Max Weinberg

[ljmarch]

Max Weinberg (born April 13, 1951) is an American drummer and television personality, most widely known as the longtime drummer for Bruce Springsteen's E Street Band and as the bandleader for Conan O'Brien on Late Night with Conan O'Brien and The Tonight Show with Conan O'Brien.

Weinberg grew up in suburban New Jersey and began drumming at an early age. He attended college planning to be a lawyer but got his big break in music in 1974 when he won an audition to become the drummer for Springsteen. His powerful but controlled playing on albums such as Born to Run and Born in the U.S.A. stabilized the E Street Band sound and Weinberg became a mainstay of Springsteen's long concert performances. Springsteen dissolved the band in 1989 and Weinberg spent several years considering a law career and trying the business end of the music industry before deciding he wanted to continue with drumming.

In 1993, Weinberg got the role as bandleader of The Max Weinberg 7 for Late Night with Conan O'Brien. Weinberg's drums-driven jump blues sound and his role as a comic foil prospered along with the show, giving him a second career. In 1999, Springsteen reformed the E Street Band for a series of tours and albums; Weinberg worked out an arrangement that allowed him to play with both O'Brien and Springsteen. In 2009, Weinberg moved to the short-lived Tonight Show with Conan O'Brien as leader of Max Weinberg and The Tonight Show Band. After that ended, he formed and toured with a new ensemble, the Max Weinberg Big Band, and in 2010 chose not to follow O'Brien to the new Conan show.

[sjshooter]

Can't resist posting this link. He has a hockey rink in his house.

http://live.wsj.com/video/drummer-ma...1-20A062894D33

[Texdrumr]

Can't resist posting this link. He has a hockey rink in his house.

http://live.wsj.com/video/drummer-ma...1-20A062894D33

I wonder if he'd take a check from me...

[Markadiddle]

Can't resist posting this link. He has a hockey rink in his house.

http://live.wsj.com/video/drummer-ma...1-20A062894D33

I think they were referring to the big pond that was out in the back. Nice looking house though.

[late8]

Thanks for starting a Max thread. He's an awesome drummer. I saw him playing a drum duet with his son who's in a metal band for the 2009 GC drum off. Watching father and son sharing the same stage and trading "fours" is something that I always wanted to do with my boys but they haven't taken to the drums like their old man but hey that's okay with me. As long as there's the "Weinbergs" out there, good enough for me.....

[Yoda]

He is one of the reasons I wanted to become a drummer, and he is also one of the reasons I am a DW fanboy.

[Bish]

Max sounded better and more refined, IMHO.

[Markadiddle]

A fellow drummer, Lonsmon and Mensch.

[Kazaamski]

I like how clean his kit is. Not in terms of dust, but the ergonomics just look perfect.

[TxDrummer]

The "Old Man" sounds tighter. The young gun was a bit sloppy in some of his rolls. The Max still teaching.

[ljmarch]

In my opinion, Jay isn't even in the same universe as his dad. Jay's playing just seems tasteless.

[late8]

In my opinion, Jay isn't even in the same universe as his dad. Jay's playing just seems tasteless.

I agree. What it appeared to me when I watched this was that Jay overplayed his part.

[ljmarch]

I agree. What it appeared to me when I watched this was that Jay overplayed his part.

Well, I think that was the point. They were each just playing their styles. I just don't care for Jay and his style.

[stuperprohero]

I never really could stomach any Springsteen stuff. Never thought Weinberg was anything special at all. Seemed pretty dull actually.
Then the 1st time I saw him play on Conan,,,WOW!!
My chin hit the floor! I was blown away by this guy. I had no idea he was such a beast on drums. He's a very impressive drummer.
And all these years Bruce was holding him back. Lol

[late8]

They were each just playing their styles.

Well, to me that was obvious. Even a heavy hitting metal drummer can overplay or choose to keep the riffs tight and simple. In my opinion, he looked like he was trying to outplay his dad.....something I would of done if my old man was a drummer and we both faced off on a duel.

[NPYYZ]

In my opinion, Jay isn't even in the same universe as his dad. Jay's playing just seems tasteless.

I agree, his kit sounds like crap as well, very thud like. Of course the old man has been playing much longer but the kid does appear he'll ever be as good.