Weinberg, Clemons back at MetLife Stadium for NHL game
E Street has left its mark on the NHL. Mighty Max Weinberg and Jake Clemons, both members of Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band, were in the house at the New Jersey Devils and Philadelphia Flyers NHL Stadium Series game at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford on Feb. 17.
Weinberg introduced the Devils, who were serenaded by the Gaslight Anthem when they came onto the ice, and he also introduced Clemons, who played an instrumental version of the National Anthem on his saxophone before the game. Clemons is the nephew of the late Clarence Clemons.
“We have a special guest here tonight, currently performing on Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band’s world tour and here to play our National Anthem,” Weinberg said. “Please welcome Jake Clemons!”
Gaslight Anthem, which formed in New Brunswick, played “Howl” as the Devils took the ice and after every Devils’ goal, and “45” during the broadcast. Before the game, the Jonas Brothers, raised in Wyckoff, played a concert in the stadium.
Jay Weinberg, Max’s son and fill-in E Street Band drummer, went for a skate on the ice before the game.
“Such a fun time ripping it up on the ice today,” said Jay, a Middletown native, on social media.
The Devils won 6-3. The New York Rangers defeated the New York Islanders 6-5 in overtime at MetLife on Feb. 18.
Max Weinberg’s Jukebox was the house band in 2018 for the outdoor New Year’s Day game between the Rangers and the Buffalo Sabres at Citi Field in New York City.
Springsteen and the E Street Band played MetLife late last summer, on Aug. 30, Sept. 1 and 3. The shows were the last for the band before Springsteen took a break from touring to treat his peptic ulcer disease.
The tour starts again March 19 at the Footprint Center in Phoenix.
Visit brucespringsteen.net for more information.
Chris Jordan, a Jersey Shore native, covers entertainment and features for the USA Today Network New Jersey. Contact him at @chrisfhjordan; cjordan@ app.com