Clarence Clemons Dies, an 'Immeasurable' Loss Says Bruce Springsteen
He was the "Big Man" that Bruce Springsteen leaned on, both figuratively and literally, to provide the soul and heart of the legendary E Street Band. Now, that light has gone out. Clarence Clemons, the larger-than-life sax man in the world's greatest backing band, died Saturday of complications from a stroke suffered last week, a spokesman said. He was 69.
Clemons and Springsteen have been tethered together for 40 years, starting with a mythical rainy night in Asbury Park in 1971 when the horn player sat in with the unknown and struggling songwriter at a local bar. He was soon in Springsteen's backing band and was a part of his debut, 'Greetings From Asbury Park.'
Springsteen released a statement on his
website following his friend's death:
"Clarence lived a wonderful life. He carried within him a love of people that made them love him. He created a wondrous and extended family. He loved the saxophone, loved our fans and gave everything he had every night he stepped on stage. His loss is immeasurable and we are honored and thankful to have known him and had the opportunity to stand beside him for nearly forty years. He was my great friend, my partner, and with Clarence at my side, my band and I were able to tell a story far deeper than those simply contained in our music. His life, his memory, and his love will live on in that story and in our band."
In the E Street Band, his horn playing was an essential part of the scrappy yet huge sound on records like 'Thunder Road' and 'Jungleland.' It's Clemons who 'The Boss' leans on on the cover of perhaps his most iconic album, 'Born to Run' and he raved about the artwork in Clemons' memoir, 'Big Man: Real Life and Tall Tales.'
"When you open it up and see Clarence and me together, the album begins to work its magic," Springsteen wrote. "Who are these guys? Where did they come from? What is the joke they are sharing? A friendship and a narrative steeped in the complicated history of America begins to work and there is music already in the air."
And while guitarist Steven Van Zandt gets to cozy up with Springsteen night after night, trading backing vocals during their marathon concerts, it's always Clemons who has been introduced last by the E Street Band's boss.
That level of respect has been shared by E Street devotees for decades.
Clemons did not depend solely on Springsteen, though, and scored a hit of his own alongside Jackson Browne with 1985's 'You're a Friend of Mine.' He also did a bit of acting in the 1980s, on TV in 'Diff'rent Strokes' and films like 'Bill and Ted's Excellent Adventure.'
Fans of the gritty HBO drama 'The Wire' will remember his 2-episode stint as Roman.
In 1989, about 17 years into his tenure in E Street, Springsteen called and informed Clemons he was breaking up the band. He was on tour with Ringo Starr at the time and Clemons said the Beatle looked on with concern, believing the saxophonist was being told about a death.
"[Springsteen] said he wanted to try something new, do something different," Clemons explained in the Phoenix Gazette. "It was quite a shock; you go through all the emotions of a divorce, all the emotions, instantly. I didn't say much to him. I just said, 'Good luck.' But before long I started to see the good side."
Ten years later, Springsteen reformed the band and they've produced some of their most inspired work in their history, including the post-9/11 'The Rising' and 2007's rollicking 'Magic.'
Clemons is the second member of the band to pass away in recent years. In 2008, organ and accordionist Danny Federici lost a fight with melanoma, a type of skin cancer.
While he allowed fans into his world as a musician, Clemons didn't speak much about his personal life. The Norfolk, Virginia native was married five times in his lifetime and is survived by four sons, Clarence III, Charles, Christopher and Jarod.
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So glad I got to see the entire band together once in my lifetime. Farewell and RIP Big Man!!!
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Bruce who....RIP
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If there's a rock n' roll heaven, Well you know they've got a hell of a band...RIP Clarence
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Thank you, Clarence for the great sound of your sax and for being such a marvelous human being. I will miss you. I am so grateful that you were here.
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Goodbye Clarence. You will live forever as one of the greats.
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R.I.P and thank you for giving so much of your talent to the world.. You will be missed greatly..
Our thoughts and prayers are with his family
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AIN'T GOT MUCH TO SAY ! ....... R . I . P
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Clarence you were a big man in every way...talent, heart, soul and character. Whenever I attended a Springsteen concert, I always looked forward to seeing the two of you interact on stage. It was truly magic. Thank you for sharing your talent with us. Rest peacefully in the arms of God, Big Man!
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Another great talent lost, the horn section in heaven just got a little more soulful. I'm thankful for all the times I've seen Springsteen but always waited in anticipation for some killer sax! Clarence...you are the man, thank you for sharing your gift.
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Yo! You shouldn't be doing that crack, Big Man!
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We will all miss you Big Man......very sad to see you go too soon....but your music has changed lives forever sir.....RIP
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I was never much of a Bruce Springsteen kinda guy (though I did enjoy his music - and went to one of his shows once).... but my wife and her friends have been following Bruce and the E Street Band with all her NJ and Canadian friends since the beginning at the Stone Pony. And, they are TRULY heartbroken over this. You'd think my wife lost her brother or something.
Anyway, I enjoyed listening to him play - my wife adored him.
Peace (from one musician to another)
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Very sad. Saw him perform with the band several times..a Phenomenal talent and performer..
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Saw Springsteen and the E-Street Band in concert in September 1978. The sharpest memory that I hold is Clarence Clemons stepping on stage, all dressed in scarlet with a huge hat and a gleaming sax, and I was mesmerized by the presence and sound that was there. R.I.P. Big Man.. you will be missed by fans everywhere.
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Another great one for the heavenly band, RIP Clarence may you be at peace and your sax will be a welcme addition with the rest of the greats in the big band in the sky.
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Clarences sax spoke to a generation and will live on for ever. Every time I hear your sax I'll look to the heavens and smile. RIP Brother and thanks for the memories.
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Clarence securung his place in ROCKIN ROLL HEAVEN. JAMMM ON BABY
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Rest in peace Clarence, and thank you for the joy and the pleasure of your music, rest in peace
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clarence was one of the best , his is good ol virginia boy who had a great life , rest in peace buddy god be with you - your music will always run rampant within our hearts and blood
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he's with louis armstrong now - playin a sax duo in heaven
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