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The video provides an in-depth look at the multifaceted career of Steven Van Zandt, also known as Little Steven, highlighting his roles as a musician, actor, and activist. A longtime guitarist and musical director for Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band, Van Zandt has played a crucial part in the band, expertly arranging horn sections and refining guitar work on iconic tracks like "10th Avenue Freeze Out" and "Born to Run." His early career in New Jersey alongside Springsteen, spurred by influences like The Beatles and The Rolling Stones, laid the groundwork for his life in music.
Van Zandt's activism is exemplified by his 1985 protest song "Sun City," part of the anti-apartheid movement. Despite leaving the E Street Band in 1984, he later reconciled with Springsteen in the late '90s. Around this time, he ventured into acting, starring as Silvio Dante in "The Sopranos," a role that drew on his real-life dynamics and strengthened on-set camaraderie.
Beyond acting, Van Zandt's contributions include writing a memoir, creating, and starring in the Netflix series "Lilyhammer," and addressing the decline of rock culture through "Little Steven's Underground Garage," a radio program. He also champions music education with "TeachRock," a curriculum integrating rock and roll to enhance student engagement.
Despite being in his 70s, Van Zandt remains an artistic dreamer, likened to a "Sonic Don Quixote," continuing to write screenplays and pursue his passions. His performance at the historic Circus Maximus in Rome underscores his enduring dedication to music, illustrating the universal power of the art form. His close bond with the late James Gandolfini, whom he misses deeply, also highlights the personal connections formed through his diverse endeavors.
00:00:00
In this segment, the focus is on Steven VanZant, a versatile artist known for his work as the longtime guitarist and musical director for Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band. Besides his musical career, he has also made significant contributions as an actor on the influential television show “The Sopranos.” Additionally, VanZant is actively engaged in scriptwriting and preserving rock and roll. During a concert in Rome at Circus Maximus, VanZant, moments before performing, was working on a new screenplay. He explains his preference for performing in Rome due to the enthusiastic fans who sing along despite language barriers, underscoring the universal power of music. VanZant expresses his comfort in being a supporting figure rather than the main spotlight, highlighting his unique position as an invaluable member of the band who thrives on creativity and teamwork.
00:03:00
In this part of the video, the speaker discusses the early career of Steven Van Zandt, also known as Little Steven, and his friendship with Bruce Springsteen. They reflect on their teenage years in New Jersey, their introduction to rock and roll, and how The Beatles and The Rolling Stones inspired them. Van Zandt and Springsteen formed a band in Asbury Park, where they honed their live performance skills in local bars before breaking into the music business. Van Zandt’s contributions to the band included arranging iconic horn sections and refining guitar licks, notably on songs like “10th Avenue Freeze Out” and “Born to Run.” Despite his significant role, Van Zandt left the band in 1984 after a creative disagreement. He then focused on his own band, Little Steven and The Disciples of Soul, and engaged in political activism, prominently opposing apartheid in South Africa. In 1985, he wrote and co-produced the protest song “Sun City.”
00:06:00
In this part of the video, the focus is on Steven Van Zant’s involvement in the Sun City boycott campaign against apartheid and his subsequent reconciliation with Bruce Springsteen in the late ’90s. Van Zant faced a conflict when Springsteen invited him to rejoin the E Street Band, as he had already committed to an HBO TV show created by David Chase. Despite having no acting experience, Van Zant was cast in “The Sopranos” as Silvio Dante, a role he embraced by drawing on his real-life dynamics as Springsteen’s close confidant. He aimed to create a camaraderie on set akin to a rock and roll band.
00:09:00
In this part of the video, the discussion highlights Steven VanZant’s various projects post-The Sopranos. After the show’s conclusion, VanZant wrote a memoir and co-created and starred in the Netflix series “Lilyhammer.” He addresses the decline of rock venues and album sales by launching “Little Steven’s Underground Garage,” a weekly radio program. Additionally, he initiated “TeachRock,” a free K-12 curriculum integrating rock and roll to engage students in learning diverse subjects. The segment underscores VanZant’s belief in the importance of arts in education, contrasting the U.S. view of art as a luxury with other countries. Furthermore, Bruce Springsteen remarks on VanZant’s indispensability to the E Street Band, noting their decades-long friendship and collaboration in music.
00:12:00
In this segment, the speaker reflects on the surreal experience of playing at the Circus Maximus in Rome after more than 50 years. They discuss how it makes sense because they’ve always been deeply dedicated to music, doing nothing else but playing consistently. The speaker, who is still actively trying to save radio and rock in his 70s and writing screenplays, acknowledges being an artistic dreamer and compares his efforts to a “Sonic version of Don Quixote.” The segment touches on Steven Van Zandt’s close relationship with James Gandolfini, mentioning that Van Zandt misses him dearly.