Backstage Pass / Southside Johnny & The Asbury Jukes’ 40th Anniversary

Southside Johnny’s Boardwalk Empire The Jersey rocker and his “I’ve seen what it’s like to walk ever-­changing Asbury Jukes down the boardwalk with Bruce,” says Southside (above, below right). “I wouldn’t like that at all. play fairs, not arenas, but I like to buy my own groceries.” count Bon Jovi and The Boss among their fans

By WAYNE ROBINS

Lesser acts might be cynical, but for 40 years Southside Johnny & The Asbury Jukes have been performing a now formidable, largely original, always changing repertoire of American music: R&B, blues, roots rock’n’roll. John Lyon, 66, and his bandmates (more than 130 members have worn the Asbury Jukes logo through the years, says Southside, sitting at a picnic table between the boardwalk with Bruce; I’ve been places with sets) never had the popular success of Jersey Jon. I wouldn’t like that at all. I’m self-conscious AT THE FAIRGROUNDSA in West Springfield, Shore mates such as Bruce Springsteen & The E enough! I like to buy my own groceries.” Mass., past the gaudy bright lights of stands sell- Street Band or Bon Jovi. Bon Jovi’s admiration for Southside runs deep. ing fried-dough funnel cakes and cream puffs But if you ask him, he’ll tell you he’s fine with all Among the rockers of the Jersey Shore, he says, so big they come with instructions on how to that. And more importantly, he really means it. “Johnny has his place in the Holy Trinity. Bruce, eat them (twist gently), Southside Johnny & The “Bruce and Jon [Bon Jovi], they’re good friends Steven and Johnny were that to me.” Asbury Jukes are doing a sound check in the sun of mine, have made huge successes,” After four decades on the road, there’s on a recent Saturday afternoon. says Southside, who has frequently no mansion on the hill to come home Here at the Eastern States Exposition (“New ­collaborated with E Street Band to for Southside. “John is the least England’s greatest fair”), the members of the band ­guitarist Steven Van Zandt. But he materialistic man I’ve ever met,” says have to keep reminding those passing by or seated identifies more with artists in it for the Jeff Kazee, 48, the Jukes’ keyboard- age Im e r early for the upcoming 3 p.m. set that this was just a long haul who don’t need gold records ist, Southside’s ­writing partner and /Wi ss sound check. There will also be another 45-minute and stadium shows — “people like Ry frequent co-producer. In Kazee’s base- k Wei k set at 8 p.m. on Saturday, Sunday and Monday, six Cooder and Bonnie Raitt, admired ment in New York’s Queens ­borough,

r Ma teen: sets in all, free with admission to the fair. In the musicians who are comfortable­ with he and Southside composed the music s ing r building behind the stage — where the nine band the level they’re on,” he says. “No huge pressure for the act’s latest CD, Soultime!, inspired more by members and a handful of crew shared a cramped to make hits; they make a good living. They’re ­late-’70s soul than other Jukes albums. Southside ano. Sp ano. ss ­dressing room — an equestrian competition is allowed to do whatever they want to do. And if lives in a rented ­cottage in Ocean Grove, N.J., a fo Sa l fo ­taking place; a short walk from there, stage right, is something works out, great. That’s where I always quiet area that shares a boardwalk with Asbury

Lyon: Rodo Lyon: “Farm-O-Rama,” come see the llama. wanted to be. I’ve seen what it’s like to walk down Park, where it all began.

OCTOber 24, 2015 | WWW.BILLBOARD.com 109 Southside Johnny & The Asbury Jukes’ 40th Anniversary Jukes’ 40th Asbury Johnny &The Southside / Pass Backstage out. It hadbuilt-in amps,microphones,out. asetof that didn’t serve alcohol, teenagers so couldhang place called theUpstage Club,until5 a.m., open [E Street Band ­ meandBrucedo andSteve that, Van Zandt and all the­ played Friday andSaturday nights,who played musical ­ develop ontheir based anddistilltheirown sound P ots are rootsintheteenage nightclubs Asbury of ark, off the beatenark, the off track enough to let them What doesshare Southside withhiscompatri- latest hits,” recalls Southside.“We didn’t passions. “Therewere top 40bands who bassist] Garry Tallent. We hada

More than musicians 130 The Asbury Jukes since since Jukes Asbury The have been members of their 1976 debut, says says debut, 1976 their Southside (front). recording movingaround andtouring, (including imprints. Insteadfolding,however, of hekept with Epic, Mercury, Atlantic orothermajor-label Underground Garage onSiriusXM. plays Southside’s Little music ashostof Steven’s executive, who today says he“quite often” in Cleveland andformer Columbia Records L from key radiosupport programmers like Kid of Stone. trackspenned onThis Time It’s for Real Fever,” aswell asSpringsteen- andVan Zandt- Wanna Home Go , title ­ three Epic albums, withVan beginning Zandt’s ifnothitpower,appeal, songs from of hisfirst nostalgia of shows,loop onthelasting based the ­ wantedperson to hear [themselves play] from all long enough to gestate into what each individual liked allthat ‘Telstar’ stuff. We were left alone hearing Elmore James. Steve liked reggae; Bruce liked Chicagothe­ so blues, your guitarorbass,inmy case,my just voice. I drums andanorgan, allyou so hadto bring was eo, then-program ­ But never Southside hadthat breakout not hit, Southside’s career couldhave an­ been differentof kindsmusic we combined.” I Don’t I composition from debut, the1976 Those albums Those earned fervent early

and Springsteen’s “The song director of influential WMMS director influential of audience got used to gotaudience used andHearts endless give themeverything we have.” it’s we’ll reallyinourcase. On agiven true night, them that while doing what we want too. songs fans of relatebody to, andwe tryto give come bands tohave see agreat time. There’s a Weto happen. have funonstage, andaudiences the show every night;we don’t knowwhat’s going that’s where you make your money. We change to play live. We do 80to 100shows ayear, and ing moneyfrom analbum.It’s having material “It’shas never thepoint. been notaboutmak “more thanwe make back.” Thenagain,that record children, Ilive alone andIlike it.” with what I’ve got,” hesays. “Idon’t have any a millionaire oranything like butI’m that, happy royaltiesseen from albums. any those “I’m of not for Southside,who says soon too hehasnever labels, themajor of itcouldn’tdemise have come label, L The Songsof Tom Waits. He now hashisown P released CDs ranging from live setscutat Asbury his interests. Inrecent years hehasindependently five years in Nashville1990s), stretching inthe ark’s famed P Stone “It like sounds afacile thingto say,” headds, “but wouldn’tSouthside reveal how much itcost to Soultime! except to say, habit, almostoutof eroy Records. Andwhilelament some the ony club to Grapefruit Moon: -

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which was A NONPROFITORGANIZA “It’s Southside’s New Year’s Eve! Johnny LyonJohnny 40 years of crafting “Southside” Bon Jovi (left). Jovi Bon We’ll seeyou dance,” says fault I can’t Ican’t fault

boardwalk. Richie“LaBamba” Rosenberg, the at leastoneoftheminsomebarorontheinto Jukes, were chances youwere run goingto them. seeing actually andyour heroes,that place thengoingto emulateyears inaband, to oldbe wanting to that onlyplayed original Imagine at music. 18 play to inoriginal bandsat clubs importantly area play bands, butmore to incover tristate from.came Groups from came all overthe [Van andSteven Bruce [Springsteen] Zandt] Park breathe to theairwhere thesongs of Asbury goto to It was 1979whenIstarted Describe theirinfluence onyou. Expressway. The Jukes,emulated The called Atlantic City abandthatplay singthem.Ihad themandto The songsme.Ilearned spokehowto to jacket. racing form inhisshades, wearingtheleather Johnny see readingsleeve, flippingitoverto the released in1978.Iremember holding the It’s abitfunny buttrue that with10Asbury TION

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Bon Jovi: Theo Wargo/WireImage