Vini

Vini "Maddog" Lopez at Giants Stadium with Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band

JULY 21: MAD DOGS AND ANGRY SKIES ON NIGHT FOUR-Backstreets Magazine
Another wet night in Jersey, as a monster storm soaks the proceedings halfway through. But if this is what a storm brings, let it rain: "Jackson Cage"-"Night"-"Prove It"-"Trapped" anyone? Thought so. And that just gets us to song six. There was also a full-band "For You," and lots of audibles including "Cadillac Ranch" ("we usually slow things down now, but we'll keep it fast so you can stay warm!"). The encores brought special guest Vini "Mad Dog" Lopez for "Spirit in the Night," plus audibles "Where the Bands Are" and "Hungry Heart." The weather didn't keep "Rosie" away (she's now four for four), but this was a rare occasion that Bruce didn't jump at the chance to play "Who'll Stop the Rain." Maybe this one felt too big for that ol' Creedence magic to have much of an effect. Things were nasty enough that there was some talk of taking a breather, but the show must (and did) go on, clocking in at over three hours and 27 songs. Next show: Thursday night.

A rainy night in Jersey Show 4 - New Jersey Star-Ledger
It was a memorable evening...if only someone would stop the rain. Bruce didn't try, choosing to open with the standard one-two punch--"The Rising" and "Lonesome Day," rather than taunt Mother Nature with another "Who'll Stop the Rain." If I have learned one thing from these shows, it's you can't keep notes in the rain. Thankfully, the heaviest downpour didn't begin until 15 minutes after the show. He pulled "Jackson Cage" and "Trapped" out of his bag of tricks early on for their first appearance on this tour stop and did a full band version of "For You." But a bigger surprise awaited. I have been enjoying the dexterity in which Miami Steve bounces in and out of close-ups when he shares the microphone with Bruce. It proves he learned something from that other mob he works for. No, not The Soprano's, HBO. A real guitar guy. The personal highlight of the stand to date was when long ago band mate Vini "Mad Dog" Lopez sat in on drums for "Spirit in the Night." It brought such a spate of memories that I failed to evaluate his performance. It was just great seeing him on stage with Bruce again. The reunion was rumored to occur during the Reunion Tour but failed to materialize. Much has been written on the net about Vini's latest endeavor (one fan had him working a riverboat). My best information says he is still a golf pro in the shore area. I will try and get the definitive answer.
Next show Thursday, hope the weather clears by then.
Have fun!

Instant magic. Just add water

Thursday, July 24, 2003

BY JAY LUSTIG
Star-Ledger Staff

Every night, Springsteen and the band have played signature songs like "Born To Run," "Badlands" and "Rosalita" and a selection of tunes from their 2002 album "The Rising." They have also sprinkled in old album tracks like "Jackson Cage," "Candy's Room" and "Something In the Night"; each show since opening night has included five to 10 songs new to the stand.Friday and Monday, they welcomed guest artists to the huge stage. Garland Jeffreys, an old friend of Springsteen's, sang lead on "96 Tears" on Friday, and former E Street Band drummer Vini "Maddog" Lopez kept the beat for "Spirit in the Night" on Monday. This latter surprise in particular could not have been sweeter. Lopez left the group in 1974, after having played on Springsteen's first two albums, "Greetings From Asbury Park, N.J.," and "The Wild, The Innocent and The E Street Shuffle." Springsteen fans still revere these albums, both released in 1973, as much as any of his other albums. Lopez joined Springsteen at a series of acoustic shows at Asbury Park's Paramount Theater in 1996, but has not appeared with the E Street Band for almost three decades. Lopez helped the band establish a hypnotic groove on "Spirit in the Night," and after it was over, Springsteen called him down off the drum riser to give him a hug, and let him take a bow.

From: "Vini Lopez"
Subject: The 21st

We got up to GS early. 3pm or so. No one was there yet. We went backstage first and saw my friend Kevin. He was tuning guitars.
Then we started walking around the parking lot. Looked for the banner. We then walked around the boardwalk to the other side of the
lot to see if the were any other folks hangin' around. We ran into Amy ( Bocci's Friend) she told us to look for a white van
for a tailgate in sect. 16. There are a lot of white vans in that lot.I asked some folks who they were and they thought I was nuts. One guy
told me that if I was Vini, he was Humpty Dumpty. We promptly left the area. We finally found the banner. We met PrincessCards, Lisabrucefan and Firerich7 among others. I signed the banner. They were so nice. Had a few beers there. PrincessCards says it was the Dos Equis that got me goin'.

At this point I don't know that Bruce will ask me to play.

Then we gave it another walk through the boardwalk and to the other side. There we saw Stan. Had another beer with them. Looser by the minute. I had on my Jimmy Buffett tour shirt and hat. Some one said there's a parrott head at a Bruce show. I said "I'm in the wrong place. Where's ones Beach?" Ha Ha

It was getting late and I wanted to talk to Bruce about Steel Mill Retro. So we made our way back stage. I walked down the hall and
spotted Terry. I asked If I could see Bruce. He went in to Bruce's room, came out a said he was dressing but don't go to far. Then I
spotted Danny and said hello. Danny was heading to Bruce's dressing room to listen to some songs. Bruce then pops out and calls Laurel and I into his room. We had a hug and then I asked him about our old agreement with the Steel Mill stuff. He reaffirmed to me that it was OK to do my thing. Including recording. That made my day. Then Bruce says "Now I have a question for you". I said "anything you need". He said "Are you ready to play one tonight"? I said "Sure which one? Hesaid "We'll do Spirits" and then we went over it mentally. I asked if they do that break in the middle and he told me "Just like the record". I said "Cool". I've played that song a lot with the B St, Band. He asked me about my golf job and I told him that I had quit. I needed to have a more normal life than that. He seemed to like it that I was going back to music. Then he went into another room and we left.

Terry had someone bring me to the elevator that was directly behind the stage and also close to our seats in 133. The seats weren't the
best but that didn't matter. Then came the band, the Rising. The set was great as other have stated. Then the rains came. I knew that No
Surrender was the last song of the set. During Cadillac Ranch we got up to go back stage. That's when this security guard stops us and
wouldn't let us go to the elevator. I told him that I was expected on stage to let us through. He wouldn't let us go. We waited patiently
and he finally said to go. Just doin' his job I guess.

Now back stage I hear No Surrender. Terry motions us up on the stage where they promptly outfit me with an ear piece for my monitor and some sticks. The ear piece was funny it wouldn't stay in. The next thing you know here's the band all around me smiling, sayin hello, making me feel comfortable. Bruce says "Lets go" and we are on stage. I jumped up on the set and everyone in the band seemed to be looking at me, happy. I waved at Patty. Bowed to CC Rider. Smiled at Steven. Bruce was counting the song off. Danny started her up and off we went. Its funny cause I thought that I was going to be nervous but I wasn't. It was fun. Steve was yelling "great, great" he kept saying. They all came over and played to me. Great eye contact when Clarence came over. Eye contact with everyone of them. Terrific I tell ya. Then before you know it, its over. Bruce called me to the front of the stage. He introduced me again to the crowd. Then all the E Streeters gave me kisses on the way off the stage. Clarence's was especially wet. It was something to look up at everyone out there.

You all made me feel right at home.

Thank You All
Vini

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