I had the fortune to see you play in Sant Jordi, Barcelona.

E street have always been the band and I will miss your genius.

God willing you can still play that organ in heaven.

seen danny play many a concert in england with the e steeters (spare parts stands outby far ) sheer talent his energy and passion made my hair stand on end never missed a note. will be missed by all e street fans .i will think of you when playing e street music acko

Both of us were basically still teen-agers. It was 1970: Bruce was still pretty much a nobody. But a unique nobody: A dude who, even if he had no talent at all, would still be entertaining thanks to a rock and roll heart so intense that its internal passion lit up his entire body. I also was a young nobody. And I also was a musician. But at this point in time, I settled for a somewhat-related gig as the rock critic at The Asbury Park Press. I never got tight with anybody in the band, but the music - and especially Brucie’s talent for backing up his rep as rock’s finest live performer and show - eventually won me over. But I’m a tough sell. Finally, a few months after the release of “Born to Run” - and well into the band’s career - I decided I was a fan. And at one point, I actually wrote a public apology to Bruce and the boys, stating in large, bold-faced print that I was a total putz. I also decided I hate critics, yet I gotta add there still are a few out there I do love to read…
Amazingly, The Press put my apology in a box and positioned it over the top of Page 1. (Whoa, this could be embarrassing)…but then I heard through the grapevine that Springsteen had been asking around for me. When we finally hooked up, he shook my hand, said it took guts to write that apology, and actually gave me his home phone number in Holmdel in connection with (and finally, I hoped) the long and lovingly laid back interview, something he never really gave us even though we were writing about him at least a few years before anybody, most notably the guy who wrote the infamous quote: “I’ve seen the future of rock and roll and his name is Bruce Springsteen.”
(With one of my last tries, again asking then-manager Mike Appel if he could set up an informal interview with the hometown newspaper - which also happened to be a daily with the second largest circulation in New Jersey. Appel’s answer: “Sorry, Marty. Brucie’s only talking to The Times.” I’d be less than honest if I said that didn’t piss me off…a lot.)
By the way, the “infamous quote” in the weekly Boston Phoenix was written by Jon Landau, who (things that make you go “hmmmmm”) for years has produced many of the band’s records as well as managing much of the Springsteen empire. That also may have had something to do with my occasional - yet extremely immature - past put-down pieces that I had written about Bruce and the boys (hey, I was about 20, 21!).
I left journalism for a few years and went back into singing/songwriting/performing for a couple years. I even had a bit of success with a tune titled “(I Just Wanna Be) The Next Rage From Asbury Park.” It received airplay on several college radio stations around the country, circa 1975 or thereabouts…But it never actually made me a cent.
Over the years - and at one time or another - I’m sure I conversed with just about every member of the E Street Band as well as Southside Johnny and the Asbury Jukes (Southside was always my favorite. Rock and roll’s Don Rickles. A man who no doubt destroyed the lives of more musicians than even the karaoke kraze.
Also, I never knew Federici was known as the “phantom,” but it kinda figures since I can’t recall ever saying a word to him, plus I’m pretty certain that I personally never heard him utter a single word.
But whenever I hear “Asbury Park, 4th of July (Sandy),” a song I’ve loved and played (and continue to love and play) at dozens of bars throughout the country…for pushing on 35 years.
Federici simply captured it all: a sound that instantly calls to mind that time period when one’s going from adolescense to adulthood, summers down the shore, cruising that huge Asbury Park oceanfront rectangle all night and all summer long…north on Ocean, hang a left at Asbury Park’s city limits, another left about 100 yards ahead, then a left turn to head south on Kingsley, then left at the merry-go-round, another 100 yards, then turn left again and head north on Ocean again…Repeat all night and all summer!
Cars of choice: You’re probably driving or riding shotgun in a GTO, a ‘64 maroon Catalina convertible that was more boat than car, a ‘67 Barracuda, a ‘69 Chevy with a 396, or my personal favorite (which I owned and drove): a 1957, candy-apple red, Chevy Belair, 3-speed on the column, no front grill, and cement bags in the trunk that weighed the backside down and simply gave it “that” look.
But yo! Where’d everybody go? Where’d everything go? If a couple of you out there who lived through it with me and vow to be there, I’ll play - like it seems I did for years - an upcoming Friday and Saturday at the Empire Bar (later known as Quack Quack), owned by and a half-block west of the infamous Stone Pony. Pete, the bar’s bulldog manager, each week tediously made me drink 3 8-ounce glasses of Southern Comfort, no ice, before giving me my $100 check (50 bucks a night)at about 4 a.m. Sunday morning. Blindly drunk, I would decide to leave all my equipment on the stage, steal Pete’s motorcycle and illegally ride it (DWI, natch, plus no helmet) to my home in West End, about 5 miles north.

Danny, I can’t believe you’re dead. And Danny, I can’t believe I’m alive! In memory of Sandy at the glockenspiel, let’s all raise our glasses filled with luke-warm, 24-ounces of Southern Comfort - what we used to call “Janice Juice” in honor of Ms. Joplin.
Yeah, I know it’s getting late…but I don’t wanna go home.

Banshee–what a Jerk. Your no fan and don’t deserve to see Bruce or the Band Anytime. That’s what wrong with this country PEOPLE like you who only think of themselves. Hope you can’t make the rescheduled date. To Danny’s family my deepest condolences.

forbidden laughter is always the best laughter.

Hey Bruce, why don’t you get your new buddy Barack to play the keyboards? That’ll be good, huh?

Oh, the humanity! The humanity . . . wait, that’s what I said when the Hindenberg exploded. Sorry, never mind.

Thanks, Bruce. You should’ve endorsed Hillary. You endorse Obama, and two days later, BLAM! I’m dead.

Thanks again, Bruce. Thanks for nothing.

I never heard of him when he was alive, so I missed his life.

I didn’t know him at all when he died, so I missed his funeral . . .

I will always miss him.

Well, at least he didn’t suffer too much, by God.

We had hoped to see Danny in helsinki(Finland) this summer. He shall be missed.

Saw Bruce and the E Street Band twice, and I’ll never forget the shows. They’re arguably the best live group ever (that I’ve seen), and Phantom Dan was an integral part of their greatness on stage and in the studio. My condolences to Danny’s family and the band. Thanks for the music and RIP

I’ve been listening to Bruce since my oldest brother introduced me to his music in 1976. I was 16 then. I have never met you Mr Federici, but I have enjoyed your keyboard textures ever since. Thank you for that and RIP.

P.S. My deepest condolences to the family.

It’s been a few days now and I still can’t believe Phantom Dan is gone… It’s strange how a person I have never met can leave such strong feeling of loss and sadness. Last time I saw the boys was in Copenhagen in december and although the new guy is cool, he’s not Danny. (Sorry.) Looking forward to the june show, though I’m sure parts of it will be bittersweet. RIP Danny

“just think of him playing that Big Organ in the sky”

Great image…. Thanks, Lynn.

Deepest sympathy and condolences to the Federici and E Street family on the loss of beloved, Danny. His soul and spirit infused the E Street Band and raised the music higher - for all of us. Danny’s spirit will always remain with his children, his family, the E Street Band, and with everyone all over the world who were inspired by and loved Danny Federici and his music. Thank you, Danny.

We cry because we loved. Love is eternal.

Bless you, Danny Federici.

Rest in peace with God.

Now you see him and now you don’t. From “Rosalita” to “Your Missing”. My sincere condolences go out to Danny’s family, Bruce and the boys. Thank you Danny, you will be greatly missed. God-speed…

Danny died clean and sober - He was a wonderful role model for a long rock n roll life.
He and the band are part of my life from the early 70’s playing free concerts in the park in my town, to giant arenas. RIP Danny.

Danny was a kind person. His generosity of spirit was in his playing. I believe that’s what helped Bruce and the band to become such a spiritual force for their fans. I miss him and I am glad so many of you do too — just think of him playing that Big Organ in the sky
rock on
lynn

I was fortunate to see the Indy show. I took my wife who saw her first Bruce show, it was my 12th. I told her that Danny was not playing because he had cancer. She is an Oncology nurse and when Bruce introduced Danny I think it made her a fan when she saw how the band rallied around Danny during the show.

RIP DANNY

:(

Thanks you, Danny…

The first time I saw Bruce and the band was in San Diego in ‘78. It was also one of the only times I’ve hung around hoping to meet the band. I missed Bruce and Clarence, but the rest of the guys filtered out after about an hour or so of waiting. Danny had a girl on each arm and that slightly dazed look you get when you’re just one beer over the line. He looked around and shouted “I love you people” and headed for the bus; it was the perfect rock and roll moment, and I’ll keep that memory always … thanks for one last show in Oakland last year … peace to you Phantom.

I was at the Boston Show on November 19th. No idea this was Danny’s last show. I will cherish the memory of him playing with the band for the last time. God Bless

I am very sorry Danny passed away, and was hoping he’d be back with Bruce & the Band in May when I see the Manchester show. At least we have many fine tunes to remember his playing on! He will be sadly missed by many all over the world.

Will miss u Danny! You live on in the soul of so many E street-fans.

My condolences to his family, and all close to him.

Rest in peace

As a long time E Street band fan I will miss the wonderful music that Danny was a great contributor to. He will be sadly missed from one of the best bands of all time.

I shed some tears listening to the end of “Racing in the Streets” tonight….he was the flavor and soul of the band…will sorely miss him and be thankful I saw him last year before he left the tour…

So sad… I had the dream to see you in Paris next june, with a good recover after treatment. Unfortunately, it won’t be the case…But I’ll always keep you in my mind and in my heart! Goodbye Danny.

Rest in peace Danny Boy, and
Thank-you for the music…You will be missed but forever loved……
Peace!

Note to Banshee, How awful for you that you are sad for all the wrong reasons. You don’t deserve to see Bruce and the band.

Banshee: You’re a complete douche bag.

tear drops in the city indeed

RIP Danny

Banshee, you have no heart or class.

i was really sad to hear that danny had passed away. he was the greatest keyboard player on the greatest live rock band. iwant to thank danny and bruce and the e-street band for giving me all their great music. god blessdanny. rip. bobby

This is really sad. I was so looking forward to the Orlando show and now it’s postponed. Thanks a lot Danny Federici. Couldn’t you have waited to croak like after the Springsteen tour was over. I guess now I have to wait some more.

There was someting in Bruce’s voice in LA on April 8th when he talked about Danny…

Love you all.

My first concert ever was seeing Bruce & The E Street Band at the Spectrum in Philly. From then on, I knew what all the magic was all about. The chemistry, the electricity between them all. People who have never seen them in concert haven’t a clue as to what they missed. RIP Danny.

Saw Bruce on Veteran’s Day weekend in D.C. I still can’t believe that will be the last time I saw Danny play with the band. Seeing the band in Columbus in late March, and as good as Charlie Giordano is, it just isn’t the same. RIP Danny!

The music of Bruce and the E Street Band has such an enormous influence on my feelings and beliefs for so many years now.
I feel like crying the whole day, imagining that such a wonderful person and important part of the band had to leave. I will miss him so much and hope that he is feeling fine now, wherever he is…

Today is a sad day for all of us who love Danny and rest of the E-Street Band.I have been lucky enough to see them perform live at least 5 times in my life and I will always cherish those memories.Mr. Federici has been a constant,positive influence on the soundtrack of my life,and his passing is a cursed reminder of how short life really is.The lights on E-Street are dim now,but what a shining light Danny was for all of us who love Bruce’s music.”The Phantom “will always be revered in my house,and as my two little girls continue to grow up they will hear many tales of how their old man used to go see one of the greatest bands on earth,how this band became the best friends their dad never met,and how precious that time was and how precious all of our time on this planet is,because you just never know when your time is up,or when the time of people you love and admire will end.It seems like yesterday when I held up my sister’s copy of “Born To Run”for the first time,but damn it was a long 33 years ago.We’ll miss you Danny.

i had to play ‘live 1975-85′ on my ipod as soon as i heard about this. it’s not fun to face mortality, but a lot of our heroes and faves die. we always have the music.

As I commented in the Asbury Park Press, the greatest tribute would be to rename the group the Feder-E
Street Band

Damn!

Danny was such an integral part of the E Street sound - especially on The River and Magic. The first song that played in my mind when I heard the news was Fade Away.

I never met Phantom Dan, but I feel like I lost a friend. Not a day has gone by in the last 30 years that his swirling keyboard playing hasn’t filled my ears, my head and my heart. Rest easy, brother. You will be missed.

Danny - part of everyone’s family here - you will be missed, gentle soul, but rocking on forever in our hearts.

Ah man, Danny…… For some strange reason he was my favourite E streeter. Perhaps because he was so modest, but gave such a distinct sound to the songs. That tremendous organ slipping in and out. Dan “now you ya see him , now ya don’t” as the boss anounced him. Now we won’t see him anymore.
Sad.

so sad to hear the news. massive loss to the music world. thank you danny for blessing us for so many years with your wonderful talent. my thoughts tonight are with the frederici family, bruce and the e street band. rest in peace

R.I.P. Brother.

what better way to spend a life than playing with one of the greatest live bands in history? a huge loss for everyone.

RIP Danny….one of the greats. I feel blessed I got to see him in Chicago last year, I had no idea it’d be the last time I’d ever get to see him play.

I can say i Was lucky enough to see the 2nd to last full appearance by Danny in Boston last November. I was happy to read ,he came back for one last show in Indianapolis . At least he was able to share one last concert with Bruce and the band. RIP you will be missed. Also my condolences to Bruce, Clarence, Patty, Niles Stevie, Roy and Max . I know his death has left a hole in you’re hearts .

You be the rest in piece, Danny Federici. May almighty Buddha look over your soul.

God bless you Danny. RIP

RIP Danny.

You contributed to the soundtrack of my life.
You will be missed but never forgotten.
The world is a less soulful place today - but heaven has a new house band leader.

RIP danny

Danny, you’re an inspiration to all the glockenspiel players of the world. I’m trying to hold back my tears when I think how great it would have been if I had learned how to play the glockenspiel which you mastered. I have such heart felt sadness over your loss. Whenever I watch the Lawrence Welk show and see those glockenspiel players, you will certainly come to mind. God bless you and the glockenspiels.

Rob from NJ and Jim: If I could stop crying long enough to say anything I hope I’d be as eloquent as your posts. Thanks.
Thanks, Danny, for years of wild and joyous rock and roll.
I can’t imagine the band without you, but I’m sure the band can’t either.

WOKE UP TIS MOURNING SOMETHING BIG WAS GONE!! RIP DANNY

Thank you for the music, Danny.

I had the privilege of seeing the E-Street Band in 2002 for the first time, in Milwaukee. The show was incredible, no surprise to anyone. More than any band, E-Street has so many incredible components to it and Danny was certainly one of them. My iPod seems to like “4th of July (Sandy)” from the live album; it is chosen randomly somewhat often, and as much as I enjoyed the song before I’m going to love it even moreso now.

My condolences to all whose life Danny touched in some way. Whether he knew it or not, and whether we knew it or not, his music left all of us better than we were before it.

God Bless.

No one played the glockenspiel better than Danny Federici. Now whenever I see a glockenspiel, I will think of Danny Federici. R.I.P.

I read an interview around a month or so ago with Steve VanZant. He was discussing Danny Federici’s condition, and said regardless of his current state, he was going to beat the cancer. This sort of raised a red flag in my mind that all was not well. Those kinds of things are said when the patient is not beating the cancer. He then went on to state that he and Max Weinberg had just visited Federici while he was undergoing treatments. I assumed he meant chemo, but he didn’t elaborate in the interview. He also mentioned that Garry Tallent called him frequently. This didn’t sound like a person who was going to recover, but a person who people were saying their final goodbyes to. As was evidenced by his surprise appearance at the March 20th show, his curtain call as it turns out.

I read this morning that he died. A friend of mine from L.A. called me this morning, but I didn’t answer the phone. I knew what he wanted to talk about and I’m just really not ready to carry on a dialogue about Danny Federici’s life and death. I really have to get used to the idea of the E-Street Band without him, and so far it’s a hard thing to imagine. I haven’t heard them with the guy that was touring with them in Federici’s absence, I believe his name is Charles Giordano. But he can’t be Danny Federici. I don’t think anyone can.

There are three signature sounds that in my mind identify the Bruce Springsteen and the E-Street Band sound. The first one is the jingly-jangly lead guitar notes of the Boss himself. The second one is the searing, bluesy, ballsy sound of the Big Man’s saxophone. The third, well, it belongs to Federici. But it’s neither his organ nor accordion work, although they both remind me of the kind of sounds you hear drifting along the shoreline from the typical New Jersey seashore boardwalk on a hot summer night. No, it’s that glockenspiel, chiming away in the undercurrent, that drives home the Carnival Sounds that Danny Federici wove into the tapestry of the E-Street Band’s music. We won’t get that back.

See you, Danny!

Hey, I heard the keyboard player from the E Street band died. You guys know anything about that?

I was lucky enough to see Bruce Springsteen at the Main Point in 1974. I have been a fan ever since. I always tell people that they can still see a show as good as any I saw.I still believe that, but now it will be because the spirit of Danny will live on in all the current and future E Streeters. God bless you Danny, and long live the E Street Band.

Danny’s organ playing had so much soul. I’ve seen many E-Street shows over the years and each one has been a great spiritual experience, and Danny’s organ playing was a huge part of that. Bruce and the E Street Band embody everything that is good in life. He will be missed, and we were lucky to have him for as long as we did. The music will live forever, and so will Danny’s soul.

Miss you, Danny - and so happy to see the clip on Bruce’s site - you can see the love when they look at each other toward the end.

Danny Federici has now gone to H Street up up in the sky far far away playing a mean glockenspiel and accordion to the other “Boss” - not Bruce but the Big Boss Man of the sky. Danny - you will be missed. If you are reading this from the sky, say hello to Buddy Miles and George Washington and Santa Claus for me. Thanks,

RIP Danny - you are forever in our hearts. To Danny’s family and friends - I am sorry for your great loss.

re: How sad | 4/18/2008, 9:59 am EST

I saw Danny play his last show in Indy and that Fantini never sounded better. He was a true pro: humble, understated and sweet, with killer chops.

My thoughts are with his family and E Streeters everywhere.

Danny actually never played a Fantini, he played an Excelsior, that was Charlie Giordano’s accordion, he borrowed it. So maybe your right, it never sounded any better because Charlie isn’t Danny…

RIP Danny-thanks for the shows,thanks for the times I was fotunate to be in your prescence.

It makes us all realize that forever does have an end date. The music lives on…….

R.I.P Danny Federici

We love you Phantom!

Saw the last show of the American leg in Boston, which was the Phantom’s last full show (GODI wish I didn’t have to write that.) “The E Street Shuffle,” “Kitty’s Back,” “4th of July Asbury Park (Sandy)”…I remember wondering why they were hitting ‘The Wild, The Innocent…’ so hard. Then when I heard Danny was taking a break due to cancer, I knew why–that album was some of his best work. And that work will live forever. It truly is the end of an era on E Street, but Danny will never really be gone. Got tickets for Gillette Stadium this summer and I know Bruce will do something to honor his memory–can’t wait to see what. Won’t be a dry eye in the place, I’m sure. Thanks for everything, Phantom–I admire your work.

I saw Danny play his last show in Indy and that Fantini never sounded better. He was a true pro: humble, understated and sweet, with killer chops.

My thoughts are with his family and E Streeters everywhere.

re: duh… | 4/18/2008, 9:04 am EST

“he came back at the last minute like that because he knew it was time, and wanted to play one last show”

this is a sad day. i would like to think that people can be decent without making snotty remarks.

RIP Danny, you can never be replaced.

Heaven’s finally got a keyboard player.

Its so interesting that somebody none of us even know can be touched merely by his influence, presence, and talent in regards to music. He was a fantastic player, and although I wasn’t born during the E Street Band’s height in popularity, I am deeply saddened by the loss of a founding member of the music that has still been singular in shaping my childhood and my beliefs in music.

Rest in Peace Danny Federici.

Glad I got see the whole band once back in Nov. RIP.

I’m gutted. Just watched that performance of Sandy on Boss’s site, and now I feel like crying. RIP Danny.

he came back at the last minute like that because he knew it was time, and wanted to play one last show

This is really sad he just came back…rip.