This is the first I’ve heard of this.  69 is too damn young for The Big Man.  First thing I think of is ‘10th Avenue Freezeout’(sorry, I’m too sad to search any further,can’t find a good video of it,‘Jungleland’ is great though), it tells the story of him joining the band.  Seen Springsteen a bunch of times, Clemmons never phoned it in. 

Some of my most vivid childhood memories are hearing ‘Born To Run’ in the living room of our tiny student apartment.
It’s not shocking, since he had a stroke, and he had a chair on stage last time I saw him play, but it’s still hard to believe.  That ‘Jungleland’ solo is bringing tears to my eyes as I type this.

1st Danny Federici, now Clemmons.  The E-Street Band is truly no more.  Here’s Springsteen’s tribute, I’m too upset to say anything else here:

It is with overwhelming sadness that we inform our friends and fans that at 7:00 tonight, Saturday, June 18, our beloved friend and bandmate, Clarence Clemons passed away. The cause was complications from his stroke of last Sunday, June 12th.

Bruce Springsteen said of Clarence: Clarence lived a wonderful life. 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.

Thanks Rock, I was so upset I just realized I spelled “Clemons” wrong in my last comment!

Well. Fuck. Just fuck it.

shorter, more recent clip. better quality. Heaven will now sound better.

That really sucks. My 12-year-old kid expressed concern about Mr. Clemons the other day when it was announced he was hospitalized. I was surprised she knew who he was, but it turns out he just recently did a song with Lady Gaga, so there’s a whole new generation of fans to mourn his passing now.

Here’s a ten minute version of the whole song, shot by ProShot.  In 2009 and he’s sitting on that stool, but still wonderful.

I believe in a Promised Land—and Clarence better be in the fucking house band.

Amen sister.