The Rockologist: Some Thoughts On Danny Federici 24 Hours Later
Published April 19, 2008
Friday Night; 04/18/08; 10:07 pm.
As most of you have heard by now, Danny Federici — Bruce Springsteen's longtime keyboardist in several of his bands, but most famously including the E Street Band — passed away on Thursday following a three-year battle with melanoma. Federici was 58, which by any standard is far too young for a light which shone as brightly as did Federici's to be snuffed out.
Who knows the answers to why things like these happen?
If any of us did, there would be no need for things like faith, and the religions of the world would all be put out of business overnight. So who are we to question, and when you get right down to it, what would be the point of it anyway?
Anyway, I think I have had some time now to put this into perspective.
Danny is gone, and for those of us who loved his music — specifically, his immeasurable contributions to all of the great records he has made with Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band over the past four decades — the music is what we are left with.
And from his accordion work on "4th Of July Asbury Park (Sandy)" to the searing organ break on "Kitty's Back," to those wonderful glockenspiel flourishes on songs like "Born To Run" and "Hungry Heart," — which were such a signature part of the E Street Band sound — the one thing that is sure is that Danny Federici brought a lot of joy to a lot of people.
If the music is what we are left with, then Danny Federici is in that sense immortal.
God knows that any one of us should be so fortunate.
Still, that doesn't make this loss hurt any less today. Other than a short news brief on my personal website, I held off writing anything about this until today.
To be honest, I was so stunned by the news that I really didn't know what to say. Besides, Donald Gibson did a professional job of dutifully reporting the news to our readers as a music journalist.
And Mark Saleski — a guy whom I have never met face to face, but who I nonetheless consider a friend — wrote one of the most poignant pieces of his that I have ever read. In it, Mark attempted to make some sense of the fragile issues of mortality as they relate not only to the musicians we revere from afar, but also to the close family and friends we treasure so much. Simply stated as it was, it is still powerful stuff.
- The Rockologist: Some Thoughts On Danny Federici 24 Hours Later
- Published: April 19, 2008
- Type: Opinion
- Section: Music
- Filed Under: Music: Classic Rock and Oldies, Music: News, Music: Rock
- Part of a feature: The Rockologist
- Writer: Glen Boyd
- Glen Boyd's BC Writer page
- Glen Boyd's personal site
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Well done and well said, Glen. I wrote a little bit about this myself. I'm not linking to it because I'm not looking for attention or to turn this into a traffic generator for me. The reason I bring it up is because we seem to have reached similar conclusions. What I find interesting about that is with all the knowledge and experience the human race has gained since we showed up on this third pebble from the sun, there still seems to be a barrier for us when it comes to talking about death and mortality. We all seem to understand it to a point, and then we hit a wall and are left saying things that are undoubtedly true but ring hollow all the same. As someone who aspires to write, I am always amazed at all the things language can do. I'm equally amazed at its limitations. There are some things that just can't be conveyed in the proper context or degree.
I lost my friend Danny to melanoma in 2002. I was diagnosed in October 2005. I've been following Danny Federici's illness very closely as you can imagine. So far so good but it can turn around in a heartbeat. I get checked again on May 5th. I was so hoping that Danny F. would beat it. I listened to the show and read your blog. Good piece dude.
I saw Portland and Seattle too. I wrote you before. I saw the Portland, Tacoma, LA and Vancouver BC shows. LA was the best. I liked Seattle better than Portland this time. I think Gypsy Biker was better in Seattle but Night in Portland blew me away. Then Trapped!?!?!?! WOW! Night was hot given that most people were coming from work. I was surprised because it was so hot and they had the house lights up! On the first number! How was he to top that?!?!?! He did
Might have to fly east
Thanks for the comments you guys.
Josh, you allude to this in your own story over at Fanboy, but it bears repeating here. It really WAS weird getting this news while we were all on live radio, and then having to find our footing and talk about it when all three of us were pretty floored by the news. I guess I have a little more respect for the broadcast journalists who have to do this sort of thing as part of their daily routine.
Terry, my prayers go out to you to get better.
One final note here, is that Southside Johnny has his own rememberance of Danny posted over at his website.
Thanx guys.
-Glen
I saw on Backstreets that one guy was going to send $33.00, a dollar for each show that he has seen with Danny. I sent $15.00 and I hope that small amount will be a part of a larger effort to find a cure or treatment for this disease. Lord knows I need the help too...
Well I guess that means I owe those guys 34 bucks. Money well spent to be sure though. Thanx for the heads up Terry.
-Glen
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I listened to the playback of that portion of the show earlier today and in some ways I wish I hadn't. There's a sense of guilt (no matter how unfounded it may be) that comes in delivering this kind of news. So, for me, hearing the shocked reactions to the news that I passed on was honestly quite hard to take.
You wrote a very good piece here, man.
- Donald