Steve Van Zandt
Fast Facts:
Name: Steve Van Zandt
Nickname: Little Steven, Miami Steve
Birthday: November 22, 1950
Birthplace: Winthrop, MA
Instruments: Guitar, Mandolin, Vocals
Joined E-Street Band: Summer 1967
Solo Projects: 5 solo albums
Biography:
Steve Van Zandt was born on November 22, 1950 in Winthrop, MA.
Some time later he and his parents moved parents to Asbury Park, NJ.
Steve was a member of Bruce's early bands in the late 60's early 70's.
He toured with the Dovells and then worked with Southside Johnny, helping him form the Asbury Jukes in 1974
and playing with the group. In July 1975, as Bruce was recording his album "Born To Run"
Steve joined Bruce's "E Street Band". Steve worked on the album, but did not play any instruments on it. Steve joined Bruce and the band
on the "Born To Run" and played on Bruce's next few albums.
In 1982, Steve put together "Little Steven & the Disciples of Soul" and released "Men Without Women" that year.
On New Year's Eve 1982 Stevie married Maureen, an actress, who plays the part of "Gabby Dante" (Silvio's, played by Steve. wife) in the "Sopranos".
In 1984, Steve left "The E-Street Band" (on good terms) and was "replaced" by Nils Lofgren.
Steve released the second "Disciples of Soul" album, "Voice of America", in the spring of 1984.
During his time with "The E-Street Band", Steve had been known as "Miami Steve". However, after he left the Band
Steve knew he needed a new nickname. "Miami Steve was a character I loved playing but he was sex, booze, gambling,
party, and rock and roll. This was gonna be very different. I was about to introduce an entirely different aspect of
my personality to an unsuspecting audience. It would have been confusing artistically and unfairly exploitative of
the E Street Band to remain Miami. He had to go." . . . "The embodiment of rock and roll for me has always been
Little Richard. (...) Little Anthony was my first record and Little Walter was my favorite blues guy."
Thus "Miami Steve" became known as Steve "Little Steven" Van Zandt.
In 1985, Little Steven organized "Artists United Against Apartheid", recording the all-star Top 40 single "Sun City."
Sun City is a city in the desert of South Africa built with Las Vegas in mind. In the 1980's, it was a source of income for
the Apartheid-regime.
In 1987, having shed the "Disciples of Soul", Steve released his third album, "Freedom, No Compromise".
"Revolution" followed in 1989. Though Van Zandt was without a record contract during the 1990s,
he produced albums for other artists and was involved in soundtrack work.
In 1995 Steve joined Bruce and the rest of "The E-Street Band" in the studio to record a few new tracks for Bruce's "Greatest Hits"
In 1998, Steve turned to acting, taking up the role of "Silvio Dante" in the tv series "The Sopranos".
In 1999 Steve's fifth album "Born Again Savage" was released on his own label "Renegade Nation". The same year, Steve
joined Bruce and "The E-Street Band" on the road for "The Reunion Tour".
On April 7, 2002 Steve started his own radio program called "Underground Garage" in the HardRock Café in New York City.
It airs Sunday nights, from 10 p.m. to midnight, on WROR 105.7 FM.
In 2002-2003 Steve toured ("The Rising Tour) with Bruce and "The E-Street Band" in support of Bruce's album "The Rising"
Steve continues to act in "The Sopranos" and still has his "Underground Garage" show.
It is not known when Bruce will start recording his next album, but recently Steve said the following in an interview ""I'm not sure what Bruce is up to. He's always writing and always doing something so you never know with him. I'm pretty sure we're taking the year (2004) off. I can't tell you absolutely. But we will make another record and we will be back for sure."
Just like many other people, I hope that Bruce will go back into the studio and out on tour real soon...
Official Site:
www.littlesteven.com
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