Image Credit: Ronald C. Modra/Sports Imagery/Getty Images
Clarence Clemons, the longtime saxophonist in Bruce Springsteen’s E Street Band, died on Saturday of complications from a stroke. He was 69. “The Big Man,” as he was affectionately called, played in Springsteen’s band since 1972.
“Clarence lived a wonderful life,” Springsteen said in a statement. “He carried within him a love of people that made them love him. He created a wondrous and extended family. He loved the saxophone, loved our fans and gave everything he had every night he stepped on stage. His loss is immeasurable and we are honored and thankful to have known him and had the opportunity to stand beside him for nearly forty years. He was my great friend, my partner, and with Clarence at my side, my band and I were able to tell a story far deeper than those simply contained in our music. His life, his memory, and his love will live on in that story and in our band.”
Clemons died at a hospital in Palm Beach, Fla., where he had been since he suffered a stroke last Sunday, a spokesperson for Springsteen and the E Street Band told CNN. He was surrounded by family, including his wife, Victoria.
Clemons had been particularly active lately, appearing on two singles — “Hair” and “The Edge of Glory” — on Lady Gaga’s Born This Way, and performing with the pop star at the recent American Idol finale.
More Clarence Clemons:
A look back at Clarence Clemons’ extraordinary career
Clarence Clemons suffers a stroke
There’ll be no sax playing in heaven for him, because you know…on the account that there is no such thing as God, heaven, and earth. You just become worm food, which isn’t as bad as it sound really.
Actually, I’m pretty sure there IS such a thing as earth…
haha! Nice fail… Forty you moron.
LMAO!
It’s always funny when someone goes to comment sections trying to sound all smart and they totally screw it up.
Thanks for the laugh – since this is pretty sad news. I saw the E-Street band last year and Clarence was just incredible. Very sad…
What is the point of this post? Go find something better to do.
Shocking allegations tonight against Lady Gaga—investigators are probing claims that the superstar allegedly forced saxophonist Clarence Clemons to “eat fatty foods” before taking brisk runs as part of a sexual relationship the two had developed. The claims come from an insider in Gaga’s camp who says she has video proof of the allegations. Gaga’s representative had no comment.
Maybe next time Forty. XD
Clarence who???
Dude isn’t even famous for me to know him.
Oh shut up asshat…
He’s famous enough for me to know him. You, on the other hand, are a total nobody.
So I am guessing you are, what, 11, 12 years old? If not, you REALLY need to broaden your horizons.
No, I’m guessing more like he’s a troll.
Luckily, I knew your wh0re mother and her f*cked up kooch.
Because you are the authority on all things worth knowing? A man died, whether you knew him or not, and all you can say is who. Who the hell are you? Get over yourself, the world does not revolve around you jerk.
Wow, what a great way to be disrepectful to someone’s death.
Even you didn’t know him, try to be more respectful instead being a big jerk about it.
Tank Girl is right. Do Not Feed The Trolls.
So why bother to come comment. We are so impressed, you are cool and cutting edge, oh wait, no you’re not since you had no idea who he was. Must be nice to be oblivious to the outside world.
Who are you, again?
Thomas, can you read? There’s an article. See that, right above your idiotic, disrespectful comment.
Besides, needing to educate yourself in literacy, apparently you need a musical education as well.
Thomas is too busy jiving to his Ke$ha downloads and Beiber.
Don’t you have to get to a Rebbeca Black concert?
Really?? Then you are an idiot and no fan of music.
You suck.
He was famous enough for you to comment you Jackwagon.
Maybe you’re more into more current artists and didn’t know about artists that came before your time. Study the greats because Clarence Clemons was one the best musicians in the music business. He performed for 40 years with Bruce Springsteen’s E Street Band as well as recorded solo albums and performed on artists’ albums.
From Fox News—”Shocking allegations tonight against Lady Gaga—investigators are probing claims that the superstar allegedly forced saxophonist Clarence Clemons to “eat fatty foods” before taking brisk runs as part of a sexual relationship the two had developed. The claims come from an insider in Gaga’s camp who says she has video proof of the allegations. Gaga’s representative had no comment.”
really?
haha no.
And fox news is your reliable resource?
And you think you are funny. However, you are sadly mistaken.
Oh my God ,that’s so sad ,I am sure he is in heaven right now playing sax to the angels
Clarence broke into a young Springsteen band in the early 70′s before Bruce was what he is today. Together they were on Bruce’s first Album (Greetings) and Clarence has never left Bruce’s side until the band broke up (only to get back a few years later). At a time when “his kind” was not welcome in many places, Clarence broke race barriers as he did sound barriers with his beautiful sax playing. He was a son of a clergyman who transcended color and religion, all with a smile larger than life, a sax wider than his smile, and a heart even bigger than the two combined. His impact on Bruce, music, race and his fans will not be forgotten. I miss him already.
Well said ac. All you trolls take note.
Amen! You couldn’t have said it better. You hit it right! He was awesome!
Rest in peace Clarence. You will be sorely missed.
Terribly sad. His sax solo in “Jungleland” will live on forever. What an awesome musician! RIP Big Man.
Oh I absolutely agree on the “Jungleland” comment. Also, the way he wails on that riff in the middle of “Rosalita”; he packs that little instrument with so much d*mn soul. A true musical legend.
Jungleland is my favorite Springsteen song, thanks mostly to that amazing solo. RIP Clarence.
Listening to Jungleland right now. That sax solo is transcendent. Thank you, Big Man. RIP.
If you don’t get chills listening to the solo on Jungleland you don’t have a soul. I’m thankful I was able to see Bruce and E Street last summer. Whoever steps in has some huge shoes to fill.
I listened to both “Jungleland” and “Rosalita” last night in order to pay my respects to The Big Man. The E Street band will not be the same without him.
“When the change was made uptown
And the Big Man joined the band
From the coastline to the city
All the little pretties raise their hands…”
— Tenth Avenue Freeze-Out
Thank you. That made me tear up a bit.
Uh, sure it did. I’m sure you had to retype your post several times because your vision is all blurry. How… sweet.
What is wrong with you? Someone step on your puppy so you have to come here just to prove what an a@@hat you are?
I got chills…
Who is SueS?
Thanks, LOL. <3
Well said. Thanks for the memories, Clarence.
Holy s@$t that’s the comment of the day.
Fabulous quote. Listened to that song this morning to celebrate CC and the E Street Band!
Clarence, your music kept me alive during my adolescence. So much drama. So much love. You will be missed. Rock on Big Man.
Can’t agree more. I saw him with the E. Street Band during the Born in the USA tour. Clarence was just special. He will be missed so much.
So damn sad.
RIP and thank you so much for the amazing music.
RIP and condolences to his family. I was never a big Springsteen fan but I did enjoy clarence’s sax playing – the only bright spot, I thought, in springsteen’s albums
If anyone other than Clarence Clemons had recorded “You’re a Friend of Mine”, it would have been a phony baloney awful piece of junk, but Clemons’ exuberance and sincerity made it a fun, poignant single that I wished was bigger hit back in its day. He always looked like he was enjoying himself.
Agree 100%…
It fit with the big productions of the ’80s and when there was a tendency to crash the drums a lot in songs in 1985. But Clarence Clemons sounded great in You’re A Friend of Mine and it’s very upbeat and memorable.
Was that one he did with Jackson Browne – ha! Forgot about that one! Great song!
As one of his best songs goes “All my life, you’re a friend of mine.” Thank you and farewell, Big Man.
R.I.P. Clarence ‘Big Man’ Clemons. You will be missed.
A great talent in a great band. R I P
I remember the 1st time I saw Bruce and the E Street Band back in the mid 70′s – the lights went down and there was this spot light on the saxophone sitting it its stand… it gave me the chills… I was thrilled with excitement and it left an indelible impression… Tonight the spot light has been turned off… so take a few moments of your time and play Jungleland… “and the poets down here don’t write nothin at all, they just stand back and let it all be…”
I’m sad that I never did get to see the E Street Band live, although I’ve been a fan for almost 30 years. One of those things I’ll regret.
I was awed by the nearly 3-1/2 hours show Sprinsteen had put on but I left talking about The Big Man, who I discovered that night. His exuberance, his talent, his love of playing…it was all there that night and I have sought him out ever since. Clarence, RIP, your sound will be missed. Much love goes out to his family, his freinds and his fans.
1.) RIP….you were wonderful and a great musician….
2.) I gotta ask….what the heck did Bruce sing for 3 and 1/2 hours……I can count on my hands his hits….oh yeah phildelphia and secret garden to!
You are an idiot.
U are retarded! Do a little research before you speak.
Bruce and the E Street band performed not only their own great hits, they also covered so many other hits too, making them their own. The audiences were always left physically drained and wanting more. No trouble filling three plus hours. RIP Clarence
the great thing about bruce is that his hits aren’t the staples in the shows. i’ve seen him 8 times in and around the richmond, virginia area, and all 8 times i could tell you 20 different songs he played.
For all you twenty year olds out there, Springsteen could play 3 1/2 hours because you bought the albums and knew all the songs from that. Sure they released singles & they were semi-popular, but nothing beat listening to a whole album. I guess artists today play their 5 greatest hits and are done in 40 minutes. Anyway, R.I.P Big Man. The earth is a little quieter without your mean sax.
Springsteen played 3 1/2 + hours because the band felt they owed it to the fans. Absolutely some amazing rock n roll created by this band, and Mr. Clemons was such a huge part of that. I will never forget seeing you play live. RIP Mr. Clemons, and thank you for your amazing talent.
@Feverishkin – great comment. I have been fortunate enough to see Bruce and the band a few times. Best concerts I have ever been to. Won’t be the same without the Big Man, but Bruce is ALWAYS worth seeing.
Um…I am 25 and have seen Bruce and the E Street Band live 5 times. Please stop being so condescending. Not every twenty year old is an idiot who knows nothing about music.
Clarence, you will be sorely missed to say the least. I am so glad I was fortunate enough to see you rock Giants Stadium and the Meadowlands live and in person.
I’m 27, and I’ve been a huge fan of the E Street Band since I can remember because my dad played Bruce’s albums non-stop in my home. Whenever I hear that saxophone wail, I know it is Clarence. His sound will be missed on their albums in the future. This makes me emotional… I feel like an era is STARTING to end. How much longer can these bands go? First Danny on keyboards, now Big Man… love this music, praying for him and his family. Gone too soon.
I know. I’m 19, and seeing these music giants slip away just further reinforces how much they’re products of bygone eras. I really can’t handle it. Once all the greats have passed on, what will we have left?
don’t fret young one… luckily for you guys, you have Justin Beiber and Ke$ha to keep the torch lit.
Current mainstream music is sh*t. We will always have the greats and bygone or not, we have 50 years of great stuff to enjoy.