Recess editor Greg Veis caught up with Little Steven (né: Steven Van Zandt) earlier this month, and he talked to one of the busiest men in show business about the future of The Sopranos, Bruce Springsteen & The E Street Band's new album The Rising and his Underground Garage radio gig:
Recess: You, my friend, are a multi-media star. You've got music, TV, radio. Why such a fast pace?
Little Steven: I gotta keep myself off the streets. Stay outta trouble.
Doing a good job of it?
So-so. I think I need more to do.
So, with the radio show, why'd you press to get it started in the first place?
First of all, I don't hear my favorite songs on the radio. I want to bring a combination of British invasion and New York garage bands--none of whom get airplay.
Why do you think these bands aren't seeing any time on the radio, where people could actually get exposed to them?
The major record companies haven't been signing them, so they just exist in a limbo in this underground garage world. I discovered the whole new-style garage thing about three years ago. I went to this festival, and it was fantastic. I need more people to hear how damn good this music is, and it bothers me a lot that this generation--and the one before it--don't have a lot of choices when it comes to music. All that's getting thrown at them is hard rock and rap and pop and that's it. Look at all the choices we had growing up, and it's just not fair to these kids. Choices are what America's supposed to be about.
Hallelujah.
Hell yeah. So I realized that it ain't never gonna change unless we try to change it, so I use whatever celebrity capital I have to break into radio world, which is like breaking into Fort Knox.
What current bands excite you.
In the newest generation of garage bands, I love Greenhorns, Cotton Mather, Model Rockets, Boss Martians and a bunch of others like that. It's funny that so many people don't think about this stuff, but once they hear it they have the same reaction of, 'Whoa! Where's that band been?'
Not on the radio. So anyway, I downloaded the single from the new Bruce Springsteen & The E Street Band. Are you mad at me for stealing your music?
Yeah, that's not such a good thing. Writers don't get paid, and it's their work, man. It's like stealing their car or something.
My bad.
[Laughs] Just buy the album now.
As far as the new album goes though, I heard you compare it to Sgt. Pepper's. Those are big words.
I didn't want to exactly compare it to Sgt. Pepper's, but it has elements of it in the fact that it's an album where the songs add up to more than the sum of its parts. It's bigger than each individual song. It's damn good.
Can Bruce Springsteen & The E Street Band still connect to college audiences?
I don't see why not. When you're an early teenager, you accept a lot of the fabricated music, but once you get to college, people start craving the real thing. And that's exactly what we are.
Okay, your three favorite Bruce Springsteen & The E Street Band songs.
Wow, that's tough. I really like the Tracks album, but as far as my favorite songs lately, I'll go with "Loose Ends," "Take 'em as They Come" and "Mary Lou."
Switching over to The Sopranos now, are you a believer in the philosophy that the show should call it quits before it gets too old?
That's gonna happen whether I agree or not. They may do a fifth year, and that'll be it. It's tough for me because I love it so much, and I want it to last forever. You can keep it interesting because there are so many good characters that you can discover a lot about.
What are the chances of there being a spinoff for your character Silvio Dante?
Oh, I love that idea. I'm telling ya.
I have to ask: Is [E-Street and Late Night drummer] Max Weinberg addicted to groupies?
[Laughs] No, but Conan O'Brien is.
You're a political guy.What ruffles your feathers nowadays?
[Laughing deviantly] I'm done with that stuff. I've caused enough trouble. I'm a retired revolutionary with a pension. Now, it's your turn.
You claim to champion groundbreaking music yet you have not one, but two links to Jon Bon Jovi on your web page. Bon Jovi?
He's a friend, man. He's a great guy. I have no problem liking Mooney Suzuki and Bon Jovi at the same time.
OK, now it's time for the lightning round. I give you a name or a phrase and you reply with the first thing that pops in your head. George W. Bush.
Good drinking buddy.
Justin Timberlake.
I don't know anything about him.
Good. Your love life.
Getting better all the time. Oh yeah.
Yuck.... Last question: If we were at a party together, would you introduce me to other people as your friend?
Sure, why not?
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