Grammy-winning Rock n’ Roll Hall of Famer Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band recently documented their return to live performance post-COVID on Road Diary: Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band. While several current members of the E Street Band were part of the group’s original lineup, several members left. The documentary released on Hulu offers a window into Springsteen’s songwriting, creative process and rehearsal style, while shedding light on the rich history of the musician’s rise to fame.
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Several current members of the E Street Band remain integral parts of the 75-year-old Springsteen’s personal and professional life. Patti Scialifa, who currently lends lead vocals, rhythm guitar, keyboards and synthesizer to the group, is also married to Springsteen. The couple share three children and became grandparents for the first time in 2022. On the other hand, several of the deceased members of the E Street Band had successful music careers, while others have passed away.
|
band member |
Years in the band |
|
Bruce Springsteen, singer, guitarist, harmonica, keyboards. |
1972-present |
|
Garry Tallent, bass, backing vocals |
1972-present |
|
Roy Bittan, piano, keyboards, backing vocals |
1974-present |
|
Max Weinberg, drums, percussion, backing vocals |
1974-present |
|
Steven Van Zandt, rhythm and lead guitars, harmony and backing vocals, mandolin |
1975-present |
|
Nils Lofgren, lead and rhythm guitar, backing vocals, accordion |
1984-present |
|
Patti Scialfa, harmony and backing vocals, rhythm guitar, keyboards, synthesizers |
1984-present |
|
Clarence Clemons, saxophone, backing vocals, percussion |
1972-2011 (his death) |
|
Danny Federici, organ, accordion, electronic glockenspiel, backing vocals |
1972-2008 (his death) |
|
David Sancious, piano, organ, keyboards, backing vocals |
1972-1974, 2014 |
|
Vini López, drums, backing vocals |
1972-1974, 2014 |
|
Ernest Carter, drums |
1974 |
|
Soozie Tyrell, backing vocals, violin, percussion, acoustic rhythm guitar |
2002-present (touring member) |
|
Charles Giordano, organ, accordion, synthesizer |
2008-present (touring member) |
|
Curtis King, backing vocals |
2009-2014, 2023-present (touring member) |
|
Jake Clemons, saxophones, backing vocals, percussion |
2012-present (touring member) |
|
Michelle Moore, voice |
2012-2014, 2023-present (touring member) |
|
Lisa Lowell, voice |
2023-present (touring member) |
|
Ada Dyer, voice |
2023-present (touring member) |
|
Anthony Almonte, percussion, backing vocals |
2023-present (touring member) |
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5 Clarence Clemons
Joined in 1972, died in 2011.
Near
Clarence Clemons was a renowned saxophonist who played with the band E Street from 1972 until his untimely death in 2011. Clemons and Springsteen were close personal friends and lifelong bandmates, and earlier footage of Clemons is included in Road diary. In the documentary, Clemons’ nephew Jake Clemons, now a touring member of the band, is also interviewed about the late musician’s legacy in blues and rock. Springsteen commented that “That relationship is forever irreplaceable.” in road diary.
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Clemons and Springsteen first met in 1971 in Asbury Park, New Jersey, where Springsteen began to gain notoriety for playing historic venues such as the Stone Pony. At the time, Clemons was playing with a group called Normal Seldin and the Joyful Noize, and was encouraged to see Springsteen’s set at the nearby Student Prince, now Porta (via Asbury Park Press). Clemons stated in posthumous interviews presented in road diary who always saw Springsteen’s vision.
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Clemons, a Southern man born into the Baptist Church, came to New Jersey by chance after a career-ending injury upended his plans to turn pro in the NFL (via ESPN). Clemons had played the saxophone since he was nine years old and chose to pursue music professionally instead of football after surviving a life-changing car accident. Clemons was posthumously inducted into the Rock n’ Roll Hall of Fame as part of the E Street Band in 2014.
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4Danny Federici
Joined in 1972, died in 2008.
Near
Danny Federici, like Springsteen, grew up in a small working-class community in New Jersey. Federici was the organist of the E Street Band for 40 years and also played the accordion and electric carillon. Their diverse instrumentation was an integral element in the evolution of the band’s sound, which ranged from blues to folk to rock. Federici first picked up the accordion when he was seven years old (via Chorus and verse).
He was often nicknamed the Phantom for evading a police crackdown in 1970 in a live performance.
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Federici’s organ playing was particularly important in Springsteen’s music of the ’80s, on hits like “Hungry Heart” and more. He was often nicknamed the Phantom for evading a police crackdown in 1970 in a live performance (via Vermillion County First). Federici attended Hunterdon Central High School, where he first became interested in professional music. (through TAPinto Flemington/Raritan). In addition to his work with the band, Federici also released a solo jazz album titled Flemington in tribute to his hometown.
The multi-instrumentalist said goodbye to the band in 2007 to undergo treatment for melanoma, and then made a final brief return in 2008 for his final performance with the band. Federici eventually died after battling a form of skin cancer for three years, where he was treated at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center in New York City (via rolling stone).
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3 David Sancious
Joined 1972, left 1974, only returned in 2014
Near
David Sancious, organist, pianist and backing vocalist, performed briefly with the E Street Band for two years after their formation in 1972, and made a brief appearance with them in 2014. Sancious left the band to become a successful session and performance musician. tours for a host of acclaimed acts, including Peter Gabriel, Sting, Eric Clapton and more. A local to Asbury Park, New Jersey, Sancious became involved with several bands in the local music scene as a teenager.
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The E Street Band takes its name from the street where Sancious’s mother lived. The group practiced in their garage at 1107 E Street in Belmar, New Jersey, on the Jersey Shore (via Asbury Park Press). While Sancious was an important part of the group finding its initial sound, he did not join the band full-time until the following year, in 1973. The musician left the band in 1974 with drummer Ernest Carter to form his own band, Tone. The group went on to work with future members Santana and Patti Scialfa, Springsteen’s later collaborator and wife.
Springsteen encouraged Sancious to work solo and helped him network whenever possible early in his career. Sancious landed a recording deal with Epic Records and later talked about how much he always admired Springsteen’s authenticity (via rolling stone). Due to his role as a founding member, Sancious was inducted into the Rock n’ Roll Hall of Fame in 2014 as part of the E Street Band.
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2 Vini López
Joined 1972, left 1974, only returned in 2014
Near
Lopez is another New Jersey local who was once part of the E Street Band. Lopez attended Neptune High School along with fellow E Street member Garry Tallent, a founding member who is still active as the band’s bassist (via New Jersey monthly). The drummer is nicknamed “Mad Dog” and played drums on Springsteen’s first two albums, Greetings From. Asbury Park, New Jersey, USA and The Wild, The Innocent and E Street Shuffle.
His abrupt departure from the band in 1974 stemmed from a fight he claimed to have had with the group’s road manager, Steve Appel.
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Lopez lent his drums to several bands on the Jersey Shore. His abrupt departure from the band in 1974 stemmed from a fight he claimed to have had with the group’s road manager, Steve Appel (via The New York Times). Appel’s brother became the band’s manager. He reunited with his former bandmates when the E Street Band was inducted into the Rock n’ Roll Hall of Fame in 2014.
1Ernesto Carter
Joined and left in 1974
Near
Ernest “Boom” Carter was a native of Asbury Park and a childhood friend of Sancious. Carter is considered one of the most dynamic rock n’ roll drummers of all time, for his ability to create a unique blend of rhythm, blues and rock. The drummer replaced López after his departure. Carter and Sancious left E Street together to form their own jazz fusion group, Tone, which was later signed to Epic Records in 1975 (via jazzwise). The group’s debut album. The forest of feelings was eliminated. in 1975.
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Tone broke up in 1978 and Carter went on to play drums for other Jersey Shore bands.
Prior to his departure from the E Street Band, Carter gained notoriety for his role in creating the sound of Springsteen’s hit song “Born To Run.” Carter’s replacement in the band was current E Street member Max Weinberg. Weinberg went on to be E Street’s longtime drummer and appears prominently on Road Diary: Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band.
Sources: Asbury Park Press, ESPN, Coro y Verso, Vermillion County First, TAPinto Flemington/Raritan, Rolling Stone, New Jersey Monthly, The New York Times, Jazzwise
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Road Diary: Bruce Springsteen and The E Street Band RMusicDocumentary
Road Diary: Bruce Springsteen and The E Street Band offers an insider’s look at Springsteen’s creative process, with behind-the-scenes footage of the band’s rehearsals and backstage moments. The documentary gives fans direct insight into Springsteen, enhancing their understanding of his musical journey.
Director Thom Zimny Release Date September 8, 2024 Cast Bruce Springsteen, Garry Tallent, Roy Bittan, Max Weinberg, Steven Van Zandt, Nils Lofgren, Patti Scialfa Running Time 99 minutes Main Genre Documentary YouTube Trailer https://www. youtube.com/watch ?v=GEgwAQUQh0s Expand ✕ Remove ads