Drummer Vini “Mad Dog” Lopez, a founding member with Bruce Springsteen of the E-Street Band, was in seventh heaven as he rocked out with fellow Jersey Shore music icons for two nights on Jan. 6-7 to honor the late E Street Band saxophonist Clarence Clemons in Clemons’ hometown of Norfolk, Va., and to raise funds for charities in Clemons’ honor.
At the end of that weekend, Lopez, who will turn 63 on Jan. 22, thought he might meet up with Clemons in rock and roll heaven. He was dozing on the way home on Jan. 8 in a car driven by his manager, Carl “Tinker” West, and awoke to find the car airborne and heading for a billboard after attempting to negotiate a curve along Route 13 in Maryland.
Lopez, of Jackson, told Greater Media Newspapers this week he does not know what initiated the accident, but he knows the car went over a steep grassy embankment and flipped over three times, eventually coming to a stop next to the billboard and resting on the passenger side where Lopez was trapped beside a shattered window. Emergency response personnel cut open the car’s sunroof to extricate the legendary Jersey Shore drummer.
The new Mercedes-Benz they were riding in belonged to West’s girlfriend, Karin Busicio, who was also a passenger in the car, according to Lopez. Remarkably, all three walked away from the crash scene with minor injuries.
Lopez said his back is sore and he injured his hand. As of this week he was still being evaluated by doctors to determine the extent of his injures, which included a possible broken finger.
“I think that car saved our lives,” he said. “I’m really grateful to the Lord that we just walked away from it.”
Adam Glenn, of Jackson, the keyboardist in Lopez’s band, Steel Mill, was on the way home with his wife, Judy, after performing at the Clemons tribute when they arrived on the scene in the aftermath of the accident. They saw the car still lying on its side in the woods with emergency responders all around. They were relieved to see that everyone was well and gave Lopez a ride home.
“The passenger part of the car was totally intact,” Glenn said. “The fact that they were in that car and wearing seat belts probably contributed to the fact that they weren’t hurt.”
Lopez said, “When I saw that billboard coming toward us I thought, ‘Oh God, I’m dead; please make it quick.’ Someone pulled a string on us; it must have been one of my buddies up in heaven. Maybe it was Clarence or Danny Federici, or Billy Chinnock or Vinny Manniello (a drummer who played in the Castiles with Springsteen and who died Dec. 19, 2011). Or maybe it was my late wife, Laurel. It was quite a ride.”
The two-day event
Lopez and Glenn performed at in Norfolk was a success. On the first night fans packed the historic 600-seat Attucks Theater for a formal tribute to Clemons. On the second night more than 1,200 people filled the NorVa theater for a celebration featuring some real Jersey Shore rockers who performed a slew of rock and roll tunes Jersey style while honoring “The Big Man,” Clarence Clemons, who died of complications from a stroke at the age of 69 on June 18, 2011.
According to dailypress.com, proceeds from the dual events will benefit the Clemons Community Center in Chesapeake, Va., as well as a scholarship in Clemons’ name at Norfolk State University.
In addition to Lopez on drums and vocals, and Glenn on keyboard, the lineup included Gary U.S. Bonds (also a Norfolk native), E Street Band bassist Garry Tallent, Southside Johnny Lyon, Bobby Bandiera, John Cafferty, and sax player Michael “Tunes” Antunes of the Beaver Brown Band.
Clemons’ nephew, Jake Clemons, filled in nicely for his uncle on many popular songs Clarence played on, including “You’re a Friend of Mine,” “Woman’s Got the Power” and “Save it Up,” according to Lopez.
Clemons’ son, Nick Clemons, opened the show both nights with the Nick Clemons Band.
“It was good to see all the old fellows hanging out and genuinely having a good time,” Lopez said. “I knew from the start it was going to be a great show.”
“It was an honor to share the stage with all of these musical legends to honor Clarence Clemons,” Glenn said. “They were all so nice and a pleasure to work with for this special event.”
Lopez added, “The people got to see a really good, old-time rock and roll show. We pulled it off extremely well.”
As for the possibility of the same type of event happening in New Jersey, Lopez said if everyone could get their schedules to mesh, he would be on board.