Then of course, I started meeting a lot of other musicians and I started jamming. I went through months of that. That'd be as bad as working in an office. 1978's Hearts of Stone was a superb distillation of everything Southside Johnny & the Asbury Jukes had been trying to do with their music in the early years, and when it failed to sell significantly better than its predecessors, it signaled some major changes for the band. It was a crisis of faith in his career prospects and his chances for creative growth. In an interview that year with NPR's Weekend Edition, Scialfa said the idea behind the record "was to go into the complexities of a long-term relationship. His name, of course, was Bruce Springsteen, though at the time he was just another up and coming nobody trying to get a break. SOUTHSIDE JOHNNY: My mother and my father were great readers of good literature. View and manage file attachments for this page. It seems as if it's impossible for you to escape his shadow. They're glowing. SOUTHSIDE JOHNNY: I have a wife I'm still married to, but we're separated, but I go and visit her. View wiki source for this page without editing. It was four rolls of toilet paper, some candy bars, some toothpaste, (of which I was almost out), and a bottle of wine. I actually started singing in front of people when I was 16 years old. Toronto Star articles, please go to: www.TorontoStarReprints.com, Conversations are opinions of our readers and are subject to the, 211 Pritchard Road, Unit 4, Hamilton ON L8J 0G5. "Steven (Van Zandt) always wanted to be active politically and to play music and now he's an actor as well (on The Sopranos). It brings out a slightly different show in that it's so intimate and we do different songs, but we still rock out. I suspect he was just one of the singers in the club and it wasn't a terribly important scene, but too bad for Southside! It's like being an athlete. Only because I like a wide range of music and I think everybody would, if they got a chance to hear it., Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information, Travis Barkers finger injury delays Blink-182 tour: One of those freak accidents, The timeless creativity of De La Soul, now (finally) available for the streaming generation, Court orders Kodak Black into drug rehab after rapper allegedly tests positive for fentanyl, Before and after photos from space show storms effect on California reservoirs, Dramatic before and after photos from space show epic snow blanketing SoCal mountains, Yet more rain expected to hit California in March. Watch headings for an "edit" link when available. Q. She has been a musician and songwriter throughout her life, and although her own creative pursuits have often taken a back seat to those of her much more famous husband, Scialfa has continued to work both with and without the E Street Band for over 35 years. I think that all stations should play all kinds (of music), instead of just trying to narrow their demographic down to this little 18- to 26-year-old white males in suburbia, he said. Please avoid obscene, vulgar, lewd, Ive been very lucky. 2001 | 2002 | 2003 | 2004 Southside Johnny (Lyon), good friend and one time band mate of Steve Van Zandt was listed in the credits as "himself" yet definitely not in the ep. Steve Van Zandt was the songwriter-producer and Springsteen sidekick and consigliere who would go on to The Sopranos and Underground Garage satellite radio notoriety. Goes Out newsletter, with the week's best events, to help you explore and experience our city. Johnny of Southside Johnny and the Jukes, https://www.nytimes.com/1994/02/27/nyregion/new-jersey-q-a-johnny-lyon-johnny-of-southside-johnny-and-the-jukes.html. Mike Boehm Mike. Their next concert will be tomorrow at the Bottom Line in New York City. I think he started to remember how much fun it was to make that kind of music, just the heartfelt R&B; style, whether it be up-tempo or slow.. Does it bother you that you are forever being compared with Bruce Springsteen? You care very much because you know that if you don't make music, you're going to have to get a real job, and who wants that? People come and go; that's part of the business. The song, with lyrics by Lyon and music by Springsteen, was intended for Southside Johnnys 1978 album, Hearts of Stone, but hadnt surfaced until now. rights reserved. Track artist Two years later, the group signed a recording contract with Epic Records and released the album "I Don't Want To Go Home." Everybody likes a lot of different things. We sat down after that and talked about working together again, Lyon said. Find out as you read our phone conversation. A lot of those, Steven and Bruce and those people, had not heard a lot of Chicago blues, some, but not a lot of them. I just cant wait to do (the new material) live, because I know its going to get a great reaction, and itll be new stuff, Lyon said. Q. The site's review called the album a "slow seduction" and noted, "there's not a bad song in the bunch, and the title track is a gem." "He's stealing my saxophone players to replace Clarence (Clemons, who passed away last year), so we steal from each other's bands occasionally.". 1989 | 1990 | 1991 | 1992 When you watch old clips on YouTube, it's uncanny how closely aligned Springsteen and Southside are musically - both representative of the Jersey Shore sound of the '70s, with its big band rock spiked with romanticism and a rootsy, heartland ethos. The albums appealed to the Jukes' fan base and "I'm So Anxious" from The Jukes became a minor hit, but they didn't expand their audience, and after cutting an excellent live album, 1981's Reach Up and Touch the Sky, Mercury and Southside Johnny parted ways. One of my sax players went with David Bowie. PLEASE TURN OFF YOUR CAPS LOCK. Education: Neptune High School, 1967; Monmouth College, 1966-1968. Warmer storms could cause problems, Ben Kwellers son Dorian Zev killed in car crash: No idea how to deal with this , Justin Biebers Justice world tour canceled after several postponements, Dreamville just announced its 2023 festival lineup and now everybody wants a ticket, Ozzy Osbourne rejects notion of retiring after canceling tour: Im not dying, Evan Rachel Wood denies allegation that she manipulated Marilyn Manson accuser, Blake Shelton embarks on last season of The Voice before doing a little bit of nothing, The chance of a lifetime: Five friends ski the tallest mountain in Los Angeles, Shocking, impossible gas bills push restaurants to the brink of closures, Review: A reimagined Secret Garden fails to flower anew at the Ahmanson Theatre, A $150,000 executive protection dog? They can download it, and you're so in charge of everything. Growing up in a small town in New Jersey, when the winter kicks in and its around February and you start thinking about places youd rather be, Southern California has always been one of them. Eager to record again but not excited about signing another record deal, Southside Johnny devised a new strategy and formed his own label, Leroy Records, to release his music when and how he wanted, and giving him full creative freedom. A. I went to Monmouth College for two and a half years and majored in English literature. They're both in love. Van Zandt and Springsteen both figured heavily in the launching of Lyons career in the mid- to late-70s. I hope all of the Jukes and all of the Juke fans are doing well. Wow. The move came at a lull in Lyon's musical career, and life in San Clemente (which he shares with his wife, Jill, and their two canaries) has been mostly quiet: walks in nearby Ronald W. Caspers . More important, however, it marks a reunion with Steve Van Zandt, who produced and wrote many of the tunes for Lyons first--and best-received--three albums from the mid- to late 70s: I Dont Want to Go Home, This Time Its for Real and Hearts of Stone, the last of which made Rolling Stone magazines 1990 list of the best 100 albums of the previous 20 years. A pair of movies put Southside Johnny back in the public eye in 1990 -- his version of "Please Come Home for Christmas" appeared in the hit Home Alone, and he recorded a pair of tunes for Captain America, "Memories of You" and "Written in the Wind." Before Fame Don't Threaten. There were times when you needed a record company to get international recognition, but unless you're the top priority for the record company, you might as well do it yourself because you're not going to get that much out of them. So whats he doing in--gulp--San Clemente? In a 1988 People magazine article about Scialfa, Asbury Jukes singer Bobby Bandiera called her "a beer-drinking buddy. You probably never asked yourself, What if?. We've gotten older, but wiser, too. Even though his friends Bruce Springsteen and. As the Asbury Jukes were becoming one of New Jersey's most popular acts, Bruce Springsteen grew out of his local following into a respected journeyman rock & roller after he landed a deal with Columbia Records in 1973, and his third album, 1975's Born to Run, transformed him into a legitimate star, a critical favorite who finally connected with a mass audience. 1977 | 1978 | 1979 | 1980 There's not just one thing, and I think that's reflected in all of our music. When did you discover that you were lucky and had a gift? You somehow scrounged your way through and if you werent starving to death you got to play on Friday and Saturday night. Still, the music I make isn't really like the music he makes. But he started to have success after his third album, and we all got the chance to put our foot in the door too. Mostly retired people. Other albums, like "Love is a Sacrifice," "At Least We Got Shoes" and a Southside Johnny solo album, "Slow Dance," followed in the 1980's. Maybe I'm not old enough. Songs | Lyrics If you do not yet have a Torstar account, you can create one now (it is free), Copyright owned or licensed by Toronto Star Newspapers Limited. TikTok:Jersey gal Gloria Gaynor's hand-washing 'I Will Survive' video a viral hit, Lyon, 71, is an architect of the Sound of Asbury Park with Bruce Springsteen, Steven Van Zandt and more, and a member of the New Jersey Hall of Fame. Share with Us. With Early Elton Trio, John mainly uses his sunburst '64 Fender Jazz bass. How do you think you influenced Bruce Springsteen and Jon Bon Jovi, who acknowledged you as his reason for singing? to colleagues, clients or customers, or inquire about So it was a confluence of things. As the Sundance Blues Band and its offshoots became frequent attractions at the Upstage, Southside was playing several sets a night, four or five nights a week, and he began seriously considering a career as a professional musician. Hang in there and we will have a party as soon as possible. It's not odd to me to have women as friends, and it's almost always been that way. Southside Johnny has long been considered the Grandfather of "the New Jersey Sound ." Jon Bon Jovi has acknowledged Southside Johnny as his "reason for singing." I detested school. Lyon said it doesnt bother him to remain tied to the Springsteen sphere of influence. Those albums featured the horn-driven Jukes sound along with a sprinkling of Springsteen-penned nuggets, notably The Fever and Hearts of Stone. Lyon went on to record several 80s albums with the Jukes, along with some solo efforts in several styles, but he never quite regained his stride after the departure of Van Zandt, who was busy in his role as Springsteens guitarist. It was a great education for all of us. After years of singing backup for her husband, Springsteen contributed backing vocals to several "Rumble Doll" songs. We honed our crafts. I like that--really just let it go and see where the night takes you, and I don't knowI've always been that way where I trust in the people around me and I trust in myself to not go so far that I'll lose my career or my audience, but they understand that I'm not going to do the same thing over and over. 1965 | 1966 | 1967 | 1968 Springsteen, working on his own album, took time to contribute a song, All the Way Home, on which he plays guitar. The band's most recent album, "Better Days," was released in 1991 on the Impact label. SOUTHSIDE JOHNNY: Yeah, I can't just be superficial. I always had kind of a soft spot for Southern Cal, Lyon confessed in an interview at the Hollywood offices of Impact Records, his new label. Now that the pieces are in place, the only thing left is to see how the record sells. Chance of rain 70%.. If you weren't a performer and recording artist, what do you think you'd be doing now? ", He laughs. Be Proactive. I feel that my marriage has really broadened me and certainly given me a sense of some completion but that you can't really look for that. Their son, Evan James Springsteen, was born on July 25, 1990. Most of the changes have been for the better of the band. They really inspire you with their command of the stage. If she worked the day shift, I'd say, Mom, I'm going to stay home today and I'll clean the house, do the dishes, make the beds, vacuum, do all the different things, and she said, Okay, of course. You know, I hated school and I wasn't really getting a lot out of it. We have very eclectic taste. He was very patient, very willing to teach. We do not monetize a photo in any way, but if you want your photo to be removed, let us know, and we will remove it. People like Big Joe Turner, Ray Charles, B. Another studio effort with the Jukes, 2010's Pills and Ammo, confirmed that Southside and his colleagues were still working in top form, and he dug into his '70s soul and R&B influences for 2015's Soultime. After three years, Southside was disenchanted with the Richmond rock scene, and he returned to New Jersey. Storyteller | Eyewitness I've always known what the Jukes ought to sound like. General Wikidot.com documentation and help section. In October, Southside Johnny & the Asbury Jukes were joined by fellow Jerseyans Van Zandt, Springsteen and Jon Bon Jovi for a full concert at the Stone Pony. Get an email notification whenever someone contributes to the discussion. The Boss, of course, went on to write songs for early albums by Southside Johnny and the Asbury Jukes - including '78's seminal Hearts of Stone - traded off band members with them and occasionally appeared with them in concert. By the summer of 1988, their relationship was out in the open and they were seen together constantly in New York and New Jersey. "Bruce does these charity shows around Christmas and he always calls and it's fun to do, and we play a lot of Chuck Berry, and he drinks tequila and I drink whisky and a good time is had by all.". Southside Johnny and The Asbury Jukes: 2005: Maxine Brown: All the Time in the World: Southside Johnny with LaBamba's Big Band: September 2008: Tom Waits: A Whiter Shade of Pale: Southside Johnny and The Asbury Jukes: 2004: Procol Harum: Back in the U.S.A. Southside Johnny and The Asbury Jukes: 1981: Chuck Berry: Billie's Blues: Southside . I always took that as a tremendous compliment because some of the best music Ive heard has been in bars. I Dont Want to Go Home might have been. You could make a career out of it. Too many times I've gone into the recording studio with the idea that the album would sound like this and it comes out sounding like something entirely different. Scialfa noted in 2004, "I was always friends with a lot of guys, maybe because their girlfriends were girly-girls and they felt safe with me. Ayear later, per People, Springsteen's label, Columbia, offered her a record contract of her own. And yet, while The Boss went on to conquer the world, Southside stayed behind - critically lauded for songs like I Don't Want To Go Home, but shut out of the big leagues, despite his famous connections. Do you feel that you understand women? As a subscriber, you have 10 gift articles to give each month. . Then once that idea got into you, you never wanted to let it go, because what are the alternatives? The Sundance Blues Band fizzled out after the closing of the Upstage Club, and by 1972 Springsteen had founded a hard rock band called Steel Mill. Click here to toggle editing of individual sections of the page (if possible). Most E Street Band and Asbury Jukes members (past and present) were in attendance. Let me ask you about Nashville. His answer was to take 6 months away from the band to record his first album on his own, Slow Dance. Instead of the punchy, beer-and-sawdust party music associated with the Jukes, it is a low-key album, given mostly to ballads. Some Jukes fans have wondered why you've never made a blues album, given your love of the music. Use the 'Report' link on Much of the new material explores how it feels to be us now, looking back, Lyon said. In 2008, the British label Secret Records released a live album recorded during dates with the Asbury Jukes in the U.K., From Southside to Tyneside, while that same year, Southside released an ambitious solo album, Grapefruit Moon: The Songs of Tom Waits, in which he interpreted 12 songs from the gravel-voiced singer and songwriter while backed by a big band led by Richie "La Bamba" Rosenberg, a longtime fixture in the Jukes' horn section. You can do that at home or you can go to a studio and do it quickly. Some record companies understood that. If you want to discuss contents of this page - this is the easiest way to do it. 1,083 talking about this. View all concerts Chase City, VA, US Change location 2,658 fans get concert alerts for this artist. Asbury Jukes hits include Talk to Me, All I Want Is Everything, Hearts of Stone, Trapped Again, I Dont Want to Go Home, Its Been a Long Time and Having a Party.. I don't know if it's courage. In one of your interviews, you described this age as the golden age for musicians. After the 1988 release of Slow Dance, a solo album of ballads that he says was recorded for his wife, Lyon began playing the Los Angeles region in a band called Blues Deluxe and making plans for a blues album featuring material co-written by him and his guitarist, Bobby Bandiera. Join Songkick to track Southside Johnny and get concert alerts when they play near you. I used to clean the house. It's just the perfect stage for us in some ways. Q. Pal to Bruce Springsteen and Steve Van Zandt, longtime veteran of late-night jams at such legendary Joizy clubs as the Upstage and the Stone Pony, possessor of a classic R&B; growl, Lyon even named his band the Asbury Jukes after Asbury Park, the decaying resort town and center of the states productive 70s musical scene. Winds SSW at 5 to 10 mph. 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