Why the rebirth of Little Steven van Zandt is what we need right now
It’s July 14, 1984. Crystal Palace’s Selhurst Park Stadium in South London is the venue, and I’m a young teenager, and a fully paid up member of the Status Quo army.
Along with 30,000 other fans I’m there to celebrate the (first) end of the road show for British rock band Status Quo.
It’s a star-studded finale including Phil Lynott, Dave Edmunds, Chas & Dave, and some guy called Little Steven.
Despite Born in the USA being released only 6 weeks earlier, I’d never heard any of Springsteen’s music, and I’d never set eyes on Little Steven van Zandt — or indeed, anyone like Miami Steve.
On to the stage comes The Disciples of Soul led by a man that I would come to admire, but at that moment I was taken aback. Who was this guy!? And the Quo Army thought the same.
Sad to say Little Steven took some abuse from the crowd that afternoon, and I recall him saying: “Hey, those guys ain’t coming on until we’ve finished…” It was perhaps not the Disciples best gig.
So, imagine my surprise less than 12 months later watching Springsteen at Wembley Stadium — for my first ever Bruce show — that this guy walks out on stage to play with Bruce? My mind was blown.
Of course, I now know the history of Steve and Bruce, and leaving the Band at the station before the gravy train really started to roll for E Street.
It’s October 29, 2016 some 32 years after that London gig that I’m back with Little Steven. Of course, I’ve seen Steve and his pal Bruce multiple times since then, but I hadn’t been to a Steve van Zandt show.
Remarkably, out of nowhere, after a career as a political activist, actor, and renewed sidekick to his good friend Bruce Springsteen, SvZ is back onstage as a front man.
The London 2016 show was incredible. With a band put together at the last minute, featuring both trusted U.S. musicians, such as Eddie Manion and British backing singers who must have wondered who their new band leader was — Steve blew the roof of the small venue attached to the O2 Arena where Bad Company and Richie Sambora had rocked only hours earlier.
At the time, Steve said he had somewhat neglected himself as an artist, but after such a triumphant gig, the troupe went back to NYC, where Steve jumped into the studio to record his first new album in decades — and what an album it was — Soulfire.
Steve van Zandt was back, and to paraphrase his own lyrics — back to claim what was his…
Now, nearly a year after the London October 2016 show, and after several U.S. and European shows — including a very loud show in Manchester, UK — Little Steven is back with an extended U.S tour, and a new U.K tour.
The show itself is multi-level. Rock, Soul, Reggae, Blues — the Disciples of Soul do it all.
The band is super tight (and loud). Little Steven’s credentials as a activist is never far from his thoughts and songs, and while, Bruce is gearing up to start his acoustic residency on Broadway, Little Steven offers what Bruce fans and other rock fans need right now — a magnificent night out rocking the night away.
One of Miami Steve’s best known songs is — I Don’t Wanna Go Home — and having seen this show twice already, I can absolutely guarantee that anyone who sees this Disciples of Soul tour will feel the same.
On stage Little Steven is what his friend, Bruce Springsteen always said he was — a great frontman. It’s good to have him back.
