When The Change Was Made Uptown And The Big Man Joined The Band

I just read online that Clarence “Big Man” Clemons passed away due to complications caused by the stroke he suffered earlier this week. Surely, there will be many things written by people who perhaps have more insight than I can offer but all I can offer is what I can offer. Having grown up in the heart of Springsteen Country in central New Jersey, my teenage years were filled with E Street Mania from the 10-night stand at the old Brendan Byrne Arena to the 6 nights at Giants Stadium. In the state of New Jersey, Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band have an exalted status.

Springsteen fans are quite aware of the role that the Big Man has played in the folklore of the E Street Band. As the oft-told tale goes, a young unknown Bruce Springsteen was playing onstage in a local Jersey Shore club on a rainy night when Clemons walked in after tearing the club door off its hinges. He asked to sit in and as soon as they played together, they knew that something magical was taking place. Over the next few decades, Clarence was the onstage foil to Springsteen. He was always introduced last with respect, love, and in the spirit of true brotherhood.

The music business these days is so much about building up stars quickly and casting them aside as soon as they hit their expiration date. There's just no place today to witness the evolution and sustenance of the bonds that joined Clemons and Springsteen or, for that matter, the bonds that join Springsteen and the E Street legacy. When I look at the picture above, it seems like more than just a cool album cover. To me, this iconic image encapsulates the Springsteen story: the scrappy Jersey Shore guitar-slinger with romantic visions that were realized with the help of his trusted soulmates. Every time they walk onstage, Bruce and the E Street Band pay tribute to the vision they worked so hard to form. If you're not sure about the dedication of these guys, check out the documentaries about the making of “Born To Run” and “Darkness On The Edge Of Town” and you will see how much devotion these guys put into making Bruce's music come to life. One of the most notable stories is the sixteen hours that Clarence spent in perfecting his solo in “Jungleland”.

They don't make 'em like Clarence Clemons anymore. Fare thee well, Big Man.

Bucharest

The imposing structure in this picture, built by Romania’s communist leader Nicolae Ceaușescu in the early 80s, is second in size only to the Pentagon. Apparently, a visit to Pyongyang gave Ceaușescu the inspiration to build this. In doing so he razed the historic district, destroying churches and displacing thousands of people in the process all in the quest to build this towering monument to, perhaps, himself. Over two decades later, the building sits mostly empty and is still not complete.

The Palace of the Parliament is situated at the end of a Bucharest boulevard meant to resemble the Champs-Élysées in Paris. There are tree-lined paths on each side of the boulevard leading up to the building. Looking down the roadway leading up to this monstrous edifice feels like gazing upon the Communist version of the Yellow Brick Road with a concrete Oz at the end of the line. Sadly, both sides of the streets are filled with empty storefronts. I went to see this building while spending a few days in Bucharest as part of my new job. As my time was very limited, I figured I’d visit the One Thing You Must Do in this city.

Bucharest is still in transition from the struggles it freed itself from with the revolution of 1989 with lots of road construction taking place. Parts of the city look rather drab, with large concrete apartment blocks whose plain boxy exteriors seem consistent with the Communist ethic of sameness. Other parts of the city attempt to be modern, shoving glass-façade buildings in among the older architecture wherever they can fit them. A few places, like the Lipscani old town area, fit in with the idea of Charming Old Europe with winding cobblestone lanes dotted with restaurants, cafes, and bars. The whole city looks like it could use a good scrubbing.

As part of my work time here, I had to interview a few people for a job opening we have in Bucharest. At one point, I was talking to a kid about Biohazard and the NYHC scene when I found myself drifting from the conversation. In that moment, I was struck by the idea that I was sitting in Eastern Europe conducting a job interview, something that I never dreamed that I would be doing. I’m not saying, “Wow, I’ve always wanted to do it and now I have”. The point I’m making is that it never occurred to me that my life would somehow take a path where I would be in a job that required me to be in Romania. All I knew about Romania a few weeks ago was that both Dracula and Olympic gymnast Nadia Comeneci were from there. As the plane was landing in Bucharest, I looked out the window imagining that I’d see forests, large imposing Gothic castles, and flying gargoyles.

When I’m aware that the unexpected is taking place in my life, it allows me to reflect on how things can open up for you if you are open to new experiences. I almost didn’t accept the job that has brought me to Bucharest. If I hadn’t, I never would’ve come on my own. Perhaps this experience is a lesson for me to allow myself to be pulled in directions I hadn’t ever intended. Even if those destinations (or any destination, for that matter) don’t become rewarding in and of themselves, the pit stops along the way makes for a much more interesting journey.