UK: WITH RELEASE OF A FIFTH SOLO ALBUM AND A ROLE IN DRAMA SERIES "THE SOPRANO'S" LITTLE STEVEN IS BACK IN SPOTLIGHT

Record ID: 388904

  • Title: UK: WITH RELEASE OF A FIFTH SOLO ALBUM AND A ROLE IN DRAMA SERIES "THE SOPRANO'S" LITTLE STEVEN IS BACK IN SPOTLIGHT
  • Date: 23rd February 2000
  • Summary: LONDON, ENGLAND, UNITED KINGDOM (FEBRUARY 01, 2000) (REUTERS) (SOUNDBITE)(English) VAN ZANDT SAYING "I'm getting the most airplay I've ever gotten in my life, which is nice after being away for a long time and the reaction that we get, the other great thing about the internet is that you get direct reaction from people all over the world, which is great and the reaction's
  • Embargoed: 9th March 2000 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: LONDON, ENGLAND, UNITED KINGDOM
  • Country: United Kingdom
  • Topics: Entertainment
  • Reuters ID: LVA7TUKXMIW7YU4APQMK0ILXKFP9
  • Story Text: With the release of a fifth solo album, a role in the acclaimed drama series 'The Sopranos' and a place in the re-formed E Street Band, Little Steven is firmly back in the spotlight.
    The release of 'Born Again Savage' heralds the end of a ten year silence for Little Steven (Steven Van Zandt) and a marked change of musical direction.Embracing the hard rock sound evocative of his youth, the CD explores the lyrical themes of religion and the 'political consequences of spiritual bankruptcy'.
    The CD completes a five album concept outlined by Van Zandt nearly twenty years ago.The aim - to learn more about himself and what was taking place in the world.His first four albums, 'Men without Women', 'Voice of America', 'Freedom No compromise', and 'Revolution' deal with the themes of the individual, the family, the state and the economy respectively.
    Adding a new string to his bow, Van Zandt took on the role of Silvio Dante in the award winning television series 'The Sopranos'.Although he had no ambition to act, only taking the part of the New Jersey mobster after being approached by series creator David Chase, Van Zandt is having a great time.
    "I'm really enjoying it a lot, particularly I'm enjoying this role on this show, with this group of people," he says.
    Unwilling to take work from a professional actor, Chase created the role specifically for him.While barely recognisable in the series without his trademark bandana, Van Zandt concedes that there is a little bit of Silvio lurking inside him.
    The rebirth of Bruce Springsteen's E Street Band sees Steven back in the band after a seventeen year absence.Originally joining the band in 1975 at the end of the 'Born to Run' recording sessions, Van Zandt went on to co-produce and perform on 'The River' and 'Born in the USA' albums and play several hundred live shows before leaving the band to persue his solo career in 1984.
    A series of sell out concerts throughout Europe and the USA in the last ten months has seen fans going crazy but Van Zandt is quick to point out that this is no nostalgia act.
    "It was great that we were able to do it in the present tense and not go out as some nostalgia act which we were not interested in doing," he says.
    Van Zandt has been honoured by the United Nations for his work on behalf of human rights, the best known being the Artists United Against Apartheid 'Sun City' project in 1985.
    Spearheaded by Van Zandt, it involved artists as diverse as Bob Dylan, Jackson Browne, Lou Reed and Run DMC.
    Van Zandt's anger at what he saw happening around him became the lyrical basis of his solo albums.Research for his third album 'Freedom No compromise' saw him travelling throughout South Africa and Nicaragua.He admits that his political stance probably didn't help his record sales.
    With the E Street Band taking to the road again in late February and a third series of 'The Sopranos' going into production, Van Zandt doesn't see much space in his diary until next year when maybe, just maybe, he'll take a little break in the sun.
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