Weinberg Wouldn't Be Rejoining Bruce Without Conan's Blessing

02/11/1999 7:00 PM, Yahoo! Music
Craig Rosen

(2/11/99, 4 p.m.) - In an exclusive chat with LAUNCH this afternoon, drummer Max Weinberg discussed his forthcoming tour with Bruce Springsteen & the E Street Band, his work on the Late Night With Conan O'Brien show, and his plans to release an album with his Late Night cohorts.

In fact, Weinberg said that O'Brien was instrumental in his decision to rejoin the E Street Band. "I'm delighted to report that without Conan's consent and blessing I wouldn't be going on the tour," he said. "I owe him a lot, not only with respect to the E Street Band reunion tour, but with everything we've been able to do on Late Night." He added that he was fortunate that he wasn't forced to make a choice between his gig on leading the Max Weinberg 7 on Late Night and touring with the E Street Band. "Conan, NBC, and our producer were all so gracious in giving me their blessing that I can leave and do the tour, then return to the show as if nothing ever happened."

During the hour-long chat, Weinberg was tight-lipped about the details of the forthcoming Springsteen tour, but he did confirm that the E Street Band will consist of familiar faces. "It's all the longtime members of the E Street Band--everyone you'd like to see up there," he said.

As for the E Street Band's notorious marathon performances, Weinberg offered few specifics, but said that he is prepared. "As the drummer in the E Street Band, I can only stop when Bruce wants to stop. I have to be ready to play all night," he said. "I have no idea how long the shows will be, but I'm ready to play all night."

Weinberg also hinted that there were possibilities for some surprises. When one LAUNCH chatter asked if a small-venue warmup gig was in the offing, Weinberg responded, "All I can say is, you never know. With Bruce, you always have to keep your eyes and ears open."

Reminiscing with fans about working with Springsteen, Weinberg said that the 1984 hit "Dancing In The Dark" is one of the most difficult songs to play, because he had to "try to sound like a drum machine and it's tough to keep up that pace." He revealed that his own favorite drumming is on the song "Restless Nights," an approximately 20-year-old recording that is included on the Tracks boxed set.

During the chat, Weinberg also recalled his first meeting with Springsteen. "I met Bruce the third week of August 1974 in a N.Y. rehearsal studio in response to an ad he placed looking for a drummer," he recalled. "We met and I got into the E Street Band as a result of a reading the want ads...He made me a musical offer I couldn't refuse!"

However, it wasn't all Boss all the time. Weinberg also chatted about his role on the Late Show and a recent comedic bit in which he and his drumset were covered with eggs. "It was intense," Weinberg said. "I was eating eggs for a week, and I'm still taking them out of my drums. The writers work so hard, so I just try to be a good sport about everything."

In addition, the drummer/ bandleader revealed that the Max Weinberg 7 is finishing an album, which he hopes will be released by summer.

Look for a full transcript of the chat on LAUNCH.com soon.

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