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Southside Johnny dishes on The Boss

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By Joel Rubinoff, Record staff — “I’d seen James Brown and Ray Charles,’’ Southside Johnny, a.k.a. Johnny Lyon, is telling me over the phone from somewhere on the New Jersey Shore.

“But I walked into the place I used to hang out, the Upstage Club, and this long-haired guy was onstage telling a story about how the nuns taught him the blues by bringing in a B.B. King album one day. “And he just was riveting, and I thought ‘Wow, who is this guy?’ ’’His name, of course, was Bruce Springsteen, though at the time he was just another up and coming nobody trying to get a break.

And when he and Lyon struck up a friendship, it changed the course of Lyon’s life…

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Southside Johnny received the Key to the City of Lynn

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Just a year ago, Southside wrote on his website: “Big thanks to all those who made it out to the Lynn Auditorium (…) this past weekend! Special thanks to Mayor Kennedy and her staff and family, for breaking out the red carpet for the Jukes and allowing us to bring some chaos to City Hall. We didn’t quite get the key to the city, but maybe next time…”

Now, this just came in on Southside Johnny’s official Twitter stream: “Southside just got the key to the city of Lynn, Mass. Don’t bother locking the doors Lynnians.” Photo of Lynn Mayor Judith Flanagan Kennedy & Johnny via: img.ly

Congratulations to Mayor Kennedy for the stunt and to the honorable Mr. Lyon… for one of the nicest smiles ever seen on his face! Too cool!

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Southside Johnny Covers The Beatles With Jeff Kazee

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Via: Speak Into My Good Eye by Chris Rotolo, Senior Staff Writer: According to a tweet made Tuesday afternoon by local producer, and electric ivory tickler for the Southside Johnny led Asbury Jukes, Jeff Kazee, he and the aforementioned front-man have finished recording a cover of The Beatles‘ “I’m Down” for a lengthy project, nearing the entrance to its third year, named The Beatles Complete On Ukulele (TBCOU).

Read the full article…

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Montreal Jazz Festival: Listen, it’s all about the music

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MONTREAL – When Southside Johnny got on the road to promote a trio of classic soulful rhythm ’n’ blues albums with the Asbury Jukes in the second half of the 1970s, he was riding in the shadow of his friend and fellow New Jersey son Bruce Springsteen’s mega-breakout. And he had only one goal.

“I wanted to stick it to people,” the man born John Lyon said during a recent telephone interview. Lyon and bandmate Steven Van Zandt (now better known as Little Steven) were “very aggressive about that New Jersey being a joke state thing,” he said. “We thought ‘We’ll show you.’ We’d go onstage and the horns would hit that big chord. It was not like another band hitting two guitars. And I was a wild performer on stage. Iggy Pop was one of my heroes. So between Steve wanting to prove himself and me wanting to prove myself, that was the real bond. We really wanted to say ‘This is good and you have to pay attention.’

Read the full story at The Montreal Gazette…

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A Message From Southside Johnny

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Hey, gang.

Thought I’d say something here for all to see. It’s been a bad couple of weeks. Kevin, Steve Popovich and now unbelievably, Clarence. I’m still finding it hard to get out of bed in the morning. But think what all three would say.

Don’t let your mourning stop you from enjoying life.

Kevin was always positive and up, and Steve, whom most of you didn’t know, had such energy and love of music that he would wear you out. Clarence, well just look at the clips on youtube. Could anyone be more forceful and happy with his being a member of the E Street Band?

I guess the lesson is to wring every drop of joy out of our brief time on earth and celebrate the gifts that these and other giving people left us, and try to do the same for others.

These are the moments that make me glad I make music. It’s helps me and I know it can help you, too.

It’s like Steve Van Zandt wrote: Better Days Are Coming.

Love, Southside

posted on SouthsideJohnny.com on June 20th 2011

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Outside The Box, Inside The Pony

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So, how did YOU spend your Wednesday night?

Me? Well, after bolting from the office at the stroke of 5:00, I jumped on the train down to Asbury Park to simply catch the opening show of Outside the Box’s summer residency. What I ended up with, however, was the privilege of experiencing one of those great nights at the legendary Stone Pony.

I have often felt bummed that I missed out on Asbury Park during its glory days (ahh, Bruce’s “Glory Days”…a shout-out to SS on that one. LOL) There is something about the mix of music, boardwalk and beach that just resonates with me. And, due to the storm that had blown through, there was hardly anyone on the beach. Perfect…just the way I like it.

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