The Rockologist: Some Thoughts On Danny Federici 24 Hours Later
Published April 19, 2008
That pretty much covered it as far as I was concerned. Still, with the shock now beginning to wear off some 24 hours later, I feel compelled to offer my own thoughts. I hope you will bear with me.
I never knew Danny Federici personally, but I met him once when I was living in Los Angeles in the early nineties. I ran into him at a sub sandwich shop in Studio City next to my favorite newsstand, where I offered the few feeble words of thanks that a diehard Springsteen fanboy like me could muster. He was most gracious in putting up with me.
I never knew him, but still I considered him family. At least in the way that the community of hardcore Bruce Springsteen fans would.
Danny Federici was/is an integral part of the music that has brought myself and millions of others so much joy for the past four decades. So as any one of those "tramps" will tell you, that sense of community is something that is unmatched anywhere in rock and roll outside of perhaps the "Deadheads" who followed around the Grateful Dead from coast to coast for so many years.
When I tell you that for us "Bruce Tramps" being at one of those E Street Band shows is like being in a great big room with about 20,000 of your best friends, it is no exaggeration. For the diehard fan, an E Street Band show is like Christmas, your birthday, your high school graduation, and your wedding day all wrapped up into one.
Federici's death came as a shock.
It's not so much that it was unexpected. Federici took an extended absence last fall from the Magic tour, following an emotional on-stage farewell:
Federici rejoined the E Street Band on-stage one last time for an emotional version of "4th of July Asbury Park (Sandy)" in a concert earlier this year. "Sandy" was considered one of Federici's signature songs with the E Street Band, in particular because of his accordion work.
The general consensus at that time was that he would be rejoining the tour shortly. In fact, when I saw an accordion on-stage at the show I attended last month in Portland, I even excitedly remarked to my concert buddy that "we might be getting Danny tonight."
It wasn't to be, of course, but the idea was that by all accounts Danny was getting better. When the news came, it was a shock even though we all knew he was sick.
- 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