Steven Van Zandt | |
|---|---|
 Van Zandt in 2018 | |
| Background information | |
| Birth name | Steven Lento |
| Also known as |
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| Born | (1950-11-22)November 22, 1950 (age 74) Winthrop, Massachusetts, U.S. |
| Origin | Middletown Township, New Jersey, U.S. |
| Genres | |
| Occupations |
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| Instruments |
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| Years active | 1968–present |
| Labels | |
| Member of | E Street Band |
| Formerly of | Southside Johnny and the Asbury Jukes |
| Website | littlesteven |
Steven Van Zandt (néLento; born November 22, 1950), also known asLittle Steven orMiami Steve, is an American musician and actor. He is a member ofBruce Springsteen'sE Street Band, in which he plays guitar andmandolin. He has appeared in several television drama series, including asSilvio Dante inThe Sopranos (1999–2007) and as Frank Tagliano inLilyhammer (2012–2014). Van Zandt has his own solo band called Little Steven and the Disciples of Soul, intermittently active since the 1980s.
In 2014, Van Zandt was inducted into theRock and Roll Hall of Fame as a member of the E Street Band. Van Zandt has produced music, written songs, and had his own songs covered by Springsteen,Meat Loaf,Nancy Sinatra,Pearl Jam,Southside Johnny,Artists United Against Apartheid, and theIron City Houserockers, among others.
Van Zandt was born Steven Lento on November 22, 1950, inWinthrop, Massachusetts, to Mary Henrietta Lento and Vince Borello, and raised inWatertown, Massachusetts.[1] He has Italian ancestry; one grandfather was fromCalabria and one grandmother's parents were fromNaples.[2] His mother remarried in 1957, and he took the last name of his stepfather, William Brewster Van Zandt. ActorBilly Van Zandt is Van Zandt's half-brother and actressAdrienne Barbeau is his ex-sister-in-law.[3] He also has a half-sister named Kathi, who is a writer.[4] When he was seven, the family moved from Massachusetts toMiddletown Township, New Jersey.[5][4]
Van Zandt found his love for music at an early age, when he learned how to play the guitar. He watched the performances ofthe Beatles onThe Ed Sullivan Show andthe Rolling Stones onHollywood Palace in 1964, and referred to the former as "The Big Bang of Rock n' Roll".[6][7] He said that when he was 13,George Harrison was his favorite Beatle, and he later became friends withPaul McCartney andRingo Starr.[8]
Around August 1964, he formed his first band, the Whirlwinds, which was short-lived. He later formed the Mates in 1965 and joined the Shadows in May 1966.[7] Van Zandt has citedBritish Invasion bands such asthe Dave Clark Five, as well asRavi Shankar and the culture of India, as early influences.[9][10]
Van Zandt attendedMiddletown High School inMiddletown Township, New Jersey,[11] where he was expelled after refusing to cut his long hair. He later returned to school in 1968, largely to appease his mother.[12][13] As a teenager, he was involved in a car accident that caused him to smash his head through the windshield, leaving several scars on his head. To cover this up, he began wearing hats, and later, large bandanas, which has become his characteristic look.[14]
Van Zandt grew up in theJersey Shore music scene, and was an early friend ofBruce Springsteen, before the formation of theE Street Band. The two first met when Springsteen was at the Hullabaloo club inMiddletown, New Jersey, and heard Van Zandt was performing "Happy Together" with the Shadows.[15] They performed together in bands such asSteel Mill and the Bruce Springsteen Band.[16]
During the early 1970s, Van Zandt worked in road construction for two years before returning to show business.[17][18]
In 1973, he toured withThe Dovells. The tour ended inMiami on December 31, 1974, withDick Clark'sGood Old Rock 'n' Roll Show at the Deauville Star Theater.[19]
After returning to New Jersey, Van Zandt continued wearing Hawaiian shirts because he did not particularly like winter, which was how he got the nickname "Miami Steve".[20][21]
He co-foundedSouthside Johnny and the Asbury Jukes, in addition toThe Miami Horns,[22] who got their name from Van Zandt's nickname. Van Zandt helped establish the rhythm and blues oriented style of music that the band performed. He also produced Southside Johnny's first three albums. Van Zandt wrote the bulk of the group's music, contributing substantially to its success.[23]
Van Zandt then started to switch between writing for Southside Johnny and the Asbury Jukes and touring with the E Street Band. He confirmed in an interview onThe Howard Stern Show that he arranged the horns on "Tenth Avenue Freeze-Out" in 1975 when Springsteen was at a loss, earning him a spot in theE Street Band shortly thereafter.[17][24] In theWings For Wheels documentary, Springsteen revealed that Van Zandt was partially responsible for the signature guitar line in "Born to Run," described as "Arguably Steve's greatest contribution to my music."[25] Ultimately, Van Zandt officially joined the E Street Band on July 20, 1975, during the first show of theBorn to Run Tour.[16][24]
In those early years, Van Zandt supplied a great deal of the lead guitar work for the band in concert, as can be seen on the 1975 concert DVD withinBorn to Run 30th Anniversary Edition (later released as the CDHammersmith Odeon London '75).[17] In 1984, Van Zandt left the E Street Band.[26] He originally joined to see Springsteen rise in success, and once the band rose to that success he left.[27][28] Despite leaving the band, he appeared as a special guest at some concerts on theBorn in the U.S.A. Tour and appeared in a couple of videos, including "Glory Days".
Van Zandt later returned to the E Street Band when it was reformed (briefly in 1995, and on an ongoing basis since 1999) and remains a member. By this time, his guitar playing had mostly been reduced to a background rhythm role, due toNils Lofgren's position in the band and his capability as a lead guitarist.[26] In addition, Springsteen had begun taking many more guitar solos as his music became more guitar-centered.[17] Van Zandt said on theHoward Stern Show that he is okay with being second in command, especially since he has been in charge before with his solo music and his role inLilyhammer.[17][29]
Among E Street Band members, Van Zandt often had the second-most "face time" in concert afterClarence Clemons, frequently mugging and posing for the audience and sometimes delivering his unpolished, nasal backing vocals while sharing a microphone with Springsteen. His playing or singing is most prominently featured on the songs "Glory Days", "Two Hearts", "Long Walk Home", which featured a Van Zandt outro vocal solo during live performances[30] "Land of Hope and Dreams", "Badlands", "Ramrod", and "Murder Incorporated", among others like the live versions of "Rosalita". He often trades vocals with Springsteen in live versions of "Prove It All Night". He features prominently in the video for "Glory Days", sharing the spotlight with Springsteen during the choruses, while swapping lines with him during the (non)fade, and in live versions he does the same.[31] During the E Street Band's performance at theSuper Bowl in 2009, Van Zandt was the most prominently featured member of the band, playing a guitar solo on the final number of the set, "Glory Days," as well as sharing lead vocals and exchanging humorous banter with Springsteen.[32][33][34]
Van Zandt became a songwriter and producer for fellow Jersey shore actSouthside Johnny and the Asbury Jukes in 1974, penning theirsignature song "I Don't Want to Go Home", co-writing other songs for them with Springsteen, and producing their most-acclaimed record,Hearts of Stone.[35] As such, Van Zandt became a key contributor to theJersey Shore sound. He also produced twoGary U.S. Bonds albums.[36] Van Zandt then went on to share production credits on the classic Springsteen albumsThe River[35] andBorn in the U.S.A.[36] The first Springsteen song he co-produced was "Hungry Heart."[17] In 1989,Jackson Browne covered the 1983 Van Zandt composition "I Am A Patriot" on hisWorld in Motion album.[37] Van Zandt has produced a number of other records, including an uncredited effort on theIron City Houserockers'Have A Good Time (But Get Out Alive).[38] Less successful was his work onLone Justice's second albumShelter, which was a career-ending flop for the Los Angelescowpunk band.[39]
In 1989, Van Zandt wrote "While You Were Looking at Me" forMichael Monroe's albumNot Fakin' It and co-wrote video hits "Dead, Jail or Rock'n Roll" and "Smoke Screen". He was an arranger and backing vocalist for a few songs on the album.[40] In 1992, he produced Austin, Texas-basedArc Angels'debut album.[41] In 1991 Van Zandt produced a successful album,Spirit of Love, for Nigerian superstar and reggae icon,Majek Fashek.[42] In 1992, he wrote and produced "All Alone on Christmas" for the soundtrack of theChris Columbus filmHome Alone 2: Lost in New York, which yielded singerDarlene Love her first hit since "A Fine, Fine Boy" from 1963, thirty-one years earlier.[43]
In 1994, Van Zandt produced the eponymous debut album of the punk rock bandDemolition 23 which featured ex-Hanoi Rocks membersMichael Monroe andSami Yaffa. He co-wrote six songs for the album with Monroe and Jude Wilder.[44] In 1995, Van Zandt aidedMeat Loaf with the song "Amnesty Is Granted" off of hisWelcome to the Neighborhood album.[45] In 2004, he contributed the song "Baby Please Don't Go" toNancy Sinatra'sself-titled album.[46]
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During the summer of 1981,EMI-America approached Van Zandt with a record deal due to his success with the E Street Band, Southside Johnny and the Asbury Jukes, and Gary U.S. Bonds. He began fronting an on-and-off group known as Little Steven and the Disciples of Soul, while Springsteen was working onNebraska. The band includedDino Danelli on drums,Jean Beauvoir on bass, and the Miami Horns. They made their live debut at thePeppermint Lounge on July 18, 1982. In October 1982, Van Zandt's debut album,Men Without Women, was released. This album earned the most critical praise andJay Cocks ofTIME magazine dubbed it one of the ten best albums of the year.[47] He released four more solo albums, and has written that these albums are each elements in a five-part political concept cycle: the individual, the family, the state, the economy, and religion.[48] These albums range fromsoul music tohard rock toworld music. Van Zandt's second album,Voice of America, did the best on theU.S. albums chart, although none of his albums were much of a commercial success.[citation needed]
After touring with the E Street Band duringThe River Tour in 1980–81, he started to realize and understand the perceptions of Americans held by people in other countries. He started to become interested in politics and, withVoice of America, his music became explicitly political.[17] One of the album's leading singles, "Solidarity", is a general statement of international common ground.[49] In April 1984, shortly before the release ofBorn in the U.S.A. andVoice of America, Van Zandt left the E Street Band, but rejoined in 1999.[50]
Continuing his involvement in issues of the day, in 1985 he created the music-industry activist groupArtists United Against Apartheid as an action against theSun City resort inSouth Africa. Forty-nine recording artists, including Springsteen,U2,Bob Dylan,Pete Townshend,Joey Ramone,Tom Petty,Afrika Bambaataa, andRun DMC, collaborated on a song called "Sun City" in which they pledged to never perform at the resort.[51] The song was modestly successful, and played a part in the broad international effort to bring attention to apartheid, which the South African government later ended.[52] He produced the award-winning documentaryThe Making of Sun City and oversaw the production of the book,Sun City by Artists United Against Apartheid, the Struggle for Freedom in South Africa: The Making of the Record, as well as the teaching guide.[36][53]
In 1987, he released the albumFreedom - No Compromise, which continued the political messaging. Some U.S. appearances in that year as opening act forU2's arena-and-stadiumJoshua Tree Tour continued in the same vein, but were not well received by some audiences.[54][55] Both the record and his concerts were popular in Europe.[56] He also performed at the "Nelson Mandela 70th Birthday Tribute" concert atWembley Stadium in 1988.[36]
His fourth album,Revolution (1989), attracted little attention. Later in 1989, Van Zandt recorded another album,Nobody Loves and Leaves Alive with his garage band The Lost Boys.[57] Although the album remains unreleased, several tracks from it were heard on theSopranos andLilyhammer television shows: including "Nobody Loves and Leaves Alive", "Affection", and "Come for Me".[58][59][60] "Affection" appeared onThe Sopranos: Peppers & Eggs (Music From the HBO Original Series).[61]
Due to a loss of recording contract, his next album,Born Again Savage, which was recorded in 1994, was not released until 1999.[50][62] In 1995, Van Zandt wrote, produced, and sang "The Time of Your Life" for the soundtrack to the filmNine Months. He also toured withBon Jovi during the first European leg of theirThese Days Tour.[63][64][65]
His song "Under The Gun" was covered byCarla Olson & The Textones on theirDetroit '85 Live & Unreleased album which was released in 2008.[66] Another of his songs, "All I Needed Was You", appeared on the 2013 Carla Olson albumHave Harmony, Will Travel.[67]
On April 29, 2013, Van Zandt performed a cover ofFrank Sinatra's "My Kind of Town" at a Springsteen concert inOslo, Norway, during theWrecking Ball Tour.[68] Although the song was featured in theLilyhammer season one episode "My Kind of Town,"[69] it was not released as a single until September 23, 2014, when it was "the Coolest Song in the World" onUnderground Garage to help promote the show.[70] It was released under the title "Frank Tagliano Sings! My Kind of Town" and the lyrics were changed to be about Lillehammer, Norway, instead of Chicago.[71] Van Zandt performed the song onThe Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon on December 9, 2014, to help promote the series.[72] He performed all the music forLilyhammer from season 2 on[73] and releasedLilyhammer: The Score on December 16, 2014.[74]
Van Zandt reformed his band, the Disciples of Soul, for the first time since 1990[75] to play their only European show of 2016 atthe O2 Indigo Lounge in London for BluesFest on October 29, 2016.[76] The new Disciples includedRichie Sambora and Marc Ribler on guitar,Eddie Manion on saxophone, Hook Herrara on harmonica, Leo Green on tenor sax, Richard Mecurio on drums, Jack Daley on bass, Andy Burton on B3 organ,Clifford Carter on piano, Danny Sadownick on percussion, Tommy Walsh and Matt Holland on trumpet, Neil Sidwell on trombone, George Millard on flute, and a women's section called the Divas of Soul (Julie Maguire, Sarah Carpenter and Jess Greenfield) on backing vocals. They played a series of Van Zandt's own solo songs, songs he wrote for Southside Johnny and the Asbury Jukes, a song he co-wrote forthe Breakers, cover songs, and "Goodbye", which he performed with the Lost Boys.[77][78] His plans included a European tour during the summer of 2017 and a tour of the United States in the fall.[79][80] Van Zandt insists that he is not leaving the E Street Band and he is only touring because the band is not on the road.[81]
Van Zandt announced in November 2016 that he was in the process of remastering and reissuing his albums for a 2017 release,[82] including the unreleased Lost Boys album.[83][84] Additionally, Van Zandt has stated that he was planning on releasing a new cover album, including a cover ofEtta James' "The Blues Is My Business",[85] as well as new recordings of songs Van Zandt wrote for others, including Southside Johnny, that he describes as "me covering me."[86][87] The album is asoul record, composed of a 15 piece band including 5 horns and 3 singers.[88] Van Zandt revealed that Richie Mercurio plays drums on the album.[89]
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On February 9, 2017, Van Zandt released "Saint Valentine's Day," a cover of the song, "Saint Valentine's Day Massacre," that he originally wrote for theCocktail Slippers, as a single.[90] The song was repeatedly played on theUnderground Garage radio show.[91][92][93][94][95][96]
He debuted his new album at the annual Rock and Roll for Children event at the Fillmore Theater inSilver Spring, Maryland, on March 18, 2017.[97][98] Van Zandt debuted adoo-wop song called "The City Weeps Tonight," that was an outtake fromMen Without Women. At the end of the show, he covered "Bye Bye Johnny" as a tribute to the lateChuck Berry. According toBackstreets, Van Zandt's new album was going to be calledSoulfire, titled after the song he co-wrote for the Breakers.[99] The album was officially released on May 19, 2017.[100] Van Zandt was selected as the commencement speaker and received a honorary degree fromRutgers University in May 2017.[101]
Van Zandt released his first official live album,Soulfire Live!, recorded with the Disciples of Soul during their 2017 tour of the same name, on April 27, 2018, viaiTunes.[102] A 7 LP vinyl box set, CD, and two-disc Blu-ray video were released on February 15, 2019, via Wicked Cool Records/UMe.[103][104] Consisting of the best performances from their North American and European concerts, the collection feature Little Steven and his 15-strong band taking you on a musical history lesson as they blast through an arsenal of songs spanning rock, pop, soul, blues, funk, doo-wop, reggae and everything in between. Of note, is a performance of "I Saw Her Standing There" recorded at The Roundhouse in London with a special appearance byPaul McCartney.[105]
Little Steven and the Disciples of Soul recorded a cover of Elvis Presley's "Santa Claus Is Back in Town", featuring actorKurt Russell on lead vocals, for the 2018 filmThe Christmas Chronicles.[106][107]
On March 8, 2019, Van Zandt announced the May 3, 2019, CD, digital and vinyl release ofSummer of Sorcery via Wicked Cool/UME. It was written, arranged, and produced by him at his Renegade Studios in New York City and marks his first new album of original material in 20 years.[108] A tour for the album began in May 2019, but was cancelled in September 2019 due to illness.[109][110][111]
Van Zandt finally reissued his albums in the 7 LP and 4-CD box set,Rock N Roll Rebel: The Early Work, released on December 6, 2019. Limited to 1,000 copies, it includes the first United States pressing of 1989'sRevolution, as well as the first vinyl release ofBorn Again Savage, originally released in 1999.[112] The box set also includes rare outtakes and live performances. The Lost Boys album, however, remains unreleased. Van Zandt stated that the album contains his favorite songs that he recorded and wants to wait until the album can be "properly promoted."[57][113]
Until 1999, Van Zandt had no professional acting experience. His main focus had been music, whether it was the multiple bands he participated in, groups he composed pieces for, or music he wrote on his own. Then, he was asked to play a part inThe Sopranos. After, acting became part of Van Zandt's career.
In 1999, Van Zandt took one of the lead roles inThe Sopranos, playing level-headed but deadly mobconsigliere and strip club ownerSilvio Dante. The casting choice was made by series creatorDavid Chase, who invited Van Zandt to audition after seeing him inductThe Rascals at the 1997Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and being impressed with his humorous appearance and presence.[114] Though Van Zandt had never acted before, he auditioned for the role ofTony Soprano. HBO felt that the role should go to an experienced actor, however, so Chase wrote a part especially for Van Zandt.[115][114] Van Zandt eventually agreed to star on the show as Silvio Dante, and his real-life spouse Maureen (née Santoro) was cast as his on-screen wifeGabriella.[116][117][118]
Van Zandt recorded the narration forThe Hives biography on their concert DVDTussles in Brussels (2004).[citation needed]
In 2010, Van Zandt appeared as himself in the Norwegian soap operaHotel Cæsar, broadcast on Norway's biggest commercial channelTV2 Norway.[119]
In 2011, he starred in, co-wrote, and was the executive producer for an English and Norwegian language series entitledLilyhammer, the first originalNetflix series that was produced in collaboration with Norwegian broadcasterNRK.[17] The name recalls the city ofLillehammer, which hosted the 1994 Winter Olympics.[120][121] On the show, Van Zandt portrays aSopranos-like role of an ex-mafioso who enters thewitness protection program and flees to Norway to escape a colleague against whom he testified.[17] The show premiered on NRK television on January 25, 2012, with an audience of 998,000 viewers (one fifth of Norway's population),[122][123] and ran for three seasons before being cancelled in 2015.[124][125]
Van Zandt appears in theMartin Scorsese-produced gangster epicThe Irishman as singerJerry Vale, lip-syncing Vale'sAl Di La.[126]
Since 2002, Van Zandt has hostedLittle Steven's Underground Garage, a weekly syndicated radio show that celebratesgarage rock and similar rock subgenres from the 1950s to the present day. As of December 2006, the show is heard on over 200 US radio stations and in some international markets. For example, in Spain it has beamed throughRock & Gol since 2007 and later on Rock FM Radio in Finland; Radio Helsinki started beamingLittle Steven's Underground Garage in August 2008.[127]
On October 20, 2011, the program recorded its 500th show in front of a sold-out crowd at theHard Rock Cafe in New York'sTimes Square. The guests included the bandGreen Day;Steve Buscemi, star ofThe Sopranos andBoardwalk Empire;Vincent Pastore, aka "Big Pussy Bonpensiero" fromThe Sopranos; actor and directorTim Robbins; and singerDebbie Harry.[128]
Van Zandt is also the program director for two radio channels for theSirius Satellite Radio network. The channels continuously broadcast on satellite radio in the US, and worldwide on Sirius Internet Radio. One channel, namedUnderground Garage, has the same philosophy and musical mandate as his own radio show. On-air hosts on the channel include original Rolling Stones manager/producerAndrew Loog Oldham, singer/guitaristJoan Jett, former record executiveKid Leo, punk rock singerHandsome Dick Manitoba and rock entrepreneurKim Fowley. The second channel, named theOutlaw Country, presents theedgier side of country music, both roots and contemporary. On-air hosts for this channel include pop-culture satiristMojo Nixon.[129]
In December 2004, Van Zandt launched his own record label,Wicked Cool Records.[130]
The first album released by Wicked Cool wasFuzz for the Holidays by Davie Allan and the Arrows, released on December 14, 2004.[130] The first set of records released by Wicked Cool also included new albums from Underground Garage favoritesthe Charms, the Chesterfield Kings and theCocktail Slippers; andCBGB Forever, a tribute to the famous,now-defunct venue. The label continues to release new albums from the next generation of garage rockers including the Cocktail Slippers as well as volumes ofLittle Steven's Underground Garage presents The Coolest Songs in the World, a compilation of selected songs from theUnderground Garage radio show's popular feature, the "Coolest Song in the World This Week". In 2007, the label signedThe Launderettes.[131] The label's first Halloween and Christmas themed compilations were released in 2008. Lost Cathedral is a subsidiary label of Wicked Cool Records and home to the band Crown of Thorns.[132]
In 2007, Van Zandt launched the non-profit Rock and Roll Forever Foundation and itsTeachRock project, which creates K-12[clarification needed] national curriculum. TeachRock includes interdisciplinary, arts-driven materials. The initiative features lesson plans covering topics in social studies, general music, language arts and media studies.
In September 2006, Van Zandt assembled and directed an all-star band to backHank Williams Jr. on a new version of "All My Rowdy Friends Are Coming Over Tonight" for the season premiere (and formalESPN debut) ofMonday Night Football. The all-star lineup includedLittle Richard,Rick Nielsen (Cheap Trick),Joe Perry (Aerosmith),Questlove (The Roots),Charlie Daniels,Bootsy Collins,Chris Burney (Bowling for Soup), andBernie Worrell.[133]
Since 2007, Van Zandt has been the director of a music selection committee for the video gameRock Band; he is in charge of selecting new music for the game.[134][135]
After leaving the E Street Band in 1984, Van Zandt used his celebrity as a musician to fight issues surroundingapartheid in South Africa by creating a group called theArtists United Against Apartheid. This activist group was created in 1985 by Van Zandt and record producerArthur Baker. Van Zandt and Baker assembled over 54 different artists to record an album entitledSun City in order to raise awareness about the apartheid policy in South Africa. The title referred to a resort in South Africa that catered to wealthy white tourists. The resort upheld racist apartheid policies, yet many famous entertainers chose to perform there. Artists that took part in the making of the album includedBruce Springsteen,Peter Gabriel,Miles Davis,Bob Dylan,Bono, andLou Reed.[citation needed]
TheSun City project was originally meant to only be one song, but other musicians contributed their own pieces which transformed it into a full-length album.Sun City was one of the first musical collaborations among major recording stars to support a political cause rather than a social cause. The album raised over $1 million in support of anti-apartheid efforts. The primary goal of the album and foundation was to draw attention to South Africa's racist policy of apartheid and to support a cultural boycott of the country.[136]
Van Zandt was a part of the 1989 charity single, "Spirit of the Forest", dedicated to saving rain forests.[137]
Later in his career, Van Zandt worked to raise awareness about the U.S. military interference in governments of Central America and other issues.[138]
Van Zandt's memoirUnrequited Infatuations was published September 28, 2021, byHachette Books.[139]
Van Zandt married actress Maureen Santoro inNew York City on December 31, 1982. Later she portrayed his wife onThe Sopranos.Bruce Springsteen was the best man at their wedding,Little Richard presided over it, and it featuredPercy Sledge singing "When a Man Loves a Woman".[140]
On April 26, 2024, Van Zandt was honored by having the street his family lived on named after them, becoming 'Van Zandt Way.'[141]
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Van Zandt is an honorary board member ofLittle Kids Rock. He was awarded the fourth annual "Big Man of the Year" award at the organization's 2013 Right to Rock Benefit Event.[142]
He and his wife Maureen also serve on the Count Basie Theatre's Board of Directors, and were named as that organization's honorary capital campaign chairs in 2015.
Van Zandt hosts the annual "Policeman's Ball", donating the funds raised to the Detectives Endowment Association Widows and Children's Fund and NYPD With Arms Wide Open, a foundation that supports NYPD officers with children who have special needs.
