It was Hamburg for the Beatles when it came to paying dues. "When they were in Hamburg, they played 12 hours a day, 7 nights a week," E Street Band guitarist Steven Van Zandt said while calling from New York. "By the time we learned about the Beatles, they were halfway through their career. They were polished." Van Zandt, who dubbed the Beatles appearance on "The Ed Sullivan Show" "The Big Bang of Rock n' Roll," was inspired to pick up a guitar thanks to the Fab Four's historic performance. "My whole life changed after seeing that," Van Zandt said. "You have to understand that before that period, we didn't have bands in American music. It was solo artists or groups, but when the bands arrived from England, that appealed to me and so many people. A band is a gang, a posse, a family."
It was Asbury Park for Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band where the group honed their skills at the dawn of their career. "The E Street Band would play five sets a night from 10 p.m.-3 a.m. at the Stone Pony," Van Zandt recalled. "On top of that, we would rehearse during the day." What separates Springsteen and the E Street Band from other acts is that the group put in its 10,000 hours early on. The Boss and his band didn't have a hit until they were in their mid-20s. "When you become a star early, I don't see how that doesn't mess you up," Van Zandt said. "I think it's a good thing to pay your dues so you get better and you appreciate success. You don't take it for granted when you have success later on in life." Springsteen and the E Street Band, which will headline September 15 at the Sea.Hear.Now Festival certainly did make it. The former and the latter have been inducted into the Rock Hall of Fame after enjoying unimaginable success. Springsteen and his band have sold more than 140 million albums during an unparalleled career. For much of Springsteen's run, Van Zandt has been his right-hand man. Springsteen, who lovingly dubs Van Zandt his consigliere, has a connection with his lifelong pal. "We have a great relationship," Van Zandt said. "I'm not just referring to Bruce and I but also with the rest of the group. We're a family."
The E Street Band, which also includes bassist Garry Tallent, pianist Roy Bittan, drummer Max Weinberg, guitarist Nils Lofgren, and vocalist-guitarist Patti Scialfa, mixes up its set every night. Springsteen loves to surprise his bandmates. After delivering arguably the greatest keynote speech in the long history of South By Southwest in Austin a dozen years ago, Springsteen called an audible while performing at Austin City Limits. Prior to delivering a version of the Animals "We Gotta Get Out of This Place," the Boss announced to the capacity crowd that Animals vocalist Eric Burdon was going to belt out the song with him. "I had no idea Eric Burdon was going to perform with us," Lofgren said. "I was so busy learning Jimmy Cliff (who performed in Austin with Springsteen and the E Street Band) songs. I saw ("We Gotta Get Out of This Place") on the setlist. I just thought we would do the song, but I had no idea what was ultimately happening."
Who knows what Springsteen will deliver when he plays a hometown show on the beach at Asbury Park? The only given is that the show is likely to be flawless. "We don't make mistakes," Van Zandt said. "The rare times we do make mistakes we celebrate them since they don't happen often."
Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band will headline September 15 as the headliners for the Sea.Hear.Now, Festival, 1300 Ocean Ave., Asbury Park. The two-day festival includes over 25 artists such as Noah Kahan, The Black Crowes, Norah Jones, Grace Potter, Peaches, The Gaslight Anthem, Kool & the Gang, and more. The two days of music are held on three stages, two on the beach and one in the park, all on the iconic Waterfront of Asbury Park.
The event is sold out, but if you are still hoping to get tickets to this iconic event, check out the verified re-sale link on the Sea.Hear.Now festival website.
Special Thanks to Shore Fire Media, Danny Clinch, and Bob DeMartin for photography.
Bruce and I, the whole band, we're a family" - Steven VanZandt
Springsteen loves to surprise his bandmates