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, @ChrisFHJordan10:27 a.m. EDT June 28, 2016

We on these pages recently named the 14 greatest bassists from New Jersey. We’d like to add an addendum to the list, if you will: Southside Johnny Lyon.

Southside will be added not for his skill of bass playing, but for the crucial role he had in the early career development of the person selected No. 1 on the list: Garry Tallent of the E Street Band.

In the 1960s, Tallent sold Southside a bass guitar.

MORE: The Jersey Shore's Top 5 summer songs

“I was working in a music store and he and his father came in and they bought a bass and an amplifier and I sold it to them,” said Tallent in April during an instore event for his new record, “Break Time,” at Vintage Vinyl in the Fords section of Woodbridge. “That’s where I met him -- I didn’t know him in (Neptune High School). I was new in school and he was a friend of (Vini Lopez’s), they were close.”

Around this time Tallent had given up the flute and tuba and he was zeroing in on the bass guitar. The problem was he didn’t have one when he was asked to play bass in a local band.

“So they said that’s OK, we won’t tell our bass player that he’s fired and you can just use his gear,” Tallent said. “I practiced for a month using this other guy’s gear that I never met. Of course, the night of the gig, the bass player gets wind that a gig is going on that he doesn’t know anything about and he comes along and takes his gear -- I don’t blame him. So I was stuck and I called up Southside and asked if I could borrow his new bass and amp.”

MORE: Garry Tallent: Race, Asbury Park and the E Street Band

Southside said yes, but there was a condition.

“I had to sneak it out to him because I had paid money for it and my father said don’t loan it out now, don’t be silly,” Southside said. “Of course it was Garry and I love Garry. He’s one of my heroes and I had to sneak it out for him.”

The rendezvous took place down the street from Southside’s Ocean Grove home.

“He snuck it out of his house because his father would have gone crazy but he lent it to me so that is pretty sweet,” Tallent said. “You wouldn’t expect it from his persona, but he’s one of the sweetest guys in the world.”

Garry Tallent chats with a fan Sunday, April 24 at

Garry Tallent chats with a fan Sunday, April 24 at Vintage Vinyl in Fords. (Photo: Chris Jordan)

 

Tallent’s career took off from there, and so did Southside’s. Both have brought joy to millions with their music and they continue to do so. Tallent and Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band rock MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford Aug. 23, 25 and 30. Southside Johnny and the Asbury Jukes play their annual Stone Pony Summer Stage Fourth of July weekend show, Sunday, July 3.

Expects Jukes’ classics, new gems from their latest album, “Soultime!”, and Springsteen nuggets, too, Southside said.

“I’m just looking forward to it because everyone has a great time,” Southside said. “It makes life so much easier for us when everybody’s ready to party and have a good time. That’s my job -- I got to make everybody enjoy themselves and I know I can do that.”

Chris Jordan: cjordan@app.com

WHAT: Southside Johnny and the Asbury Jukes with Sister Sparrow and Dirty Birds

WHEN: 5:30 p.m. Sunday, July 3

WHERE: Stone Pony Summer Stage, 913 Ocean Ave, Asbury Park

http://www.app.com/story/enter...-bass-save/86457868/

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The SPL Rocks!

Prego che tu stia danzando con San Pietro alle porte perlacee del cielo





Pulled up to my house today
Came and took my little girl away!
Giants Stadium 8/28/03



Oats

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