keep such details under wraps.
Similarly, drummer Matt Chamberlain (Pearl Jam, Peter Gabriel) tweeted a couple of seemingly-Boss related items on Twitter, including one that said “today, I’m heading out to NJ to record with that guy from there, so excited.” Only a short time later, his Twitter account had been deleted. We’d like to imagine that he got the phone call from a certain someone who said “your Twitter privileges have been revoked”
The sound of the possible album is being described as somewhere between 1978′s ‘Darkness on the Edge of Town’ and 1995′s ‘The Ghost of Tom Joad,’ which in our opinion presents an interesting range of possibilities. But to be fair, if it’s a range between those two albums, it could also sound like ‘Human Touch.’
Statistically, Springsteen is rarely idle for very long, so it’s safe to say that we’ll probably hear something about his future plans very soon.
Sax Machines
Three years ago today, saxophonist LeRoi Moore, a founding member of the Dave Matthews Band, died. He was joined earlier this summer by a fellow saxophone player, Clarence Clemons of Bruce Springsteen’s E Street Band. On the anniversary of Moore’s death, we reminisce and think about the similarities between these two rock greats.
Born on September 7, 1961, LeRoi Moore grew up in Virginia. As a young man, Moore played with the John D’earth Quintet, performing weekly at Charlottesville bar Miller’s. That’s where he met South African-born Dave Matthews, who was tending bar there in 1991. Matthews was blown away by Moore’s sound and approached him to play on some demos. Skeptical at first, Moore eventually agreed to give it a shot. It was a great decision and the beginning of a beautiful friendship – within three years, the band would release Under the Table and Dreaming and catapult to fame.
Moore’s sax work was an integral part of the Dave Matthews Band’s layered, multi-instrumental sound (rounded out with Boyd Tinsley’s fiddle and Peter Griesar’s harmonica, in addition to the standard rock-band instrumentation). Moore wasn’t limited to one instrument, either, playing bass, baritone, tenor, alto and soprano sax, as well as other wind instruments like flute, pennywhistle and oboe. And he wrote, too – many of the band’s songs were arranged by Moore, and he took co-writing credits on songs like “Stay (Wasting Time)” and “Too Much.”
LeRoi Moore stayed with the Dave Matthews Band for 17 years, missing his first show the day after being injured in an ATV accident on June 30, 2008. Just days before his accident, he had played with the band at the Nissan Pavilion in his home state of Virginia. Moore’s injuries would lead to his death fewer than two months later.
Clarence Clemons, born on January 11, 1942, also grew up in Virginia. By his early twenties, he had moved to Newark, New Jersey, but it would be a few years before he met New Jersey’s favorite son. Though the story plays out a little differently than Moore’s and Matthews’, it too starts in a bar: The Student Prince in Asbury Park, New Jersey. Bruce Springsteen was playing there with his band. Band mythology says that Clemons, having been encouraged to check out the young rocker’s music, burst through the doors mid-set and declared “I want to play with your band.” Springsteen, perhaps a little shaken by the dramatic scene, said, “Sure, you do anything you want.” Another smart choice, and another beautiful friendship was born.
That was 1969, and four years later, Greetings From Asbury Park, N.J. was released. Clemons played tenor sax on the album, and he stuck with Springsteen as he formed the E Street Band. But it was on 1975′s Born to Run that Clemons really showed the world what he could do. The smash hit record included legendary solos from Clemons on the title track, “Thunder Road” and “Jungleland.”
The E Street Band was disbanded and reformed over the years, but Clemons didn’t stop playing. He recorded solo albums, yielding the 1985 hit single “You’re a Friend of Mine.” He collaborated with big names from Aretha Franklin to the Grateful Dead to Lady Gaga. After more than 40 years of success in the music world, Clarence Clemons died of a stroke on June 18, 2011, just a few days after recording with Lady Gaga.
Two sax players from Virginia – both were big, imposing men, beloved by friends, fans and fellow musicians, who added depth and magic to the music of their respective bands. And both were remembered with joy and sadness by their bandmates upon their deaths.
“…He would put that horn in his mouth and make the most astonishingly honest music that could knock you over, and it would sink right to the middle of you.” –Dave Matthews, speaking at LeRoi Moore’s funeral
“He was my great friend, my partner and with Clarence at my side, my band and I were able to tell a story far deeper than those simply contained in our music.” –Bruce Springsteen’s statement after Clarence Clemons’ death
Written by Linnea Crowther
Clarence Clemons’ Death Still Haunts Springsteen and E Street Band, According to Nils Lofgren
by: Matt Wardlaw of Ultimate Classic Rock–Guitarist Nils Lofgren says in a new interview that there’s still quite a bit of sadness on E Street regarding the unexpected death of longtime Bruce Springsteen saxophonist Clarence Clemons, who passed away in June.
The importance of his general presence and musical contributions to Springsteen’s sound, both live and in the studio, continues to reverberate in the memories of his band mates and the global Springsteen fanbase.
How Bruce and the band will proceed without Clemons has been one of the biggest questions in the wake of his passing. Lofgren tells the Chicago Sun-Times there’s not an answer for that question yet. “I think everyone is way too heartbroken. It’s an impossible, inappropriate subject. I know fans wonder.”
“Honestly, I’m too grief-stricken for it to even be a topic,” Lofgren continues. “It’s too soon for it to be a topic for us. I just can’t go there.”
Lofgren has been out on the road playing solo shows, which was a difficult move for him personally. “Afterwards, I always go out and sign CDs for the fans. I almost didn’t want to go out this summer. I knew everyone would be talking about Clarence.”
“But I did go out and commiserate with everybody,” Lofgren says. “This is also devastating for the fans, who use the body of work from the band and Bruce as a landscape for their lives.”
Clemons was a valued friend to Lofgren, both on and off the road. He spent some time remembering the moments the pair shared together while on tour. “I’d go to Clarence’s room with my guitar and try to second-guess what songs Bruce would pick out. It was a healthy, beautiful friendship.”
Nils is wrapping up work on a new solo album which he plans to release sometime around Halloween. He’ll also be sharing his knowledge with hopeful musician wanna-bes this fall as part of the Rock N’ Roll Fantasy Camp.
Bruce Springsteen’s Most Awkward Moment Unearthed
You have to see this…is nothing sacred?
http://gothamist.com/2011/07/31/video_bruce_springsteens_most_awkwa.php
Springsteen Esquire Replica 10 Avenue Freezeout on E Street
An eight-foot high replica of Bruce Springsteen’s legendary Fender Esquire guitar is now on display at the corner of 10th Avenue and E Street in Belmar.
The guitar was made by Bob Mataranglo of Lakewood and commissioned by the Belmar Tourism Commission.
“We worked on it for over a month. It was supposed to be installed in May but that was delayed,” said Mataranglo. “Then when Clarence Clemons died, we decided to wait a little longer.”
Two years ago, Mataranglo painted an E Street mural on the second floor of a building on the northwest corner of Main Street and 10th Avenue in Belmar.
“After doing the mural, the Belmar Tourism Commission approached me about doing something on the corner of 10th Avenue and E Street, on the library lawn,” he said.
The intersection has been long associated with Springsteen since it is the E Street that Bruce got the name for his E Street Band. It has been a photo-op for years for Springsteen fans from around the world.
Original E Street Band keyboard player David Sancious lived at 1105 E Street in the 1970s.
Many believe that it’s the 10th Avenue from “Tenth Avenue Freeze-Out” but others, including myself, believe that song refers to 10th Avenue in Manhattan.
“I saw the guitar on the cover of ‘Born to Run’ and thought that would be something to work on,” said Mataranglo. “There was a group of us and we brainstormed about the imagery.
“I discussed with them about doing something specific. It was a generic thing, we wanted it to be subtle but without question.
“I did some research and found the particular model of the Fender Esquire guitar.”
Mataranglo worked with his friend Denia Naleta on a design.
“He and I met several times,” said Mataranglo. “I have an engineering background and we designed a method of holding it in place.
“The town installed what we built on Tuesday. They installed the concrete and designed a method of holding it up.”
Mataranglo credits Mary Brabazon of the Belmar Tourism Commission and Chamber of Commerce and Chris Brandl of the Belmar Tourism Commission with making the idea a reality.
“They were the key people from the city,” Mataranglo said. “They helped with the funding, the location, the coordination between the library and the department of public works.”
Photo by Kevin MaypotherBob Mataranglo poses with the guitar he made in front of the Belmar Public Library.
Mataranglo said the work was paid for by the Belmar Tourism Commission but would not disclose the amount.
According to Mataranglo, the guitar is 8 feet high, made of laminated, half-inch marine-grade plywood with stainless steel pieces and strings. It sits two feet off the ground welded to a stainless steel support, embedded in concrete. It weights about 150 pounds and has six layers of coatings.
“I am so thrilled to be a part of it,” he said. “When we were putting it in on Tuesday, a father and son from Germany showed up and they took pictures in front of it.
“Words can’t describe how you feel when you do an art piece like this and people come up and take pictures, People were so complimentary.”
Mataranglo says the guitar was aligned so it can be in the foreground or the background of a photo with the 10th Avenue and E Street obelisk.
Mataranglo is a Springsteen fan, “but I’m not a zealot.
Photo by Stan GoldsteinThe Belmar library is giving away buttons commemorating the display of the Fender Esquire guitar.
“Bruce Springsteen is one of the reasons to be proud of why you’re living in New Jersey,” he said.
Does Mataranglo hope Springsteen sees it?
“I would hope he would be happy and pleased to see it and that someone spent a portion of their life doing something in his honor,” he said.
As far as security of the guitar, Mataranglo says “it’s secured in such a fashion that it would have to be destroyed to be taken away.”
To commemorate the guitar, the Belmar library and Tourism Commission are giving away buttons with a picture of the guitar on it.
Clarence Clemons Remembered By His Wife Victoria
Clemons was getting ready to go back on the road with the E Street Band when he passed away
By Andy Greene
July 21, 2011 12:20 PM ET Clarence Clemons and his wife Victoria Clemons Gary Gershoff/WireImageThe new issue of Rolling Stone, on stands and available through Rolling Stone All Access on July 22nd, contains an in-depth tribute to Clarence Clemons, who died on June 18th. In the piece, Clemons’ widow Victoria shares her memories of life with the Big Man. Here is the complete e-mail interview with Victoria Clemons.
Remembering Clarence Clemons: His Life and Career in Photos
How did you meet Clarence?
We met in Mill Valley, California at the Piazza D’ Angelo restaurant. He walked in, saw me and said: “Thank you for bringing beauty into my day,” and handed me a flower. He never left. Clarence was old school. He sent white roses to me every day. Even after he left town, the roses never stopped coming in. He came back in about a month later. That is when our love story became reality. He brought beauty and meaning into my life.
What initially drew you to him?
I saw his soul and his spirit deep inside his eyes. I knew then he came for me. He was real, he was humble and as sweet as any person can be and I was very attracted to that.
I spoke to him in February and he told me that the last Springsteen tour was “pure hell” because of his many ailments. What drove him to stay on the tour despite the pain?
He would always say: “My purpose in life is to bring joy to people all over the world through my music.” He was music. To him, life without the ability to play his sax was similar to death. His spirituality also helped him enjoy his life, despite his multiple ailments. He pushed himself every step of the way, every day out of the four years we were together. He was a compilation of love, strength, wisdom, willpower and spirituality.
He also seemed overjoyed to be on the Lady Gaga record. Is that accurate?
I saw it coming. The phone rings on a Friday afternoon: “Lady Gaga wants you in Manhattan tonight at her studio.” We started packing right after he hung up the phone. We barely made the last flight out of Ft. Lauderdale that night. We arrived in New York at midnight. By 3:00 a.m. they recorded three songs together. I remember Gaga saying, “Oh, my God, I might need to move to another planet . . .” Everybody was absolutely ecstatic. To me, Clarence’s sound brought so much soul and power to the songs they recorded. He was so honored to be part of it.
Bruce Springsteen on Clarence Clemons: ‘His Loss is Immeasurable’
What were his experiences like on American Idol and filming the video with Gaga?
Clarence thought his collaboration with Lady Gaga was a new highlight of his professional life. She took him to “The Edge of Glory.” On the set, Gaga grabbed Clarence’s hands, looked into his eyes and said: “I believe in you seven days of the week, not just five.” I will never forget that. He needed to hear those words to get through the night. He loved Gaga dearly.
What was he like offstage? I mean, the only Clarence that most people knew was the Clarence playing the sax on “Badlands” and other Bruce songs. What was he like the 99.5 percent of his time when he wasn’t doing that?
When Clarence wasn’t out blowing his sax, he really was a homebody. We did enjoy going on fishing trips, but at home he liked to cook, watch movies and smoke cigars. He loved to watch sports, especially NBA basketball and the NFL (his teams were the Miami Heat, and both the Dolphins and the Jets). He played golf in his imagination. He broke 100 every time. He liked to help around the house too. A couple of his chores were to fold laundry and wash the large broiling pans. He put a lot of “elbow grease” into washing those pans. For the four years that I was with him he wasn’t able to walk without crutches. We enjoyed our life together without taking romantic walks on the beach or in the park. It worked for us . . . Clarence had physical therapy three times a week. His therapist Mike inspired him. Clarence came back stronger physically and emotionally every time. My husband had a routine that, as his wife, I had to learn. I served him breakfast in bed every day of the week. His favorite breakfast was Russian pancakes. He was an original guy who appreciated things from original sources: authentic cuisine, Italian wine and cheese, Cuban cigars etc.
Clarence was very peaceful. People that talked too much annoyed him. Often he would ask me to lie next to him and just be in a moment. He often recorded voice memos of his thoughts and melodies that he developed in his head while driving, cooking, watching TV, etc. Clarence was the same person under any circumstance – always kind and generous. He was the most giving person I’ve ever met. In our relationship, it translated into the most caring husband and lover.
I’m sorry if this is painful to remember, but how did he spend his final days before the stroke?
Clarence was getting himself ready to go back on tour with the E Street Band. He lost 20 pounds. He was motivated and driven by the opportunity to play his sax again. He was working on a couple of his own projects: a one-man Broadway show and a movie about himself. Recently his friend Bob asked him: “What is the movie about?” Clarence replied: “About me. You have to write about something great!”
Shortly before the stroke, Clarence lost sensation in his index finger and his thumb. He had carpal tunnel surgery performed. He was seriously concerned about the ability to play sax again. He had his cell phone silenced for a few days. He only spoke with a few people. He talked to Bruce several times a day. He learned something new about Bruce that week that he never knew. It made Clarence very happy. Clarence and I spent the last week of his life cooking, going out to dinner and watching movies on Netflix.
How did he keep such a sunny and joyful exterior when he was enduring such chronic pain?
His spirit was stronger than physical pain. He compared himself to a mule that his grandfather used to have on a farm. He would tell me how strong and powerful the beast was. There was nothing he wouldn’t be able to endure.
I know he liked to fish. Tell me about some of his other hobbies.
He was such a connoisseur. He loved to cook. One of his favorite meals was Cornish hen with “Old Bay” spice and corn on a cob. He shared his passion for cooking with me. We enjoyed spending time with our friends and family. He loved to tell jokes too. He was really funny! His favorite music was Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band. E Street radio was always on whenever we took a ride in a car. Clarence collected unique cars: 1978 Rolls Royce Cornish, Twin Star Cadillac, etc. He collected scented candles, candle holders and teddy bears. His favorite teddy bear was “Puggs.” I called him “Bugs” to make him laugh. He took him on tour. Clarence enjoyed taking a long, hot, salt baths. He loved heat. His comfort indoor temperature was 80 degrees. He couldn’t tolerate cold at all. The only water Clarence consumed was Fiji. He made no exceptions.
How would you describe his relationship with Bruce?
He admired and loved Bruce as his friend, lifetime partner, his boss and his brother. Bruce’s phone calls and text messages would make Clarence very happy. He would always let me know that Bruce called him and smile inside. Clarence had tremendous respect for the Boss. He called him “Genius.”
In February, Clarence told me about his spiritual teacher Sri Chinmoy. How was important was religion/spirituality in Clarence’s life?
Clarence’s spirituality was a key to his love, friendships and music. It came across everything he did and anyone he ever encountered. You couldn’t help to love him for everything he was.
Springsteen said this in his eulogy: “C” never approached anything linearly, life never proceeded in a straight line. He never went A… B….C… D. It was always A… J… C… Z… Q… I…! That was the way Clarence lived and made his way through the world. I know that can lead to a lot of confusion and hurt.” What exactly did he mean by all that?
My interpretation of that is that Clarence had many sides to him. He could embark on myriad projects at the same time. He had so much going on at any given moment of his life. He got divorced, got married, wrote a bestselling book, had a bilateral knee replacement surgery, started a two-year tour with Bruce and bought a house during the year of 2008. Most people don’t experience that in their lifetime. Clarence didn’t have stereotypes. He loved to experiment. He was married to women from five different continents.
How would you like the world to remember Clarence?
Clarence Clemons was an exceptional person whose dedication to his family, friends, his band and his wife had no boundaries. He loved passionately. He lived his life like he played his sax – without holding back. He undoubtedly was one of the most genuine human beings that ever put his footprint on this planet. He became bigger than life. His soul broke free when his body couldn’t tolerate another struggle. He moved on to another dimension.
Bruce Springsteen Plays a 45-minute Set at the Wonder Bar in Asbury Park on Sunday Night
Bruce Springsteen joined J.T. Bowen and the Soul Cruisers for a 45-minute set at the Wonder Bar in Asbury Park on Sunday night as part of a “Tribute to the Late, Great Clarence Clemons.”
Bowen was the lead singer of Clemons’ band, The Red Bank Rockers, in the 1980s.
Clarence’s son, Nick Clemons, opened the evening playing with his band. The Soul Cruisers then came out to play a nice set and when they came back on for the second set where they were joined by Bowen.
Midway through the second set, they played a nice version of “You’re a Friend of Mine” and Springsteen came over to the side of the stage to watch.
Bowen then called Springsteen up to play at 9 p.m., it was the first time Bruce has performed in public (outside of Clemons’ private memorial service) since Clarence’s passing on June 18.
Springsteen said “I wore the wrong shirt!” as he took the stage, alluding to the fact that the Soul Cruisers, who include four horn players and four singers, are dressed all in red and blue.
Springsteen broke into his own “Action in the Streets” a song he used to perform with the E Street Band in 1976 and 1977. It’s a great song to play with a horn section.
The song has not been played live by Springsteen since a March 25, 1977 show by Bruce and the E Street Band at the Music Hall in Boston.
Next up was the song “Savin’ Up” which was written by Springsteen and a song Clemons used to perform with the Red Bank Rockers.
It was on Clarence Clemons and the Red Bank Rockers’ 1983 album “Rescue.”
Also performed were a bunch of soulful covers: “Ain’t Too Proud To Beg,” “Sweet Soul Music,” “Shake,” and “You Can’t Sit Down.”
Another highlight was “Raise Your Hand” a song Springsteen has performed many times with the E Street Band. Bruce really kicked into high gear on this one, jamming away on the guitar.
“Knock on Wood” followed and they finished with a long version of “634-5789″ a song Bruce has performed at several private benefits for his childrens’ schools at the Stone Pony over the past few years.
Springsteen looked like he was having a great time on stage and that he has missed playing live.
At one point he told the Soul Cruisers he wanted to changed the key of the song, and he kept laughing when things didn’t quite work out the way he wanted it to.
“I keep (messing) up the Soul Cruisers,” Bruce said.
The last time he played in Asbury Park was on April 2 when he joined Nicky Addeo at the Wonder Bar for a few songs.
Sunday night’s show ended at 9:45 p.m.
The 400 people at the Wonder Bar saw another legendary night of music in Asbury Park.
Bruce Springsteen Performs at NJ Clemons Tribute
The Associated Press
Published: Monday, Jul. 18, 2011 – 4:30 am
ASBURY PARK, N.J. — Bruce Springsteen returned to his musical roots to remember a friend.
Springsteen performed a 45-minute set during a “Tribute to the Late, Great Clarence Clemons” at Asbury Park’s Wonder Bar Sunday night.
Clemons and Springsteen were friends for more than four decades.
Springsteen joined J.T. Bowen, who was the lead singer of Clemons’ band in the 1980s, The Red Bank Rockers. Bowen was singing with The Soul Cruisers when he called Springsteen to the stage.
The Star-Ledger of Newark reports Springsteen kicked things off with “Action in the Streets.”
The set ended with a long version of “634-5789.”
The E Street Band saxophonist, who was known as the Big Man, died of stroke complications on June 18. He was 69.
Read more: http://www.sacbee.com/2011/07/18/3776456/bruce-springsteen-performs-at.html#ixzz1SSXavwpU
