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Tue 22 September 2026 21:30, UK
Whether or not you’re a fan of his work, it seems as though being a member of Bruce Springsteen’s E Street Band would be nothing but a thrilling and joyous experience.
It’s possible that Springsteen’s connection to his audience and the magnetic stage presence that he commands attention with are among the biggest pulls, and that once you’re pulled in by his effortless charisma, there’s no escaping his clutches. If he’s having a good time, then you can guarantee that the audience is having a good time, and the band most certainly are too.
However, perhaps something that would do even more to draw people into the idea is the sense that his band has a familial air about them, and that being part of the band requires you to want to induct yourself into a band of brothers for life. Many acts attempt to do this, but relationships can also turn sour quickly as careers progress; the E Street Band, for the most part, have managed to avoid this through a tight fraternal bond.
Of course, there have been many personnel changes over the years, with some members leaving to pursue other projects, but the door always appears to be open for those departing members to return should they want to. Many former members have either rejoined the ranks permanently down the line, and others have stuck to making one-off guest appearances at shows, but it would appear that nobody ever truly leaves the band in spirit.
That said, there are four members who have pretty much been permanent fixtures since the band’s inception, and alongside Garry Tallent, Roy Bittan, and Max Weinberg sits Stevie Van Zandt, a man who has done his best to remain a loyal ally to Springsteen, and who has sat by his side at virtually all points in his career.
Aside from a five-year hiatus in the 1980s, in which he chose to explore other musical avenues while still making the occasional appearance during live performances, Van Zandt has remained one of Springsteen’s closest allies. As the lead guitarist with the band, he has played the foil to the frontman since their humble beginnings in Asbury Park, New Jersey, and the loyalty is most certainly not lost on Springsteen himself.
During the E Street Band’s Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction in 2014, Springsteen recalled how he first met Van Zandt at the Hullabaloo Club in New Jersey, and instantly discovered that they were going to become inseparable.
Further reading: From The Vault
“I met Stevie there and he soon became my bass player first, then lead guitarist,” the songwriter said, before entering into a poetic tribute to his longtime friend and colleague. “My consigliere, my dependable devil’s advocate whenever I need one. The invaluable ears for everything that I create.”
He concluded with an effusive if over-the-top appraisal of Van Zandt, saying: “I always get a hold of him, and fan number one. So, he’s my comic foil onstage, my fellow producer/arranger, and my blood, blood, blood, blood, blood brother. Let’s keep rolling for as many lives as they’ll give us, alright?”
With both in their 70s now and evidently still going strong, it’s clear that the bond between these two musicians is unbreakable, and that the suggestion they should keep this partnership going for as long as they live is pretty much a given at this point. Springsteen clearly knew when he met Van Zandt that there was something special there, and it’s obvious that Van Zandt reciprocates this feeling.
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