silverchild said:

One of my favorite Clarence solos...it doesn't get better than this!

I like that one, too.

abigail05 said:

usually I don't care when rock legends die.

But right now, I'm crying.

RIP, Clarence. One thing I will always remember about him, besides his excellent sax playing (of course), was his smile. He always had a big smile on his face whenever I saw him in a Bruce Springsteen video. Clarence will most definitely be missed!

U2 paid tribute to Clarence Clemons at a Saturday concert in Anaheim, Calif.

It just occurred to me that Clarence Clemons, while he will always be associated with Bruce Springsteen, ironically made his last impact on music with Lady GaGa. Yes, I'm aware that he did do session work with other artists, most notably Jackson Browne, but his most recent and final work was doing some sax tracks for Lady GaGa's "The Edge of Glory", so even younger fans who only knew Bruce Springsteen as stuff their parents or grandparents listened to know of Clarence Clemons' work.

silverchild said:

Timmy84 said:

The commander and the commander-in-chief...Classic shot!

Great moment indeed

Hope he'll have a slammin' jam session with friends up there, on the clouds

abigail05 said:

usually I don't care when rock legends die.

But right now, I'm crying.

Funny you say that, I'm usually pretty indifferent too. I've never met these people after all, but Clarence passing away kind of hits for some reason. Bruce could replace Danny, but he cannot replace Clarence. That's gonna be a permanent hole in the band. They'll still be great, but there'll be a ghost hovering over every gig they play from now on. Something more than one man has died.

A rock and roll legend and by all accounts a good-natured, warm-hearted man. Bless him.

midnightmover said:

abigail05 said:

usually I don't care when rock legends die.

But right now, I'm crying.

Funny you say that, I'm usually pretty indifferent too. I've never met these people after all, but Clarence passing away kind of hits for some reason. Bruce could replace Danny, but he cannot replace Clarence. That's gonna be a permanent hole in the band. They'll still be great, but there'll be a ghost hovering over every gig they play from now on. Something more than one man has died.

The E Street Band died when Clarence died.

[img:$uid]http://i.imgur.com/xJJaI.jpg[/img:$uid]

(Bruce Springsteen and his wife Patti Scialfa leave the Royal Poinciana Chapel in Palm Beach, Fla. Tuesday, June 21, 2011, after a memorial service for Clarence Clemons. (Brandon Kruse/The Palm Beach Post).

Springsteen Eulogizes Clemons At Private Funeral

June 22, 2011

Link

Bruce Springsteen eloquently eulogized his friend of more than four decades and E Street Band saxophonist Clarence Clemons Tuesday at a private funeral at a small Florida church.

The roughly two-hour service for the 69-year-old Clemons, known as "the Big Man" and Springsteen's main foil onstage over their long careers, was at the Royal Poinciana Chapel on this manicured island of the rich and famous. Faint strains of music could be heard outside the small gray church.

Springsteen, among those delivering eulogies, spoke of his long kinship with Clemons, according to those leaving the church.

Singer Jackson Browne and members of the E Street Band, including guitarist Steven Van Zandt and Springsteen's wife, Patti Scialfa, also were on hand.

Miami Heat general manager Pat Riley was seen leaving the church, which is beside the historic estate of tycoon Henry Flagler and nearby the tony Breakers hotel.

The 6-foot-5 Clemons had suffered from numerous medical problems over the years. He needed spinal surgery to relieve back pain and had two knee replacements. In recent years, he often needed to rest on stools onstage to play sax and percussion. He died from stroke complications Saturday at his home in Singer Island, Fla.

Gail Reich Ampolsky came from Marlboro, N.J., for the funeral. She said she was a lifelong fan of Clemons whom the musician had befriended. Springsteen and his bandmates, including Clemons, met and got their start in New Jersey.

"He touched everybody's life in so many ways," she said after the service. "He was just a big teddy bear. He was just wonderful. He was a huge part of the band and he was a huge part of life."

Gyorgy Lakatos, a musician who said Clemons performed on his forthcoming album, said Springsteen's eulogy was among the most moving parts of the service.

"Bruce was talking so beautiful," he said.

Many of the mourners slipped away outside the view of a small group of media, riding off in a string of Bentleys, Mercedes and BMWs. A small group milled around in the distance on the church property hours after the service finished, as a large photo of a beaming Clemons was loaded into the back of a black SUV.

"It was a great show, man," one man said after leaving the service.

As mourners converged in Florida, New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie lauded Clemons in an executive order as "a gifted musician, remarkable performer and iconic figure." Christie also ordered flags lowered to half-staff in the musician's honor Thursday.

"Through his accomplishments and achievements in the entertainment industry and his contributions to the cultural identity of New Jersey, Clarence Clemons has made New Jersey a better place," the order read.

RodeoSchro said:

God bless you, Big Man.

Here is what I think is the greatest sax solo in rock and roll:

you almost got the tears flowing with that one. Not only the death of a man but the death of a band effectively. I'm reflecting on how Bruce often tried to distance himself from the band and once referred to them dismissively as "a glorified bar band" only to later face the fact that that band was special, very fucking special and his music was not the same without it and just not as good. The collective heart of that band oh, we'll never see that again, all that passion and precision combined. I was going to play Badlands at an open mic last night but abandoned the idea because I don't have a solo portion or a saxaphonist, played Atlantic City instead.

mozfonky said:

I'm reflecting on how Bruce often tried to distance himself from the band and once referred to them dismissively as "a glorified bar band"

I've been a virtual Springsteen-obsessive for over three decades and I have never heard him refer to them as "a glorifed bar band". Where are you getting this from?

And he didn't "often (try) to distance himself from the band"; he wanted to play with different musicians after the Amnesty tour and he did. Am I missing something?

Ace said:

mozfonky said:

I'm reflecting on how Bruce often tried to distance himself from the band and once referred to them dismissively as "a glorified bar band"

I've been a virtual Springsteen-obsessive for over three decades and I have never heard him refer to them as "a glorifed bar band". Where are you getting this from?

And he didn't "often (try) to distance himself from the band"; he wanted to play with different musicians after the Amnesty tour and he did. Am I missing something?

I have it taped, so you're not as obsessive as you think. I hunted down Charles Cross until he told me to fuck off too. I'm a springsteen nut but only in the last couple years have I come to see what the E street band brought to him, anyway, the interview was from the period where he released Lucky town and Human Touch, it was a kurt loder interview, maybe it's on youtube. And let's face facts, his albums minus the E. Street band nearly all tanked, he's admitted as much himself, i love Bruce but as Charles Cross once told me "he's not what you think he is", which I never knew how to take for sure but he's a hero of mine regardless. He's just not the saint I once thought he was and I'm sure he'd agree.

mozfonky said:

Ace said:

I've been a virtual Springsteen-obsessive for over three decades and I have never heard him refer to them as "a glorifed bar band". Where are you getting this from?

And he didn't "often (try) to distance himself from the band"; he wanted to play with different musicians after the Amnesty tour and he did. Am I missing something?

I have it taped, so you're not as obsessive as you think. I hunted down Charles Cross until he told me to fuck off too. I'm a springsteen nut but only in the last couple years have I come to see what the E street band brought to him, anyway, the interview was from the period where he released Lucky town and Human Touch, it was a kurt loder interview, maybe it's on youtube. And let's face facts, his albums minus the E. Street band nearly all tanked, he's admitted as much himself, i love Bruce but as Charles Cross once told me "he's not what you think he is", which I never knew how to take for sure but he's a hero of mine regardless. He's just not the saint I once thought he was and I'm sure he'd agree.

Interesting. As for the last sentence, I will say that fans of this Org's namesake (as I presume you also are) can relate.

mozfonky said:

Ace said:

I've been a virtual Springsteen-obsessive for over three decades and I have never heard him refer to them as "a glorifed bar band". Where are you getting this from?

And he didn't "often (try) to distance himself from the band"; he wanted to play with different musicians after the Amnesty tour and he did. Am I missing something?

I have it taped, so you're not as obsessive as you think. I hunted down Charles Cross until he told me to fuck off too. I'm a springsteen nut but only in the last couple years have I come to see what the E street band brought to him, anyway, the interview was from the period where he released Lucky town and Human Touch, it was a kurt loder interview, maybe it's on youtube. And let's face facts, his albums minus the E. Street band nearly all tanked, he's admitted as much himself, i love Bruce but as Charles Cross once told me "he's not what you think he is", which I never knew how to take for sure but he's a hero of mine regardless. He's just not the saint I once thought he was and I'm sure he'd agree.

Even BRUCE knew that. He knew had it not been for the E Street Band especially with Clarence, he wouldn't have been where he is. Yeah he is a great singer-songwriter/performer on his own but without the E Street Band he ain't really saying anything. That's why Clarence's death will be hard on him more than anything. Besides Bruce and Little Steven, Clarence WAS the E Street Band.

mozfonky said:

I have it taped, so you're not as obsessive as you think...the interview was from the period where he released Lucky town and Human Touch, it was a kurt loder interview

I'm familiar with that interview. I think that, if you go back and have another listen, you'll see that you're either misquoting or taking it wildly out of context.

i love Bruce but as Charles Cross once told me "he's not what you think he is", which I never knew how to take for sure but he's a hero of mine regardless. He's just not the saint I once thought he was and I'm sure he'd agree.

Well, first of all Charles Cross is a tremendous douchebag.

Secondly, of course he didn't turn out to be what Cross thought he was - Chuckie had deified the man and thought Springsteen would maintain the perspective of a 25-year-old forever. In short: He didn't turn out to be what Cross thought he was because that was a one-dimensional, superhero-like being that cannot exist in the real world. It was a childish fantasy and most people (including Springsteen) grow up. Apparently, Charlie never did.

Timmy84 said:

without the E Street Band he ain't really saying anything.

I'd disagree. He (of course) wrote all of the songs and is one of the greatest live performers of all-time, with or without them. Some of his best records (e.g. Nebraska and Tunnel of Love) were also solo.

Ace said:

mozfonky said:

I have it taped, so you're not as obsessive as you think...the interview was from the period where he released Lucky town and Human Touch, it was a kurt loder interview

I'm familiar with that interview. I think that, if you go back and have another listen, you'll see that you're either misquoting or taking it wildly out of context.

i love Bruce but as Charles Cross once told me "he's not what you think he is", which I never knew how to take for sure but he's a hero of mine regardless. He's just not the saint I once thought he was and I'm sure he'd agree.

Well, first of all Charles Cross is a tremendous douchebag.

Secondly, of course he didn't turn out to be what Cross thought he was - Chuckie had deified the man and thought Springsteen would maintain the perspective of a 25-year-old forever. In short: He didn't turn out to be what Cross thought he was because that was a one-dimensional, superhero-like being that cannot exist in the real world. It was a childish fantasy and most people (including Springsteen) grow up. Apparently, Charlie never did.

That's the words I recall, glorified bar band which I'm positive rankled the members, wouldn't you think? At the time of Blood Brothers an unnamed member was quoted as saying more like "Bloodsucker". Like any family or band I'm sure they had their issues and I'm sure there was lots of love.

As far as your Cross reference, I think you are right on the money and i've said the exact same thing abour Cross for years. That you can't stay 25 forever and truly resent it when he gets press time these days just to say something negative about Bruce because he's regarded an "authority". I mean here's a guy who makes a living writing about rock stars, once he was done with Bruce he moved on to Cobain and then Hendrix and I've heard he was doing a Bruce Lee book someday. I think he's an asshole but if you know more than I do about him being an asshole, I'll gladly listen.

Ace said:

Timmy84 said:

without the E Street Band he ain't really saying anything.

I'd disagree. He (of course) wrote all of the songs and is one of the greatest live performers of all-time, with or without them. Some of his best records (e.g. Nebraska and Tunnel of Love) were also solo.

You know what cinched it for me? I listened to the acoustic untouched version of Born In the USA and it's just so pedestrian, unmelodic and would have been a nothing song without the snare, without that all time great Riff on keys, now of course Bruce had the heart and passion to bring it to fruition but the song in it's natural state was nothing. I mean, can you imagine Jungleland or Hard to be a saint in the city without that brilliant piano work or that great sax or songs like Jackson cage without the organ riff? Nebraska was a flop which was critically acclaimed, Tunnel of Love was of course brilliant but most of his solo stuff has stiffed, he knows this, that is why he got the guys back together to make more of that money. And don't fool yourself, I'm sure there were lots of releases for the parts all the member contributed to his music.

mozfonky said:

That's the words I recall, glorified bar band

Bruce is a gentleman's gentleman and has rarely gone on the record saying anything negative about anyone (with the noted exception of certain Republican politicians). If he said something like this, it was probably more in the vein of 'We were really just a bar band, at heart'. I recall him having nothing but praise for the E Street Band at all times and he went to great lengths to make it clear that his break with them was only about his desire to try something new.

As far as your Cross reference, I think you are right on the money and i've said the exact same thing abour Cross for years. That you can't stay 25 forever and truly resent it when he gets press time these days just to say something negative about Bruce because he's regarded an "authority".

Exactly. Cross is an authority on Bruce through about Tunnel of Love. Any comments he makes about Springsteen's post-'80s career are colored by his personal belief that the man somehow "sold out" (which is ridiculous). It's people like Charlie who help propagate the myths about "rock 'n' roll" that make it a very difficult world to navigate for the emotionally-mature and honest.

mozfonky said:

Ace said:

I'd disagree. He (of course) wrote all of the songs and is one of the greatest live performers of all-time, with or without them. Some of his best records (e.g. Nebraska and Tunnel of Love) were also solo.

You know what cinched it for me? I listened to the acoustic untouched version of Born In the USA and it's just so pedestrian, unmelodic and would have been a nothing song without the snare, without that all time great Riff on keys, now of course Bruce had the heart and passion to bring it to fruition but the song in it's natural state was nothing. I mean, can you imagine Jungleland or Hard to be a saint in the city without that brilliant piano work or that great sax or songs like Jackson cage without the organ riff? Nebraska was a flop which was critically acclaimed, Tunnel of Love was of course brilliant but most of his solo stuff has stiffed, he knows this, that is why he got the guys back together to make more of that money. And don't fool yourself, I'm sure there were lots of releases for the parts all the member contributed to his music.

That's not uncommon for The Boss (some shitty drafts before finding the right melody). Not to diminish the ESB - they're all great musicians and I think Bittan, in particular, has contributed more than most people know.

By the way: Nebraska wasn't a stiff; it was an incredibly depressing, solo folk album, recorded on cassette, that went to #3! Pretty impressive, I'd say!

Doalwa said:

I went to see the Eagles in Wiesbaden last week and was absolutely shocked when Joe Walsh dedicated Life's been good to the memory of Clarence....he had just died that morning and I hadn't got those terrible news yet...

Yeah, Walsh and Clarence were part of the same edition of Ringo's All-Starr Band.

I don't think that Bruce will ever tour with the E-Street band again

Oh, I think he will. First of all, those guys have got mouths to feed and look at the wording of his public statement after Clarence's death:

"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. His life, his memory, and his love will live on in that story and in our band." My italics.

Ace said:

mozfonky said:

You know what cinched it for me? I listened to the acoustic untouched version of Born In the USA and it's just so pedestrian, unmelodic and would have been a nothing song without the snare, without that all time great Riff on keys, now of course Bruce had the heart and passion to bring it to fruition but the song in it's natural state was nothing. I mean, can you imagine Jungleland or Hard to be a saint in the city without that brilliant piano work or that great sax or songs like Jackson cage without the organ riff? Nebraska was a flop which was critically acclaimed, Tunnel of Love was of course brilliant but most of his solo stuff has stiffed, he knows this, that is why he got the guys back together to make more of that money. And don't fool yourself, I'm sure there were lots of releases for the parts all the member contributed to his music.

That's not uncommon for The Boss (some shitty drafts before finding the right melody). Not to diminish the ESB - they're all great musicians and I think Bittan, in particular, has contributed more than most people know.

By the way: Nebraska wasn't a stiff; it was an incredibly depressing, solo folk album, recorded on cassette, that went to #3! Pretty impressive, I'd say!

maybe so, but I believe nebraska was regarded as a commercial failure to some extent. Some of the songs were fantastic, Atlantic City was one of the best pure folks songs I've ever heard and the bottomless desperation and depression of the music spoke to me but it did not translate to everyone. I also liked Ghost of Tom Joad a great deal and think some of the most touching lines he's ever written are there but I'm sure you know that album flopped big time by Springsteen standards. I also wasn't too crazy about the band he had around the time of lucky town/human touch or even his new look for the albums, the band pretty much bastardized his classic work although everyone their was very talented, it takes more than talent to cook. It was really a disgrace. E Street Band was special because of that combination of talent, testosterone, perfect cohesiveness, all that sweat and energy onstage is like having a mini army backing you up. Often the word homoerotic has been ascribed to the energy of the band, I don't know if that's what it is for me personally but having a great bunch of guys who have your back and have true passion and respect for music is not that common. We'll not see a band like that again.

mozfonky said:

Ace said:

That's not uncommon for The Boss (some shitty drafts before finding the right melody). Not to diminish the ESB - they're all great musicians and I think Bittan, in particular, has contributed more than most people know.

By the way: Nebraska wasn't a stiff; it was an incredibly depressing, solo folk album, recorded on cassette, that went to #3! Pretty impressive, I'd say!

maybe so, but I believe nebraska was regarded as a commercial failure to some extent. Some of the songs were fantastic, Atlantic City was one of the best pure folks songs I've ever heard and the bottomless desperation and depression of the music spoke to me but it did not translate to everyone. I also liked Ghost of Tom Joad a great deal and think some of the most touching lines he's ever written are there but I'm sure you know that album flopped big time by Springsteen standards. I also wasn't too crazy about the band he had around the time of lucky town/human touch or even his new look for the albums, the band pretty much bastardized his classic work although everyone their was very talented, it takes more than talent to cook. It was really a disgrace. E Street Band was special because of that combination of talent, testosterone, perfect cohesiveness, all that sweat and energy onstage is like having a mini army backing you up. Often the word homoerotic has been ascribed to the energy of the band, I don't know if that's what it is for me personally but having a great bunch of guys who have your back and have true passion and respect for music is not that common. We'll not see a band like that again.

I have a feeling that what we're going to see is the latest incarnation of the band (minus Clarence, of course) and maybe plus his nephew.

Ace said:

mozfonky said:

That's the words I recall, glorified bar band

Bruce is a gentleman's gentleman and has rarely gone on the record saying anything negative about anyone (with the noted exception of certain Republican politicians). If he said something like this, it was probably more in the vein of 'We were really just a bar band, at heart'. I recall him having nothing but praise for the E Street Band at all times and he went to great lengths to make it clear that his break with them was only about his desire to try something new.

As far as your Cross reference, I think you are right on the money and i've said the exact same thing abour Cross for years. That you can't stay 25 forever and truly resent it when he gets press time these days just to say something negative about Bruce because he's regarded an "authority".

Exactly. Cross is an authority on Bruce through about Tunnel of Love. Any comments he makes about Springsteen's post-'80s career are colored by his personal belief that the man somehow "sold out" (which is ridiculous). It's people like Charlie who help propagate the myths about "rock 'n' roll" that make it a very difficult world to navigate for the emotionally-mature and honest.

I'm still not sure what happened with cross, but I've always had a feeling it ran much deeper than Bruce making big bucks, I've thought that he may have gotten too possessive/obsessive of Bruce and got to the point of telling him what to do or what he thinks he should do, i really don't know though. His statement to me "he's not what you think he is" bugged me for years and I asked him several years later what he meant, he said "well people think that Bruce is the one guy in the music business who doesn't do things for money but he does, that greatest hits package he just released was just for the money". Somehow, I think the bitterness runs deeper than that, he never says anything good about him anymore, no real point even asking for an objective opinion about Bruce. He insinuated that The Rising was just to cash in on 911, that's really a horribly jaded thing to say and he won't stop. On the plus side, he's the only guy to officially review my music.

mozfonky said:

he said "well people think that Bruce is the one guy in the music business who doesn't do things for money but he does, that greatest hits package he just released was just for the money".

Ya don't say, Chuck? The post-therapy Bruce has acknowledged many times that he enjoys the financial spoils his career has brought him. The surprising thing is that a man of Cross' age still wants to believe that "it's all about the music, man".

As Springsteen himself said (in the '92 Rolling Stone interview):

"The best thing I did was I got into therapy. That was really valuable. I crashed into myself and saw a lot of myself as I really was. And I questioned all my motivations. Why am I writing what I'm writing? Why am I saying what I'm saying? Do I mean it? Am I bullshitting? Am I just trying to be the most popular guy in town? Do I need to be liked that much? I questioned everything I'd ever done, and it was good. You should do that. And then you realize there is no single motivation to anything. You're doing it for all of those reasons."