Half of the modern world goes back as far as Pearl Jam. The real historians go back to U2. But they need to go back further. They have to go back to the '50s and '60s, where things started. That's how you get to be your own personality, by studying the masters. Rock and roll was white kids trying to make black music and failing, gloriously!
Steven Van ZandtI have a bigger mission than any kind of specific politics, which is trying to restore the accessibility of rock 'n' roll.
Steven Van ZandtRock 'n' roll is a participatory sport. It ain't passive. It ain't TV. Go out there and rock 'n' roll and dance and have fun.
Steven Van ZandtWe never understood the concept of people going onstage and giving anything less than 100 percent. Maybe that's a blue-collar work ethic, but I call it just ethics.
Steven Van ZandtI didn't make that much money... Once I joined Bruce (Springsteen), I took a huge pay cut.
Steven Van ZandtWithin three hours of a disaster event there should be a recon damage assessment of the infrastructure and an educated guess as to the casualties and degree of imminent human peril. Then make the airdrops of supplies and personnel. Simultaneously, Seabees would be dropped in, with lights and generators, to begin rescue efforts.
Steven Van Zandt