Max Weinberg: 50 Years with Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band
Renowned drummer Max Weinberg is set to embark on another tour with Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band in the UK, marking a milestone 50 years since he first joined the band. In an exclusive interview with The Times, Weinberg reflects on his illustrious career, sharing anecdotes and insights into his time with Springsteen and the E Street Band.
Weinberg’s journey with Springsteen began in August 1974, when he auditioned for the band after responding to an ad in the Village Voice. "I literally did not know any of his songs," he recalls. "So we just played old rock’n’roll classics and within ten seconds I could tell that this guy was the real deal. His presence, his command, just by virtue of what he was doing was immediately evident. It was a transformative experience." Weinberg passed the audition and joined Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band, earning the nickname "Mighty Max" for his dynamism behind the drums.
The band’s first concert with Weinberg took place in September 1974, and they have since become one of the most iconic and enduring bands in rock music. Their first trip to London was in November 1975, when they played at the Hammersmith Odeon. "We all flew in one row way at the back of the plane," Weinberg remembers. "It was the band’s first time out of the country. We were going to be playing in London, at the Hammersmith Odeon [now called the Eventim Apollo]. The Beatles had played there. It was for us like going to Disneyland. It was the land of make-believe, the feeling of ‘Wow, we’ve made it. We’re playing in England.’"
One of the most memorable shows for Weinberg was the first night of Wembley Stadium in July 1985, where 90,000 people sang along to Born in the USA. At another Wembley show, he recalls meeting Sean Connery backstage. "We all ran out, Bruce included, and there was Sean Connery in his 6ft 4in magnificence — James Bond had come to see us."
Weinberg attributes the E Street Band’s enduring success to their strong bond and camaraderie. "That bond is real," he says. "What you’re seeing on stage when we play is not just yet another show. It’s us playing out our lives." He draws a parallel between the E Street Band and a military platoon, where individual members come from different backgrounds but share a common goal. "In wartime it’s to defeat the enemy. In E Street Band World it’s to give you an experience, both on record and live, that you can’t get anyplace else. We’re playing that show as if it’s the first show you’ve seen and it’s the last show we’re ever going to play."
Springsteen’s upcoming box set, Tracks II: The Lost Albums, features 83 previously unreleased songs across seven albums, many of which include the E Street Band. Weinberg is enthusiastic about the release, saying, "I’ve heard everything and I think the fans are going to love it. There is one album [ Inyo ] Bruce played me where he utilised a mariachi band of musicians, Hispanic musicians. It was just incredible, incredible music."
The drummer also discusses the legendary Electric Nebraska sessions, which were recorded in 1982 but never released. "The electric sessions were ‘kick-ass, great versions’," Weinberg says. "There’s been this myth that they weren’t well played but we played the hell out of them. I know the songs were recorded, the tracks are there, so I hope one day Electric Nebraska does make the light of day."
In addition to his work with Springsteen, Weinberg will be headlining shows with his band, Max Weinberg’s Jukebox, featuring sets composed entirely of audience requests. "We’ve done probably 350 or so of the shows," he says. "The set list always changes and it’s great fun because I never know what people are going to want."
Weinberg’s life has been marked by both triumph and adversity. He grew up in the Jewish quarter of Newark, where he was a nervous young boy who found solace in music. "If I was young today I would without a doubt have been diagnosed with ADHD," he says. After the E Street Band disbanded in 1989, Weinberg faced an existential crisis, but he eventually reinvented himself and went on to have a successful career as a bandleader and television personality.
As he approaches his 75th birthday, Weinberg reflects on his 50-year journey with Springsteen and the E Street Band. "It’s beaten me up quite a bit," he concedes. "I’ve had back operations, shoulder, hand, you name it. I’ve been through a lot but I don’t get tired." When asked if these summer shows might be his last in the UK, Weinberg is noncommittal. "Artists don’t retire," he says. "I fully expect that Bruce will express himself however he feels to express himself. I hope that it is with the E Street Band, but all I know is that when I get a call from Bruce, I’m there."
Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band play Co-op Live, Manchester, May 14, 17 and 20; Anfield Stadium, Liverpool, June 4 and 7.
Max Weinberg’s Jukebox play Band on the Wall, Manchester, May 15; Cavern Club, Liverpool, June 5, maxweinberg.com
