Since forming in 1972, the band's members have changed; however, core members include saxophonist Clarence Clemons, organist Danny Federici, bassist Garry Tallent, drummer Max Weinberg, pianist Roy Bittan and, of course, guitarist/singer/songwriter Bruce Springsteen. Guitarist Steven Van Zandt joined the band while recording Born to Run and made this record at least possible. He became one of the most honored and most influential members.
Other musicians important to the band include guitarist Nils Lofgren (who stepped in after Van Zandt quit); guitarist/singer Patti Scialfa (who is also Springsten's wife); and pianist David Sancious and drummers "Mad Dog" Vini Lopez and Ernest "Boom" Carter, who all had left the band prior to Born to Run. Also, The Rising tour saw the official addition of violinist Soozie Tyrell.
In 1989 the band split up, after the massive success of the Born in the USA tour and the quieter Tunnel of Love tour. However, in 1999, the band reunited and embarked on a rather successful 18-month reunion tour - the "E-United Tour" - and now were powered by three guitars (Springsteen, Van Zandt and Lofgren, with Scialfa usually playing a fourth, acoustic guitar).
Following the events of September 11, 2001, Springsteen and the Band embarked on their first studio recordings (excepting a short recording session for Springsteen's 1995 Greatest Hits album) since 1984's Born in the U.S.A. The band recorded The Rising in 2002, and then hit the road for another marathon, two-year tour.
After The Rising, Springsteen recorded two more albums without the E Streeters followed by "Magic", released in October 2007 and featuring the hit single "Radio Nowhere". Magic was followed up by a traditionally strong tour throughout 2008, during which original band-member and friend Danny Federici passed away. Federici had already been temporarily replaced by Charlie Giordano, with whom Springsteen played the year before during the Seeger Sessions. Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band rounded the 100-show tour at Harley-Davidson's 105th anniversary celebration.
On January 27, 2009 Springsteen's twenty-fourth album "Working on a Dream" will be released. According to the official press release, Working on a Dream was recorded with the E Street Band and features twelve new Springsteen compositions plus two bonus tracks. It is the fourth collaboration between Springsteen and Brendan O'Brien, who produced and mixed the album. A new tour for 2009 is expected to be announced soon. Springsteen and the E Street Band will play The Super Bowl halftime show on February 1, 2009.
Saturday 27th July 2009 saw Bruce and the E-Streeters played The Glastonbury Festival, England. This was the band's first-ever UK festival performance, a total of 135,000 people watched an epic, two-and-a-half hour headlining set.
Current members
* Bruce Springsteen - lead vocals, guitar, harmonica, piano
* Garry Tallent - bass guitar, tuba
* Max Weinberg - drums, percussion (joined September 1974)
* Roy Bittan - piano, synthesizer (joined September 1974)
* Steven Van Zandt - lead guitar, mandolin, backing vocals (officially joined July 1975 after playing in previous bands; left in 1984 to go solo; rejoined in early 1995) Steven Van Zandt
* Nils Lofgren - guitar, pedal steel guitar, backing vocals (replaced Steven Van Zandt in June 1984; remained in group after Van Zandt returned)
* Patti Scialfa - backing and duet vocals, acoustic guitar, percussion (joined June 1984; became Springsteen's wife in 1991; they have a daughter and two sons)
* Soozie Tyrell - violin, acoustic guitar, percussion, backing vocals (joined 2002, occasional appearances before that)
Former members
* Vinnie 'Mad Dog' Lopez - drums (inception through February 1974, when asked to resign)
* David Sancious - keyboards (June 1973 to August 1974)
* Ernest 'Boom' Carter - drums (February to August 1974)
* Suki Lahav - violin, backing vocals (September 1974 to March 1975)
* Danny Federici - organ, electronic glockenspiel, accordion, other keyboards (on medical leave of absence from late November 2007, temporarily replaced by Charles Giordano) (Danny passed away on April 17, 2008 after a battle with cancer.)
* Clarence Clemons - saxophone, percussion, backing vocals, larger-than-life persona and Springsteen foil (died 2011)
Tenth Avenue Freeze-Out
Bruce Springsteen & The E Street Band Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Seem like the whole world walking pretty and you can't find the room to move
Well, everybody better move over, that's all
'Cause I'm running on the bad side and I got my back to the wall
Tenth Avenue freeze-out
Tenth Avenue freeze-out
Well, I was stranded in the jungle trying to take in all the heat they was giving
From a tenement window a transistor blasts
Turn around the corner, things got real quiet real fast
I walked into a Tenth Avenue freeze-out
Tenth Avenue freeze-out
And I'm all alone, I'm all alone
(And kid, you better get the picture)
And I'm on my own, I'm on my own
And I can't go home
When the change was made uptown and the Big Man joined the band
From the coastline to the city, all the little pretties raise their hands
I'm gonna sit back right easy and laugh
When Scooter and the Big Man bust this city in half
With the Tenth Avenue freeze-out
Tenth Avenue freeze-out
Tenth Avenue freeze-out
Tenth Avenue freeze
I'm talking 'bout a Tenth
Oh, nothing but a Tenth
I'm talking 'bout a Tenth
I'm talking bout a Tenth, Tenth, Tenth, Tenth, Tenth, Tenth, Tenth, Tenth
Tenth, Tenth, Tenth, Tenth, Tenth, I'm talking 'bout a
Tenth Avenue freeze-out
The lyrics to Bruce Springsteen & The E Street Band's "Tenth Avenue Freeze-Out" paint a picture of a struggling individual in an urban environment. The first stanza introduces a character named Bad Scooter, who is searching for his groove in a city where everyone seems to be walking pretty but there's no space to move. The singer declares that he's running on the bad side with his back against the wall, and warns everybody to move over, thus foreshadowing the upcoming Tenth Avenue freeze-out, which is portrayed as a powerful, unstoppable force.
The second stanza describes the singer stranded in the jungle, trying to take in all the heat that's being given, meaning it's a harsh and unforgiving environment. The night is dark, but the sidewalk is bright and lined with the light of the living. As the singer turns a corner, things get real quiet real fast, and a transistor blasts from a tenement window. This creates a contrast between the isolation and danger the singer feels, and the lively, electrified atmosphere of the city.
The third and final stanza is an upbeat declaration of the power of music and the arrival of a new era. The change was made uptown, and the Big Man joined the band, referring to the addition of saxophonist Clarence Clemons to the E Street Band. This event is celebrated by all the little pretties - a metaphor for the enthusiastic fans. The singer declares that he's going to sit back and laugh when Scooter and the Big Man bust the city in half with the Tenth Avenue freeze-out. The repeated line "Tenth Avenue freeze-out" anchors the entire song, creating a sense of momentum and rising excitement.
Line by Line Meaning
Tear drops on the city, Bad Scooter searching for his groove
The city is crying and Bad Scooter is looking for his place in it
Seem like the whole world walking pretty and you can't find the room to move
Everyone else is doing well but you're feeling stuck
Well, everybody better move over, that's all
You're coming through and everyone else needs to make way
'Cause I'm running on the bad side and I got my back to the wall
You're taking risks and in a difficult situation, but still moving forward
Tenth Avenue freeze-out
Describing the feeling of being stuck in life and trying to move forward
Well, I was stranded in the jungle trying to take in all the heat they was giving
Metaphor for feeling overwhelmed and struggling to keep up
The night is dark but the sidewalk's bright and lined with the light of the living
Contrasting dark times with the light around you and the hope it brings
From a tenement window a transistor blasts
The loudness of life all around you, even if it's not your own
Turn around the corner, things got real quiet real fast
Suddenly everything can change and the world can become still
I walked into a Tenth Avenue freeze-out
Still speaking to the feeling of being stuck and struggling to move forward
And I'm all alone, I'm all alone (And kid, you better get the picture)
No one else can help but you need to understand that you're in control
And I'm on my own, I'm on my own
Repeating the sense of being on one's own and needing to find a way forward
And I can't go home
There's no going back to what used to be or what's familiar
When the change was made uptown and the Big Man joined the band
A time when things started to look up, with the addition of new players to the group
From the coastline to the city, all the little pretties raise their hands
Everybody is feeling the music and the energy, and getting into it
I'm gonna sit back right easy and laugh
The feeling of victory and finally being able to relax and enjoy it
When Scooter and the Big Man bust this city in half
Feeling like you can take on anything and truly conquer it
With the Tenth Avenue freeze-out
Bringing the song full circle, still speaking to the feeling of being stuck and needing to push through
I'm talking 'bout a Tenth Oh, nothing but a Tenth I'm talking 'bout a Tenth I'm talking bout a Tenth, Tenth, Tenth, Tenth, Tenth, Tenth, Tenth, Tenth Tenth, Tenth, Tenth, Tenth, Tenth, I'm talking 'bout a
Repeating the chorus to drive home the meaning of being on the brink of something, needing to push forward, and finding the way out of feeling stuck
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Bruce Springsteen
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@theactioneffect
Only Bruce and E Street could:
-Start a song
-Go into a rendition of Take Me To The River
-Lead into a gospel-like soul-searching sermon
-Introduce the band
-and then FINISH the song they started with
...and make the whole thing work
@migbgold3191
the greatest live performance of any song ever -- if that bond between Clarence and the Boss doesn't bring a tear to your eye then you're not alive
@barbaracousin4054
true
@hugogonzalez-ym9zg
That scene of Bruce with bigman is nowadays usted in concerts... Is grateful to see that this Bond was so important on their lives
@rchrdguay
It doesn't make the loss of the Big Man (or Danny F) anhy easier to take, but nephew Jake Clemons seems to be channeling his uncle in his onstage interactions with Bruce. So glad I got to see him on this latest tour (thanks to my son, who took me for my birthday present). Sadly, I think there won't be any more long tours in the Boss' future.
@kevrutherford8718
Agreed 100%
@anthonydonofrio1061
Hands down, the best-ever version of 10th Ave Freeze Out.
@davidgraham8299
Undoubtedly
@Maverick21491
Agreed
@billybell1656
Yes it Is definitely my favorite version!!!
@pardnerincrime4409
SOOOOOO very much agree!!! THOSE were the days...and I've been following him since 1972. Grew up 6miles from Asbury Park and haunted his early days.