The Big Man, R.I.P. June 18, 2011

After enjoying a few drinks following a very enjoyable first set at The Parker House in Sea Girt, NJ on Saturday night, we walked onstage to begin set number two and were immediately informed by Matt, our sound engineer that Clarence Clemons had died. For me it was one of those surreal moments when somebody tells you something but it doesn’t really fully register and your immediate thought is that it’s impossible and couldn’t be. Unfortunately it was the truth. The DJ made an announcement to the crowd who all raised their glasses and cheered in memory of the late great sax man. It was now our job to keep it together and do our best to pay tribute to the Big Man. Complicating matters for us was the fact that our own saxophonist Bill Shanker was unable to play the show and was not present. Thankfully Joey Arminio was filling in and did an admirable job. But above all, it was the crowd at The Parker House on Saturday that really held things together. Everyone who was there seemed to really get the significance of what had just happened and as the night wore on it became clear that this was going to be a celebration of the spirit that Clarence Clemons brought to The E Street Band for all those years. On behalf of the band I’d like to personally thank everyone who was with us at The Parker House on Saturday for keeping that positive vibe and energy going all night. It is a night that we’ll never forget.

Yesterday I was in Asbury Park with my family and just about every boardwalk shop we passed had a sign up mourning Clarence’s passing. It seemed like every other person who walked by was wearing a Springsteen t-shirt. At The Stone Pony there were pictures, candles and flowers on stage and at least a hundred people gathered around the stage as “10th Avenue Freeze Out” blared from the house system. People sang, cheered, wept and the little pretties raised their hands. It was as if The E Street Band were right there on stage in front of us with The Big Man smiling with that wonderful ear to ear grin of his. Walking around town yesterday really gave me a sense of just how much this man was loved and how special the bond between artists and their fans can be. Personally, I’ll never forget being an 18-year old at The Meadowlands in June of 1993 when Clarence strode out onstage unannounced to join Bruce on “10th Avenue Freeze Out” at the precise moment when he sings “They made that change uptown and the Big Man joined the band…” The roar from the crowd at that moment is legendary amongst fans, but having been there myself I can tell you that it truly was the loudest noise I’ve ever heard before or since, and that includes being at Yankee Stadium in 2003 when Aaron Boone hit that walk-off homer to beat the Red Sox. I’ll never forget literally jumping up and down screaming “Clarence” at the top of my lungs as he danced and played the sax joyfully as the place went bananas.

The great thing about music is that it endures long after we’re gone, and in the case of Clarence Clemons, his contributions to music and the spirit, energy and enthusiams he brought to The E Street Band and all its fans is something that will live on forever. We love you Big Man. Thanks for a lifetime of great memories.