The hearts of Bruce Springsteen fans ached on Saturday when news broke that legendary E Street Band saxophonist Clarence Clemons died after a massive stroke earlier in the week. Though nothing official was ever released, fans on online message boards had been reporting rumors of a 2012 tour. But now that Clemons is gone, can Bruce and the boys ever embark on another tour? Or is this the end of the E Street Band?
In a statement released on his website late Saturday evening, Springsteen doesn’t mention future performances—but doesn’t rule them out either, “[Clarence’s] life, his memory, and his love will live on in that story and in our band,” he wrote.
Now we have to wonder whether a tour could happen without E Street’s second-most notable member. Would it be the same? Could the sax solo in “Born to Run,” the heart of E Street’s most popular tune, possibly be as exhilarating if someone else plays the notes?
This isn’t the first time the E Street Band has had to figure out what to do after losing a member: In 1984 Steve Van Zandt left the band and was replaced by Nils Lofgren. (Van Zandt later rejoined but Lofgren remains a full-fledged band member.) When longtime organist Danny Federici died of melanoma in 2008, Charles Giordano joined the band.
But with Clemons, things are a bit more complicated, because what he brought to E Street went beyond talent. Certainly there are gifted saxophonists in the world who could pull off an admirable impression of his “Jungleland” solo. But even if the notes are right, the chemistry will be all wrong.
Clemons was part of the E Street experience. When the band walked out on stage, fans cheered as loudly for Clemons as they would for Springsteen. For first-timers, it was awe-inspiring to see that the Big Man was actually freaking huge, weighing in at 260 pounds on his 6’4″ frame. A tiny smile from Clemons or a quick-witted interjection and the crowd would go insane, thankful for the mere gift of his voice. No offense to bassist Garry Tallent or pianist Roy Bittan, but that just isn’t happening for them. The fans need Clarence on stage to complete each adventure with E Street.
Clemons’ presence will be missed most notably during “Tenth Avenue Freeze-Out,” a concert staple that explains the E Street Band’s creation, referring to Springsteen as “Bad Scooter” and introducing Clemons as “The Big Man.” Without Clemons, Bad Scooter has no mate and the song, which the band has played for 35 years, has no place in the set list.
Because if there’s no Big Man, there’s no E Street Band.
Erica Palan is the managing editor of Phillymag.com. She has seen Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band perform live 11 times.
June 20th, 2011 at 9:06 am
June 20th, 2011 at 9:06 am
June 20th, 2011 at 12:20 pm
June 20th, 2011 at 12:31 pm
June 20th, 2011 at 1:31 pm
Trevor is right–nonsense.
June 20th, 2011 at 6:12 pm
It’s hard right now because we are all in shock and pain, and there is uncertainty. We are comparing the familiar with an unknown future. So let’s try to fill it in with guesses:
1 — Bruce takes a Miami horns/Sessions-type horn section on the tour (already done that on Tunnel of Love tour)
2 — They do a video montage and bring Clarence’s spirit to the stage, if not in the flesh
3 — Another option: a really cool horn player or two who we’ve never heard of (as opposed to the Miami horns, who are mostly otherwise engaged on Conan I believe). They would be totally different from Clarence and allow the #2 option to fit too.
Lastly — Bruce is super-creative. I’m sure he’ll think of something cool once he has a chance to bury the departed and get past some of his immediate grief.
In the meantime, let’s all play the old songs, bring out the old stories and give him some precious and healing time.
June 20th, 2011 at 7:54 pm
June 20th, 2011 at 9:09 pm
June 21st, 2011 at 2:32 am
June 21st, 2011 at 7:18 pm
June 21st, 2011 at 7:21 pm
June 21st, 2011 at 7:46 pm
June 21st, 2011 at 11:45 pm
June 22nd, 2011 at 2:18 am
June 22nd, 2011 at 8:25 am
June 22nd, 2011 at 9:38 am
June 22nd, 2011 at 4:22 pm
June 22nd, 2011 at 5:04 pm
It’s impossible to think this could be the end. For real fans Bruce and the band can still deliever to the E Street brothers and sisters worldwide.
June 22nd, 2011 at 9:46 pm
June 24th, 2011 at 12:35 am
June 24th, 2011 at 8:26 am
June 25th, 2011 at 10:06 pm
June 26th, 2011 at 7:46 am
June 27th, 2011 at 3:15 pm
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June 30th, 2011 at 11:33 am
June 30th, 2011 at 1:42 pm
July 22nd, 2011 at 10:51 am
August 19th, 2011 at 9:22 am
August 30th, 2011 at 8:30 am
I’m just 27 years old and i’ve learned the music through my boyfriend (now husband), i didn’t grew up with it. Last tour I was pregnant so we didn’t go to a concert and never have been. Bruce has to go on for all the young people who hadn’t had a change to listen to him live!
I know there will be a day it has to stop but not now. In 2009 we went to see Deep Purple, those guys are also the same age as Bruce I think and they really rocked, I think it’s not the age that matters but just the charisma and energy of the person/band and I think Bruce still got a lot of it in him, he can and may not waste it!
Please…
August 30th, 2011 at 3:51 pm
That said, Springsteen is of course going to keep touring. And there’s nothing keeping him from including any or all of the current E Streeters in the band. But they should NOT call it the E Street Band, and they should NEVER play:
Spirit In The Night
Rosalita (Come Out Tonight)
Tenth-Avenue Freeze Out
Night
Born To Run
Jungleland
…or any other song featuring a notable Clarence solo, ever again. THAT is how you honor the Big Man, not by desperately pretending he “lives on” or is somehow honored by some imposter replicating his solos so a bunch of old farts in their 60s can try in vain to ignore their age and stave off the inevitable.
People die. Things change. And some things should not be faked, which only sullies the memories of the, and you’ll have to excuse me, glory days.
Big Man, R.I.P.
August 30th, 2011 at 3:53 pm
I’m talking about the FANS. Big difference.