Exactly how did the E Street Band get its name?
We know that former E Street Band keyboard player David Sancious lived at 1105 E Street in Belmar and the band rehearsed at the home. Some E Street Band members have said over the years, including Clarence Clemons in his book, “Big Man: Real Life & Tall Tales,” that the band was so named because they spent so much time on the street waiting for Sancious.
Sancious has said the waiting part is not accurate. But we’ve never heard an explanation from Springsteen about how the band got its name until his “A Conversation with Bruce Springsteen” in January at Monmouth University.
“My recollection is we were on the bus one night trying to come up with a band name,” Springsteen said. “(E Street Band) seemed pretty easy -- it just had a nice ring to it. I don’t remember David being particularly tardy. E Street. E Street. Well, David lives on E Street, David was a big, important part of the band at the time and it just came up.”
A tribute to the late Clarence Clemons at the corner of 10th Avenue and E Street in 2011. (Photo: THOMAS P. COSTELLO)
Simple as that, but it’s certainly withstood the test of time. Now, fans from around the world visit E Street in Belmar.
The E Street Band was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2014.
“We did rehearse there a few times, but not as much as the myth that’s built up around it,” said Sancious previously to the Asbury Park Press. “Bruce liked the sound of it. I’ve always personally considered a real honor that he called it the E Street Band. I’m proud of the association.”
Chris Jordan: cjordan@app.com