Nils Lofgren Dedicates New Album to Clarence Clemons

Thursday, November 10, 2011

Nils Lofgren Dedicates New Album to Clarence Clemons

Some highlights of the article:

Did Clarence’s passing directly influence the writing on Old School, or was it largely done by the time he passed away?
A little bit of both. The writing was almost complete when that happened. But for instance, there’s a song called “Miss You Ray” about Ray Charles’ passing, and it’s a metaphor for saying goodbye to family and friends. [I’ve been singing it as] “I miss you, C,” and I’ve rearranged the lyrics live to apply to my friend Clarence. But that concept is no stranger to all of us. Me and Clarence used to commiserate on and off the road about the loss of Danny [Federici], about personal losses that might be in his life and mine. It’s a part of life that’s rough for anybody in or out of show business, no exceptions.

Have you had a chance to give the music to anybody in the E Street Band yet?
I have not had any chance to mail it to Bruce or anyone else. About a month ago, Patti [Scialfa], who makes great records – Steve Jordan’s kind of the producer and drummer – we did some session work, started a new record of hers. But this was weeks before I had the record. I just got home, there’s this big box of new CDs here and I’m gonna have to start mailing some out and get ‘em to my friends and hope they hear something on there they like. Meanwhile I’m just so grateful I actually got it done. It seems like such a big project, it’s finally done, and I’m proud of it. I’m anxious to share it.

Some bands, when they’re on break they don’t speak. But here you are working on Patti’s new album.
When I go to Patti and Bruce’s we call ourselves the Wack Brothers. We laugh and come up with wacky stuff ‘cause we’re very uninhibited around each other. Patti’s singing, usually playing a guitar. Steve Jordan’s on drums. I’m usually on some kind of guitar, Cliff Carter or Charlie Giordano are on keyboards, Willie Weeks sometimes on bass, or Bruce is on bass. All of a sudden Bruce, instead of being Bruce the bandleader, he’s just the bass player or rhythm guitar player, or a great organ player. He has great ideas, and it’s fun to just not be on the E Street Band. There’s nothing wrong with that, but it’s intense. This is a different kind of intensity, but still musically challenging and gratifying. With Steve Jordan and Patti Scialfa Springsteen as the heavies directing us, it’s just a whole different vibe. But ultimately it’s musical growth and experimentation. That is good for the soul and the spirit.