Steven Van Zandt talks Springsteen, ‘The Sopranos’ in new memoir

Steven Van Zandt’s kitchen looks exactly as you might expect from a guy whose everyday attire includes head scarves and printed shirts.

The black-and-white-striped walls and purple velvet couch with gold trim set in the background of the room in his New York home are the epitome of Zany Rock Star Living. But while Van Zandt has always embraced his colorful persona, he’s also a laser-focused professional, whether sharing syllables at a mic with Bruce Springsteen, shrugging and mugging as Silvio Dante on “The Sopranos,” fronting his Disciples of Soul band or steering his syndicated radio show, “Little Steven’s Underground Garage” (he also programs the Underground Garage and Outlaw Country channels on SiriusXM).

Steven Van Zandt is known for his tenure in Bruce Springsteen's E Street Band, but his memoir expounds on his colorful background.

Van Zandt’s new memoir, “Unrequited Infatuations,” out now, is a rollicking read that spans his Italian-American upbringing, the dive bar days with Springsteen, his ill-timed departure from the E Street Band, his commitment to illuminating the horrors of apartheid, reuniting with Springsteen and his surprising third act as an actor.

In a freewheeling Zoom call, Van Zandt, 70, talked about working on his memoir during quarantine – he started it 10 years ago, but struggled with finding an ending – his loyalty to Springsteen and why he believes The Rolling Stones are doing the right thing by carrying on this long.

Q: You tell the story – which I’m not sure a lot of people realized – about how you created the character of Silvio Dante on “The Sopranos.” Did you have any input for John Magaro, who is playing the role in “The Many Saints of Newark”?

Van Zandt: He did it all on his own. He didn’t need me. He had 86 episodes (of “The Sopranos”) to look at! He’s a terrific actor. I saw an early cut of the film and it’s great.

“Extraordinary”: Elvis Costello praises Bruce Springsteen’s Broadway show

Q: You’re such a vivid storyteller. Did you have anyone assisting with writing the book, or is this all you?

Van Zandt: My editor, Ben Greenman, really helped to keep me on the path. Even though it starts off as a music book, I didn’t want it to be that. The second half of the book becomes an odyssey. I wanted it to be a detective novel: you don’t know what is coming next because I didn’t know myself. I wanted to write every word and I explained to the publisher, the way I’m going to be sure this is in my voice is that I’m going to picture doing the audiobook and I’m going to write it that way. It’s not going to be grammatically correct, but if you read it the way I’m going write it, you will hear my voice.

Steven Van Zandt talks Bruce Springsteen, solo career, "The Sopranos" and more in new memoir, "Unrequited Infatuations."

Q: Was it proofread by Bruce before you finalized?

Van Zandt: Yes. I said, if there’s anything you disagree with or remember different, I will take it out immediately because I didn’t want a journalist blindsiding him and saying, “Stevie said this in his book and you said this in yours.” I have no sense of time. You want the encyclopedia of our lives, I’m not the guy. I’m gonna tell you what I remember and the way I remember. In the end, I wanted to keep the Bruce stuff to a minimum, but he ended up being in there more than I expected because he’s been such a big part of my life.

Springsteen reflects: 20 years after 9/11 and ‘The Rising’

Q: You write a lot about being at peace with the way destiny shook out as your career went along. But is there still a part of you that regrets leaving the E Street Band in ’84, just before the “Born in the U.S.A.” tour?

Van Zandt: Totally. Forever. This will never change. My life was over. My suicide was my final act. To be reborn, you must die. This was the end my life. It happened to me while I was on a flight to South Africa (to study apartheid). Then my “Voice of America” (album) comes out and I didn’t know Bruce was going to call the album “Born in the U.S.A.” and have the same red, white and blue and flags. I was shocked to find out that I had blown it. I blew my life. There are a few things that happen when this happens: you lose all fear. All of a sudden I’m going to dangerous places thinking what’s the worst that can happen? They’re going to kill me! OK, I’m ready to go. You have a tendency to suddenly be more focused on things, which can make you feel that your life is finished.

Steven Van Zandt hopes to return to the stage with Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band in 2022, but is also planning a return to TV.

Q: You mention in the book about going to see The Rolling Stones perform “Sticky Fingers” in 2015 and talking to Charlie Watts about it. You are a big believer in the band’s ability to go on without Brian Jones. It is obvious that they will never be the same without him.

Van Zandt: No, they’re not, and they weren’t the same after Brian Jones or Mick Taylor or Bill Wyman. They were huge parts of the band and people underestimate Bill’s enormous musical role in that band. So yeah, it will be different Rolling Stones – like we’re a different E Street Band – but I agree that they should continue. As long as Mick (Jagger) and Keith (Richards) are there, it’s the Stones. You want them to keep going because the music is greater than any one of you. Charlie will be missed.

Q: When will we see you next year on an arena stage with the E Street Band.

Van Zandt: Who the hell knows with what’s going on? It’s very hard to plan anything. I’m going to give Bruce first priority and I’ll be there with him if he decides to go. If not, I’m going to try to get back on TV. I miss it. I’d consider going back to “Lilyhammer” if Netflix wanted to. During quarantine, it doubled its audience. We were the first new (original) show on Netflix (in 2012) and on my first promo tour I had to explain to people what Netflix was (laughs). It’s such as strange and wondrous world.

Latest News

Related Articles

LEAVE A REPLY

Please enter your comment!
Please enter your name here