Slipknot drummer — and son of the “Mighty” Max Weinberg — Jay Weinberg took to social media to praise Bruce Springsteeen and the rest of the E Street Band. Back in 2009, Jay floored Springsteen fans when he sat in for his dad during most of the E Street Band's European leg while Max stayed in L.A. to help kick off Conan O'Brien's ill-fated run of hosting NBC's The Tonight Show. Jay stayed on, performing partial sets during Springsteen's U.S. run — and at some shows, he alternated with his dad.
Jay took time out to pay tribute to the E Streeters as they gear up for their upcoming 2023 tour kickoff, posting in part on Instagram: “I’m so stoked that it’s only ONE MONTH until I see my E Street family play for the first time in six years! I’ve said it often, but I’m eternally grateful to @springsteen, @mightymaxweinberg, and the entire E Street Band for taking a shot in the dark on me when I was 18 years old — to undertake the no-times-in-a-lifetime opportunity of filling in for my father.”
He went on to write, “Far more than learning several hundred songs and performing for close to four hours every night, it was the E Street work ethic that made an indelible impression on me. A vertical learning curve that left me with life lessons and a skill set I’ve applied to everything I’ve ever done since. Each day on tour, Bruce would hand me a list of five new songs to learn on the way to the venue to rehearse at soundcheck. Two or three of them would likely make their way into the set that night. Rock the house, head to the next city, and repeat.”
Jay added, “Observing how these titans of rock and roll dedicate themselves to their craft — constantly refining, sharpening, and growing after almost 50 years — is still so inspiring, and will stay with me for the rest of my life. Thrilled to watch them resume throwing down onstage in a month.”
Back in 2009, Bruce Springsteen's pianist Roy Bittan told us during the initial E Street Band rehearsals the was nothing short of amazed at the power and talent of Jay Weinberg: “Jay, who's 18-years-old — this kid is brilliant. He's a brilliant drummer and also spent hours upon hours studying the songs and learning it, and observing and watching Bruce, and talking to his dad. Max gave him a lot of instruction as to how to follow Bruce during the show, y'know? And has just done an incredible, incredible job. I mean the kid is one of the most brilliant drummers I've seen — certainly at his age.”
Bruce Springsteen & The E Street Band kick off their 2023 tour dates on February 1st in Tampa, Florida at Amalie Arena.