Anyone who has ever met me, even briefly, knows how much the music of Bruce Springsteen means to me. I have spent entire summers listening exclusively to ‘Tracks’ or ‘The Promise’, trying to figure out what Bruce didn’t see in those songs I believe are so important, months on end eagerly awaiting concerts, formulating fantasy setlists, deciding what to write on my request sign and speculating on releases and future tours with my Twitter #brucebuds all around the world.
I didn’t get the chance to see Bruce Springsteen and The E-Street Band when they were truly ‘The’ E-Street Band, when Clarence Clemons was alive. Not seeing the big man in action, whether strutting around the stage in a fabulous white suit and hat or in his later more sedate chair/throne years would top the list of places I wish I had been or stories I wish I could tell.
The most wonderful part of being a Bruce fan is the sense of community and family, ‘We Take Care Of Our Own’, and Clarence was one of us regardless of whether you had seen him perform live once, twenty times or like me, never. Footage from Hammersmith alone is enough to enamour you to the big man. The relationship between Bruce and Clarence can only be described as a deep held love which is clear in their on stage interactions, the lyrics Bruce has written about Clarence and the tribute Clarence now receives when the band play ‘Tenth Avenue Freeze-Out’. In 2012 I saw Bruce in Dublin at the RDS, just over a year after Clarence’s death and my first Bruce Springsteen concert. For their 30th song the band played ‘Tenth Avenue Freeze-Out’ and an image of Clarence was projected on to the screens either side of the stage for some time of collective soul cleansing grief. For the duration of the song it felt as if Clarence was with us.
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.
Bruce Springsteen – Tenth Avenue Freeze-Out
Since Clarence’s death four years ago today his nephew, Jake Clemons, has joined the band and has become extremely popular with fans, touring his own music and even putting on living room shows across Europe and the U.S. Bruce has released two more albums and continues to tease us with remasters, live appearances and hints at future plans.
We have compiled a playlist of some of our favourite Clarence moments, join us in celebrating the big man today and remembering him for the one of a kind performer and musician he was.