The immeasurable loss of Clarence Clemons…

Well, it took us a little while to get over the shock and utter sadness we’ve been feeling ever since we caught word of the passing of the ‘Big Man’ Clarence Clemons at the age of

It’s obviously a tragedy for everyone who had ever heard him play, but it’s especially tough for those of us in the Main Point community…

Clarence was the heart & soul of the E Street Band and, most would say, the E Street band was and is the heart & soul of the Main Point. Yes, many other talented people passed through those doors back in the day, but it’s Bruce & the band that almost always gets mentioned first when folks tell their stories about the old place.

The Main Point was different & unique – just as Clarence was for the E Street Band… It was his saxophone that gave the band their distinct sound & it’s gonna be hard to imagine going to any future Bruce shows without hearing Clarence there to play…

Over the past few days, we’ve read many touching tributes to the ‘Big Man’ on the web & in the newspapers, but we were especially touched by the one from Bruce that was released on BruceSpringsteen.net & we wanted to share that with you here:

“Clarence lived a wonderful life. He carried within him a love of people that made them love him. He created a wondrous and extended family. He loved the saxophone, loved our fans and gave everything he had every night he stepped on stage. His loss is immeasurable and we are honored and thankful to have known him and had the opportunity to stand beside him for nearly forty years. He was my great friend, my partner, and with Clarence at my side, my band and I were able to tell a story far deeper than those simply contained in our music. His life, his memory, and his love will live on in that story and in our band.”

It’s hard to imagine that he is gone… and even harder to imagine listening to “Jungleland” ever again – or even the ho-ho-ho’s from “Santa Claus is Comin’ to Town” without getting choked up each time… But for those that would like to celebrate the life of Clarence Clemons, we offer this semi-recent video of him playing with the band at Madison Square Garden back in 2009…

Enjoy, remember those from the Main Point who have passed on fondly, and view each day you have as the gift it truly is!