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E Street’s Clarence Clemons: “This Is the Best the Band’s Ever Been”

9/21/09, 6:26 pm EST

Last week, Bruce Springsteen & the E Street Band saxophonist Clarence Clemons stopped by our offices and answered questions directly from our Twitter followers. (Ironically, Clemons dropped by while we were in the midst of trying to get tickets for Springsteen’s Madison Square Garden show!) This time around, we got “The Big Man” to talk about his new book Big Man, life on the road (”Every night is a new night, I love these long tours”), the band’s ever-changing set lists and how a car running over his foot won’t make him miss soundcheck.

Clemons also recounts that legendary rainy day in Asbury Park, New Jersey, when he first encountered a young Springsteen and asked if he could play along with him. “Halfway through that first song, I knew, right then, I envisioned me sitting here with you right now,” Clemons tells RS. For more from the Big Man, check out our video above.


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Comments

Jane from NYC | 9/21/2009, 7:05 pm EST

Great Interview with the greatest living sax player. Thank you!

Leonardo | 9/21/2009, 7:33 pm EST

Clemons is awesome…Bruce Springsteen & the E Street Band are legendary.
Springsteen and Axl are the greatest singers alive (and the best of all time along with Freddie Mercury).

Tyler Durden | 9/21/2009, 8:39 pm EST

Say Who? Clarence!!!!

Daniel | 9/22/2009, 8:56 am EST

I love The Big Man, hearing him sing a line in ‘Out in the Street’ this past June is possibly the best gig moment I’ve ever experienced…

ander gaudens | 9/22/2009, 9:40 am EST

BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN & THE LEGENDARY E STREET BAND!

Elliott | 9/22/2009, 12:31 pm EST

I hope RS is keeping an archive of films from their back room. As everyone comes around to promote a book or project capture some of their reflections. We can use an updated comprehensive R&R review, multi-disc DVD series. For some artists it is too late. Time Life and the Experience Project are great butthey are now 10 – 15 years old. Where is Ken Burns – oh, the national parks, that’s right.

COMFORT INN | 9/22/2009, 6:25 pm EST

Always enjoy the MASTER OF DISASTER

Anonymous | 9/23/2009, 10:20 am EST

Just saw them in Chicago. They are still a great, great live band, BUT, he is the most overrated sax player in the history of popular music. I just dont buy into the whole “Big Man” deal. He doesnt detract from the energy and feel of the band, but I never understood the rep he has.

TCinNYC | 9/23/2009, 10:44 am EST

Clarence is a legend. Theres no doubt about that. But to call him “the greatast living sax player” is pure comedy. He is a key piece of the E Street Band, but it ends there. Truth be told, thats all it needs to be anyway.

the truth | 9/23/2009, 4:31 pm EST

to the guy who put springsteen and axl in the same sentence: fuck you. axl rose is a piece of shit with minimal talent. bruce springsteen is one the greatest storytellers to ever walk this earth.

ralph | 9/25/2009, 10:00 pm EST

leonardo is nuts .!!! how can he even put axl rose in the same league as bruce and clarence?

Anonymous | 9/25/2009, 11:12 pm EST

The best band off all times hands down. Their music has gotten me thru soo many very tough times. no other band equates.

Respect. | 10/1/2009, 6:11 pm EST

I’ve been a big fan of Clarence for a very long time. Some think he’s great, some not; however as a professional and educated horn player myself I can say that his sound is without question one of the greatest I’ve ever heard. Solid, distinct and powerful, his horn is literally a mouthpiece for his soul. Technicality is something rather objective (though I have heard him play a variety of styles), but when it comes to tone, his distinct sound is indisputably one of the greatest in the history of rock and roll saxophone.

uncle nasty | 10/17/2009, 1:44 pm EST

There is no doubt that Clarence is an enormous part of the E Street experience, and I love the Big Man, but he is definitely not the greatest living sax player. A bit of an over the top statement. And I agree, Axl Rose even in the same sentence with Bruce is a complete joke (though they did do “Come Together” some years back at a R&R Hall of Fame show). Bruce continues to blow my mind and I’m glad that he and the Big Man are still out there proving it every night.

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