It took me a few days to figure out exactly what I wanted to write about the passing of Clarence Clemons. I couldn't not write something, but I also didn't want to write something you could read somewhere else. So, I am going to write about some of my favorite Clarence moments.
June 24, 1993 - I have written about this show is a past blog post. It was the second to last show on the 92-93 Tour, Bruce's first without The E Street Band, and the show was in The Meadowlands Arena. The show was amazing up until the encore and then it went to another level. Little Steven, Southside Johnny and The Miami Horns had already made their way on stage when Bruce turned to the horns and the band, flashed ten fingers, and started yelling "tenth, tenth". Southside went backstage as the band launched in to 10th Avenue Freeze Out. Now, this was very early in my concert going career, so I didn't expect what happened next. When Bruce sang the line, "When the change was made uptown and The Big Man joined the band", Clarence ran out from from backstage and nailed it. The crowd went CRAZY!
When they finished 10th Avenue, Bruce said "Can't have The Big Man here without doing this one...it's the Jersey set" and launched in to Born To Run. I had seen Born To Run previously on this tour, but this was something totally different. It was transcendent. Sitting behind the stage, I could see that Clarence wanted his mic turned up throughout the song. I guess they never turned it up because when it came time for his solo, Bruce walked over and stuck his mic right in to Clarence's sax. Simply amazing.
January 31, 1998 - Another show that I have written about previously. Clarence mentioned in a radio interview that he would be playing with "some friends" while in town so it was obvious that he would sit in for the Jon Bon Jovi and Friends show with Bruce, Little Steven and Southside. While the entire show was amazing, there is one Clarence moment that sticks out.
The band launched in to an impromptu, unrehearsed version of The Fever. Bruce came out to sing the second verse and by then, La Bamba had tracked down Clarence to come out and sing the part he recorded for the original "he's got the fever for the girl". Truly the highlight of one of my all time favorite shows.
July 18, 1999 - My first time seeing Jungleland, I was sitting in 9th row with my father on the same day David Cone threw his perfect game. I remember tearing up during the intro and the sax solo. When they announced the tour, I remember thinking, I have to go every night in case they play Jungleland, Incident or Frankie. I am glad I did.
I really could go on and on. Clarence's sound is The E Street Band. He was larger than life and had more nicknames than Muhammad Ali. He was The Big Man, The Kahuna of Surf and Soul, The Duke of Poduca, and The Biggest Man You Have Ever Seen, among others. While I think The E Street Band will live on, they can get someone to play the notes, but not someone to play the role. There's only one Big Man.
"Teardrops on the city, Bad Scooter searching for his groove"...he found it when he found Clarence. Rest in peace Big Man.
JN
