Insider Says: No Max Weinberg on 'Conan'

By Christine Fenno Posted Sep 26th 2010 11:23AM

The beat goes on for Conan O'Brien -- but it won't be provided by Max Weinberg, according to former bandmate Jimmy Vivino.

While the late-night host is prepping a November debut on his new network (and presumably basking in his old network's announcement Friday that Jeff Zucker is exiting NBC), his drummer since 1993, leader of 'The Max Weinberg 7' and 'Max Weinberg and the Tonight Show Band,' has been touring.

Now, a New York Times blog reports that Jimmy Vivino, a musician under Weinberg on O'Brien's last two shows, is revealing he's been promoted. The guitarist and keyboardist says that when 'Conan' premieres on TBS, he will lead the band.

In an interview in the St. Louis River Front Times, Vivino explained the changes on O'Brien's new set:

"I'll be leading the band, and James Wormworth will be playing drums now. He played half of 'The Tonight Show's and a good quarter of the 'Late Night' shows [for O'Brien]."

When asked to clarify that Weinberg would not return as O'Brien's bandleader after so many years, Vivino said, "Max has his big band out there that has been his dream all his life, kind of a Buddy Rich band." He joked about Weinberg's longtime Springsteen collaboration, too: "And there's a kid in Jersey that works with him occasionally...A singer-songwriter! Some guy that's got some hope over there!"

TBS has yet to confirm the report that Weinberg will not appear on 'Conan,' but it looks like the cat may already be out of the bag!

Tags: conan obrien, Max Weinberg

Comments

(15)

Sunday 26 September

By Shannon

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Max is tired of Conan and his stupidity - just like the rest of us. WTG, Max!!!!

By mattl1

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You know, it is possible that Max is just enjoying what he is doing now, and the two parted ways amicably while wishing each other luck.

By warnerjones

Max is the real deal.Love to watch his drumming magic when working with another real deal guy,"The Boss".

By elwin37

I saw Max and his big band perform over Labor Day weekend in Virginia Beach next to the Hilton Hotel on the beach. His Big Band was GREAT and had the huge crowd HOPPING. I think Max will do just fine not being on Conan ..sometines you just gotta move on and he has put together something that is really good!!

By buddyfoxblues

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from personal knowledge the band was always jimmys he did the arrangements chose the bumper music rehearsed the guest musical stars who did not bring theirown bands etc

By Conan

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Max is gay.

By Ric

Gay...REALLY? Don't tell his wife and kids!!

How do you know?

By Todd

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Looking forward to Conan's return. He'll be a great lead-in to Jimmy Kimmel. Dave's glories are about 20 years in the rear view mirror and Jay's only funny to the AARP crowd.

By Caroline

Maybe I'm alone here, but that foolish-looking smile Weinberg always kept frozen on his face was the number-one reason I flinched every time I saw that show -- love Conan, always will, but always had to look away -- literally -- when that fellow came on camera. Good riddance!

By VOTEREPUBSOUT

I ALWAYS THOUGHT CONAN WAS VERY LIENIANT WITH MAX. WHILE JIMMY VIVINO WAS THE MUSICAL DIRECTOR, MAX JUST KEPT THE BEAT. MAX WAS NEVER THERE, BECAUSE HE TOURED WITH SPRINGSTEEN. BUT THE BAND WAS STILL CALLED THE MAX WEINBERG 7. HE WAS AN ABSENTEE DRUMMER. I'M GLAD FOR JIMMY VIVINO, IT WAS LONG OVERDUE.

By chittlen

Always liked Max, Conan probably hasn't the budget he used to. Max has always had a lot on his plate he will do just fine.

Monday 27 September

By Chili Challis

Funny, they call them talk shows but music plays such an important part of all of them. Good music is very important to the survival of a late night talk show.

By SacWriterEditor

There goes my only reason to watch that stupid jerk Conan. Max was the only saving grace on the show.

By john waters

it never really was the max weinberg seven it was always jimmy's band max just steped in when conan offered him the gig

Tuesday 28 September

By Da KOLD Shadow

I'm definitely gonna miss Max, but at this point at my life, I don't even watch T.V. enough to care about late night talk shows. Besides the few series I watch on Hulu or elsewhere, my attention span for the boob toob is at an all-time low, and I couldn't be happier, as I've never felt (psychologically) healthier! For what it's worth, Conan is DA MAN and "Late Night" was one of my favorite post-prime time shows ever, probably second only to Saturday Night Live. The fact that I never saw him on "The Tonight Show" is just a testament to how much less T.V. I watched after graduating college.

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