Picking up where we left off, it’s clear that Little Steven, or Steve Van Zandt, is more than just a musician; he’s a force of nature within the rock and roll world. His dedication to the spirit of rock and roll, both on stage and off, truly exemplifies the genre’s power to create positive change. In the first part of this blog series, we explored the initial chapters of his career, concluding in the 1980s. Now, in this Rock And Roll Part 2 Song, we delve into the highlights from the 1990s to the present day, showcasing a remarkable continuation of his artistic journey.
Despite losing his recording contract at the close of the 80s, Van Zandt’s creative engine never stalled. Throughout his career, he has consistently contributed to the music of others, lending his songwriting and production talents to a diverse array of artists. Beyond his well-known collaborations with Southside Johnny and Bruce Springsteen – where he co-produced iconic albums like The River and Born in the USA – Van Zandt has worked with figures like Michael Monroe, Arc Angels, the Nigerian musical legend Majek Fashek, and the powerful vocalist Darlene Love. Notably, he also produced and wrote for Lone Justice‘s 1986 album Shelter. It’s worth remembering the exceptional voice of Maria McKee, Lone Justice’s lead singer; the band’s disbandment after such promise remains a poignant moment in music history. The title track from Shelter, a Van Zandt composition, stands as a testament to his songwriting prowess and should have been a chart-topping hit.
The late 1990s marked a turning point, an explosive new verse in Little Steven’s rock and roll part 2 song. He transitioned into acting, famously portraying mob consigliere Silvio Dante in HBO’s groundbreaking series, The Sopranos. David Chase, the show’s producer, was captivated by Van Zandt’s presence during the Rascals’ Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction in 1997, recognizing a natural performer. The Sopranos aired from 1999 to 2007 and, while primarily a dramatic series, music played a crucial role. The end-credit sequences became a signature element, often featuring Little Steven’s music, including “Affection,” a track from an unreleased album with his garage band project, the Lost Boys.
Simultaneously, 1999 witnessed another significant event: Bruce Springsteen’s decision to reunite the E Street Band after a decade-long hiatus. Despite Van Zandt’s departure in 1984, Springsteen invited him to rejoin the newly reformed band, an offer he accepted. The Reunion Tour, supporting the Tracks box set of outtakes, showcased a revitalized E Street Band, now boasting a formidable three-guitar lineup with Van Zandt, Nils Lofgren (who had stepped in for Van Zandt in 1984), and Springsteen himself. For fans who had never seen Bruce with Little Steven, this tour was a revelation. The dynamic between Springsteen and Van Zandt, particularly on classics like “Two Hearts” from The River, was a tour highlight.
Adding another layer to this incredibly busy period, Little Steven released his fifth solo album, Born Again Savage, also in 1999. Though recorded in 1994, it was issued on his own Renegade Nation label and included contributions from Adam Clayton of U2 and Jason Bonham. Born Again Savage was a deliberate homage to the 1960s garage rock that shaped Van Zandt’s musical sensibilities. It echoed the harder edge of his 1984 album Voice of America and tackled themes of politics and religion. “Salvation” exemplifies the album’s raw energy and lyrical depth.
Born Again Savage and its garage rock aesthetic served as a precursor to another major undertaking: Little Steven’s syndicated radio show, Little Steven’s Underground Garage. Launched in 2002, and now broadcast on over 80 stations across more than 200 markets globally, the show has amassed over 800 episodes. Van Zandt created Underground Garage to champion the music he grew up with, particularly garage rock, which had largely disappeared from mainstream radio. The show, also available on Sirius satellite radio, and Van Zandt’s record label, Wicked Cool Records, actively promote contemporary garage and classic rock bands often overlooked by commercial radio. The Underground Garage website states that over 700 bands have been featured on the show, highlighting its significant impact on preserving and promoting the genre. The show’s humorous opening montage captures its spirit perfectly.
Throughout the 2000s and 2010s, Little Steven maintained a relentless pace, juggling Underground Garage DJ duties, touring with Springsteen, and writing, producing, and starring in his Netflix series, Lilyhammer, about a former mobster in witness protection in Norway. Furthermore, in 2007, he established the Rock and Roll Forever Foundation and its TeachRock project to address the decline in arts funding in schools. TeachRock provides free, interdisciplinary arts-driven educational materials that use music, including rock, to engage students and keep them in school. This initiative embodies his consistent use of rock and roll as a tool for societal betterment, making education fun and relevant for students.
2016 brought exciting news: Little Steven returned to the studio with the Disciples of Soul to record a new album. Soulfire, released in May 2017, featured a mix of new compositions and reimagined “rock and soul” songs from his extensive catalog. The subsequent tour, commencing in 2017 and continuing into the following years, was highly acclaimed. Witnesses to the Philadelphia show, like Mike and Paul from this blog, enthusiastically endorsed it, praising the non-stop stream of fantastic songs and Little Steven’s exceptional performance. A notable aspect of this tour was Van Zandt’s generosity in reserving blocks of tickets for teachers at each show, as a gesture of gratitude for their vital work in educating future generations. From Soulfire, “Saint Valentine’s Day” exemplifies Little Steven’s enduring musicality – the horn arrangement, reminiscent of “Tenth Avenue Freeze-out,” elevates the song to another level.
This overview attempts to capture the breadth of Little Steven’s contributions and his unwavering commitment to using rock and roll as a positive force. His journey, this rock and roll part 2 song, is a testament to his enduring passion and multifaceted talent. To conclude, the liner notes Little Steven penned for Born Again Savage offer a profound insight into his philosophy:
We live in an insane asylum. A barbaric, merciless cesspool. And in this purgatory filled with disease and ugliness and violence and hatred and injustice and greed and lies and pain and frustration and confusion there are brief, fleeting moments of peace and love and truth and beauty. They are rare. They are years and miles apart. But they are so meaningful that they make life worth living. Those moments give you strength to face the insanity with your balance intact and your eyes focused and you endure and tolerate and survive. And if you’re lucky, real lucky, you can tap that strength and hold on to it long enough to, in your own small way, try to make it all a little bit better. Just a little bit more civil and just. To serve. And you don’t do it for anybody else because no one is going to thank you or reward you or even notice. Don’t kid yourself. You do it for you. For your own soul. Because in this world that’s all the salvation you’re ever gonna get.
Thank you, Little Steven, for your tireless efforts. Your impact is recognized and deeply appreciated. Your music and endeavors have enriched our world.
Sources: Wikipedia; YouTube; littlesteven.com; underground garage.com; rockandrollforever.org;teachrock.org;
