Know Your Sidemen: The E Street Band
All the stats you need to score the players on Bruce's field
Considering that they’re a top touring act (and one of the most successful groups of session musicians in history) even without their Boss, it’s surprising that most people don’t know the faces and names behind those four words that follow “Bruce Springsteen and”. Sure, the hardcore "Tramps" know who’s who, but to most casual listeners, the Jersey outfit that’s been playing with him for more than 35 years mostly boils down to Clarence Clemons, "Conan O’Brien’s drum guy," and "Silvio from The Sopranos." Whether you plan on catching the band at the United Center tonight, or you just want to impress that dude in the warehouse who’s really into Born to Run, Decider's got you covered. Here’s a handy scorecard to all the players on the team who aren’t named Bruuuuuuuuuce.
Roy Bittan
Position: Starting piano
Nickname: “The Professor”
Hometown: Rockaway Beach, N.Y.
On and off the field: Bittan was the only E Streeter to remain with Springsteen after he made a well-publicized (albeit temporary) break with the band in 1989.
Errors: Helped make Meat Loaf a superstar by musically collaborating with Jim Steinman on Bat Out of Hell.
Clarence Clemons
Position: Starting saxophone, bench vocals
Nickname: “The Big Man” (just one of many)
Hometown: Norfolk, Va.
On and off the field: This hulking former linebacker terrified Springsteen into letting him join the band in 1973.
Errors: The Big Man provides evidence that not everyone who appeared on The Wire was a really good actor.
Charles Giordano
Position: Emergency back-up organ
Nickname: “Charlie Giordano” (catchy!)
Hometown: Brooklyn, N.Y.
On and off the field: Before replacing the late Danny Federici, Giordano laid it down for that other modern-day Dylan, Pat Benatar.
Errors: Continues to dress as if it's an era where Pat Benatar is still at the top of the charts.
Nils Lofgren
Position: Starting guitar, bench vocals
Nickname: “Lefty”
Hometown: Chicago, Ill.
On and off the field: Not to be confused with Nels Cline, Lofgren is a former gymnast and a fierce guitar-slinger who has also served time as a Neil Young collaborator.
Errors: A lifetime of proto-David Lee Roth stage flips and high kicks eventually led to his having to get hip replacement surgery in 2008.
Patti Scialfa
Position: Closer
Nickname: “Mrs. Bruce Springsteen" and “The Homewrecker”
Hometown: Deal, N.J.
On and off the field: The longtime Springsteen backing vocalist rose to prominence in the E Street Band when Springsteen grew tired of singing love songs to Clemons.
Errors: She's had to bear the scorn of Julianne Phillips fans for two decades, as well as less articulated scorn from general Yoko Ono haters and the No Girls Allowed Club.
Garry Tallent
Position: Starting bass
Nickname: "W" and "Gary Talent"
Hometown: Detroit Rock City
On and off the field: Despite his solid anchoring of Springsteen classics like “Fire” and “Backstreets," Tallent rose to the level of fame normally expected of bass players.
Errors: Currently in his 38th year of enduring ironic jokes about his last name.
Soozie Tyrell
Position: Rover
Nickname: “Formerly known as Soozie Kirschner”
Hometown: Pisa, Italy
On and off the field: Originally a backup singer, tyro Tyrell recently moved up to violin, providing the melodrama for records like The Rising and The Seeger Sessions.
Errors: Patti Scialfa’s touring roommate has latched onto the silliest possible permutation of the name “Susan."
Steven Van Zandt
Position: Bench guitar, vocals, utility mandolin
Nickname: “Little Steven," “Miami Steven," “Steven Lento," and “Silvio Dante”
Hometown: Boss-town
On and off the field: A gifted guitar player, a popular disc jockey, a notable rock historian, and an actor who can do a mean Al Pacino, Little Steven is considered a national treasure, like Mount Rushmore with a doo-rag.
Errors: Lost the goodwill of fans after killing Adriana La Cerva.
Max Weinberg
Position: Starting drums
Nickname: “Mighty Max”
Hometown: Brick City
On and off the field: Weinberg has long been the steady backbeat of the E Street Band, which he joined in 1974 on the strength of not being Ginger Baker.
Errors: Many fans would be surprised to learn that the homicidal sex pervert he plays on Late Night With Conan O'Brien is his real personality.
Roy BittanPosition: Starting piano
Nickname: “The Professor”
Hometown: Rockaway Beach, N.Y.
On and off the field: Bittan was the only E Streeter to remain with Springsteen after he made a well-publicized (albeit temporary) break with the band in 1989.
Errors: Helped make Meat Loaf a superstar by musically collaborating with Jim Steinman on Bat Out of Hell.
Clarence ClemonsPosition: Starting saxophone, bench vocals
Nickname: “The Big Man” (just one of many)
Hometown: Norfolk, Va.
On and off the field: This hulking former linebacker terrified Springsteen into letting him join the band in 1973.
Errors: The Big Man provides evidence that not everyone who appeared on The Wire was a really good actor.
Charles GiordanoPosition: Emergency back-up organ
Nickname: “Charlie Giordano” (catchy!)
Hometown: Brooklyn, N.Y.
On and off the field: Before replacing the late Danny Federici, Giordano laid it down for that other modern-day Dylan, Pat Benatar.
Errors: Continues to dress as if it's an era where Pat Benatar is still at the top of the charts.
Nils LofgrenPosition: Starting guitar, bench vocals
Nickname: “Lefty”
Hometown: Chicago, Ill.
On and off the field: Not to be confused with Nels Cline, Lofgren is a former gymnast and a fierce guitar-slinger who has also served time as a Neil Young collaborator.
Errors: A lifetime of proto-David Lee Roth stage flips and high kicks eventually led to his having to get hip replacement surgery in 2008.
Patti ScialfaPosition: Closer
Nickname: “Mrs. Bruce Springsteen" and “The Homewrecker”
Hometown: Deal, N.J.
On and off the field: The longtime Springsteen backing vocalist rose to prominence in the E Street Band when Springsteen grew tired of singing love songs to Clemons.
Errors: She's had to bear the scorn of Julianne Phillips fans for two decades, as well as less articulated scorn from general Yoko Ono haters and the No Girls Allowed Club.
Garry TallentPosition: Starting bass
Nickname: "W" and "Gary Talent"
Hometown: Detroit Rock City
On and off the field: Despite his solid anchoring of Springsteen classics like “Fire” and “Backstreets," Tallent rose to the level of fame normally expected of bass players.
Errors: Currently in his 38th year of enduring ironic jokes about his last name.
Soozie TyrellPosition: Rover
Nickname: “Formerly known as Soozie Kirschner”
Hometown: Pisa, Italy
On and off the field: Originally a backup singer, tyro Tyrell recently moved up to violin, providing the melodrama for records like The Rising and The Seeger Sessions.
Errors: Patti Scialfa’s touring roommate has latched onto the silliest possible permutation of the name “Susan."
Steven Van ZandtPosition: Bench guitar, vocals, utility mandolin
Nickname: “Little Steven," “Miami Steven," “Steven Lento," and “Silvio Dante”
Hometown: Boss-town
On and off the field: A gifted guitar player, a popular disc jockey, a notable rock historian, and an actor who can do a mean Al Pacino, Little Steven is considered a national treasure, like Mount Rushmore with a doo-rag.
Errors: Lost the goodwill of fans after killing Adriana La Cerva.
Max WeinbergPosition: Starting drums
Nickname: “Mighty Max”
Hometown: Brick City
On and off the field: Weinberg has long been the steady backbeat of the E Street Band, which he joined in 1974 on the strength of not being Ginger Baker.
Errors: Many fans would be surprised to learn that the homicidal sex pervert he plays on Late Night With Conan O'Brien is his real personality.
