Clarence Clemons, The Big Man of Bruce Springsteen's E Street Band, was born on this day in 1942 in what is now Chesapeake, Maryland. Were it not for being in a car accident the day before a scheduled tryout, Clemons might have ended up a lineman in the NFL.
In September, 1971 legend has it, Clemons, was playing sax in a band named the Joyful Noyze at the Wonder Bar in Asbury Park. During a between sets break, Clarence walked to a nearby club where Bruce Springsteen was booked, introduced himself and proposed doing a song with Bruce and his band. They started with an early version of Spirit In The Night on stage at The Student Prince. By the time the song was done, each of them was convinced Clemons belonged in Bruce's band.
Other Noteworthy Classic Rock events on January 11 include...
1940 Phil Walden, Capricorn Records founder, born.
1946 Tony Kaye of Yes born.
1963 Whiskey-Au-Go-Go opens in LA.
1967 Jimi Hendrix Experience records Purple Haze.
1971 Janis Joplin's second and last solo album, Pearl, gets released three months after her death.
1982 Dark Side Of The Moon eclipses week 400 on Billboard album chart.
1985 The first Rock In Rio concert is staged, with AC/DC, Queen, Rod Stewart, Yes, George Benson and James Taylor headlining nights.
1990 Paul McCartney opens an eleven concert run at Wembley Arena.
1993 Ted Nugent arrested after shooting flaming arrow during Cincinnati concert.
1998 Rolling Stones cancel Montreal concert after ice storm tears roof of Olympic Stadium.
2003 T. Rex drummer Mickey Finn dies of Liver disease at 55.
2004 Ted Nugent hacks himself with a chain saw. 40 stitches required to trat the gash.
2005 Jefferson Airplane and New Riders of the Purple Sage drummer Spencer Dryden dies of Colon cancer at 66.
