Discussions Magazine Music Blog: An EXCLUSIVE Interview With NI... http://www.discussionsmagazine.com/2011/11/exclusive-interview-with-... Share Report Abuse Next Blog» Create Blog Sign In WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 23, 2011 An EXCLUSIVE Interview With NILS LOFGREN Dream big. Work hard. Stay humble. An EXCLUSIVE interview with E STREET BAND member and solo artist NILS LOFGREN By Dave Rayburn IN ASSOCIATION WITH Super D, CD/DVD Distributor At the tender age of 17, Nils Lofgren was asked to join Neil Young’s band, playing on LABELS some of his most classic material of the early ‘70s. Lofgren went on to pursue a favorable "Angels" (1) solo career, with tours that would earn him a reputation for stage theatrics including "Are You Listening?" (1) playing guitar while doing flips on a trampoline. In 1984 he was asked to join Bruce "Back From Cali" (1) Springsteen’s E Street Band... and the rest is history. "Beer On The Table" (1) With guest appearances by Lou Gramm (Foreigner), Paul Rodgers (Free, Bad Company, "Blue Sky" (1) Queen), and legendary soul singer, Sam Moore (Sam & Dave), Old School marks his firs t "Bomshock" (1) album of new material in five years. Gearing up for the release, Nils took time to s peak "Brilliant Mind" (1) about the new album, his storied musical path, and the loss of his dear friend Clarence "California Gurls" (1) Clemons. "Call Me" (1) "Come And Get It" (1) "Do I" (1) 1 of 41 12/21/2011 10:46 AM Discussions Magazine Music Blog: An EXCLUSIVE Interview With NI... http://www.discussionsmagazine.com/2011/11/exclusive-interview-with-... DAVE RAYBURN: You’ve obviously been influenced by a lot of different musicians and "Do You Wanna Taste It?" (1) musical styles, having grown up during a golden period of pop culture. Do you rememb er "Don't Let Me Down" (1) the very first record you ever bought, or maybe even a particular song you heard as a child "Drunk Girls" (1) "End Love" (1) that made a profound difference in your life? "Fire It Up" (1) NILS LOFGREN: Well, the profound differences came from the Beatles, the Stones, and Jimi "Get What" (1) Hendrix. Mainly it was the Beatles who I discovered rock & roll through. I was a classical "Girls On Film" (1) accordionist. I studied classical music. I was entering contests. But, it was the Beatles who, "Hey Daddy (Daddy's Home)" (1) with a few more sophisticated melodies and harmonies, turned me on to the raw power of "Hole In My Heart" (1) rock & roll, and I quickly… through them and the Stones and the British invasion, discovered "I Melt With You" (1) Stax, Volt, Motown, the old R&B and blues guys, Muddy Waters, Howlin’ Wolf, etc.. An d, it "I Need A Dollar" (1) was just kind of an explosion in the early to mid sixties. Originally, I would play it all on the "I Rep That West" (1) accordion. I used to play Beatles medleys in the 9th grade variety show. It was a while "I Want Candy" (1) "I'm A Little More Country Than before I picked up the guitar. The earliest records I bought, even before then, were things That" (2) like “Red Roses for a Blue Lady” by Wayne Newton… “Moon River” by Andy Williams… and "I'm Too Sexy" (1) I’d learn them on accordion! But, fortunately, as I grew up and got mature enough to "Invincible" (1) understand the visceral power of rock & roll... I never looked back. "It's OK" (1) "Jesus Stole My Girlfriend' (1) DAVE: “Miss You Ray” is a stellar, standout track on this album. Upon the very first list en it "Just A Dream" (1) feels every bit as classic and poignant as some of Neil Young’s or James Taylor’s be st "King Of Anything" (1) ballads. It’s precise and simple. And, it only makes sense that it was written in honor of one "Kings And Queens" (1) "Like You Do" (1) of the musical greats of our time, Ray Charles. Still, it feels timeless and applicable to "Lover Lover" (2) those outside of those name-dropped within the song. With the new album being dedicated "Marching Through Your Head" (1) to your longtime band mate, Clarence Clemons, how has this song been recently presented "Me And The Devil" (1) in your live repertoire? "Northern Lights" (1) NILS: Well, I was headed towards 60 years old, which I survived June 21st, while I was "Odd One" (1) making this record. And, I’ve long ago become accustomed that if you live long enough… "On A Mission" (1) unfortunately you start saying goodbye to family and friends. The greatest hero in my life "On Melancholly Hill" (1) was my father. I lost him 13 years ago. Along the way I‘ve lost some grandmothers and "Outside My Window" (1) aunts and uncles and people that really were great influences on me. And, in my musical "Red" (2) community, way back to Danny Whitten in Crazy Horse, and Ben Keith more recently, who "Ride To California" (1) "Seventeen" (1) was in the Tonight’s The Night band with me and the Trans band. So, loss becomes a p art of "Shake Me" (1) life. And, I’ve had no greater musical hero than Ray Charles. I got to see Ray play live. "Shame" (1) Never knew him, but I felt like I knew him through the music. So, I used that as a m etaphor "Since I Fell For You" (1) for dealing with a new frontier at my age. Loss has become a part of life, and you have to "So Obvious" (2) be a little careful to focus on the family and friends left or you can kind of drown in the "The Mama Papa" (1) sorrow. "This Songs For You" (1) And, of course, I’ve been singing “Miss You ‘C’” the last four months in my shows fo r my "Wait For Me" (2) dear departed friend and band mate, Clarence Clemons, and changing the words to be "Walking On A Dream" (3) more appropriate to Clarence, myself and some of the losses we’ve experienced together. "You Just Don't Wanna Know" (1) #1 Girl (1) Of course, there’s no greater loss than having to say goodbye to Clarence recently. I love 02 Academy (1) Clarence. He knows that, wherever he is. And, it’s a very respectful song that covers the 09/09/09 (1) emotional territory with a nod to Ray Charles. 1 2 3 4 Go (1) 1000 Years (1) 101 Distribution (1) 16.6 (1) 1L (1) 2 (1) 2 CD set (3) 20 picks (1) 2001 (1) 2009 (1) 2010 (2) 2011 (9) 2 of 41 12/21/2011 10:46 AM Discussions Magazine Music Blog: An EXCLUSIVE Interview With NI... http://www.discussionsmagazine.com/2011/11/exclusive-interview-with-... 24 Hour Karate School (1) 25 (1) 2AM Club (1) 2Cents (1) 2nd Opinion (1) 30 Century Man (1) 30 Seconds To Mars (1) 31 Minutes To Take Off (1) 4 Mile (1) 4 Out Of 5 Doctors (1) 49 Arlington Gardens (1) 4AD (1) 5 (1) 7 Worlds Collide (1) 80s pop (1) 88-Keys (1) 9/11 (1) DAVE: What is your fondest memory of “the Big Man” from your 27 years at his side? 99 Bottles (1) NILS: Well, there’s no single memory. What comes to mind is a deeper friendship off stage. 99 Problems (1) : Interviews (2) We spoke every week. I pretty much walked down the hall and visited Clarence in the : Reviews (7) Temple of Soul every show. There were many great moments where Bruce might be doing : Video (7) something special, and in the dark, me and Clarence got to just sit there as band mates and a different side of me (1) admire our leader without having to be out front singing and playing, because life’s a little A Fine Frenzy (1) different there on the frontline. When the lights hit, you gotta be on. It was nice to have A Hundred Million Suns (1) moments where we just sit side by side and catch our breath for the next go round while A Place To Bury Strangers (1) Bruce, obviously, does the heavy lifting. But, just thousands of great moments and A Star-Crossed Wasteland (1) memories of Clarence... Fortunately there was never an uncomfortable period on stage or A-ha (1) off stage with Clarence. Even when we’d respectfully disagree about something or debate AB III (1) something, it was always a deep friendship and respect for each other that I’ll always Abbey Kimball (1) Abbott And Costello (1) cherish. Absolutely (2) AC/DC (1) DAVE: Three years ago you underwent bilateral hip surgery, which you reference in several Academy Award (1) places throughout the new album. Obviously, this was a very life-changing experience for Aceyalone (1) you. What kind of activities and/or stage antics have you had to sideline as a result? Acoustic (1) NILS: Three years ago, to my horror, I had to have both hips taken out and replaced. Active Child (2) Basically, I refer to it in the “Ain‘t Too Many of Us Left” lyric, “hard street B-ball”, which Actor (1) was my hobby. I loved playing basketball. That’s how I stayed in shape. Between that and Adam Levine (2) jumping off the trampoline and doing back flips with my guitar on and leaping off drum Adam Schlesinger (1) risers, having too much fun as a performer… both hips were bone on bone with no cartilage Adam Stern (1) Adelitas Way (3) left for years.