First published 2021
Stevie Van Zandt begins his journey in a suburban New Jersey bedroom during the early 1960s, abandoning his Baptist upbringing for an all-consuming passion for rock music. The Beatles and Rolling Stones reshape his understanding of community and creative rebellion. As a teenager, he encounters Bruce Springsteen, a fellow outcast who becomes his closest friend and musical partner. Van Zandt anchors the E Street Band as Miami Steve during their rise to fame, then breaks away in the early 1980s to forge his own path as Little Steven. He creates political music, marries Maureen Santoro, and travels globally as an artist and journalist. His anti-apartheid anthem "Sun City" accelerates the end of South Africa's racist system and contributes to Nelson Mandela's release. The 1990s bring a third career when David Chase casts him as Silvio Dante in The Sopranos, Tony Soprano's loyal advisor. Throughout these transformations, Van Zandt champions rock music through his radio show, SiriusXM channels, record label, and educational programs while rejoining the E Street Band for two decades of continued success.
Genres: autobiography, biography-memoir, music
Vibes: emotional, intimate, thought-provoking
Tropes: found-family, friendship
Setting: New Jersey, South Africa
Period: 1960s, 1980s, 1990s
416 pages · Hardcover · Da Capo