Nils Lofgren

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Lore & Background

Lofgren's musical bond with Springsteen survived the band's breakup in 1989, maintaining a connection through various individual projects until their reassembly. In 1995, Lofgren and Van Zandt joined Springsteen to record new songs for the Greatest Hits album, though this reunion initially produced little else. The pivotal moment arrived in 1999 when Springsteen was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as a solo act; despite the E Street Band not being inducted until fifteen years later, Lofgren and Van Zandt performed with Springsteen for the first time since 1988 at the ceremony. This performance sparked a reunion tour from 1999 to 2000 that established a new lineup featuring both guitarists as full-time members. The collaboration yielded the 2002 album The Rising, the first studio record with the E Street Band since 1984, followed by extensive touring in 2002 and 2003. Springsteen continued to work on other projects and toured without the band until the Magic album and tour of 2007/2008.

In Their Own Story

In 1984, Lofgren stepped into a defining role as he replaced Steven Van Zandt on guitar and vocals for the Born in the U.S.A. Tour. He quickly solidified his place within the group's sonic architecture, contributing to the sound of subsequent years. His first recorded contribution appeared on 1987's Tunnel of Love, where he delivered the iconic guitar solo on the title track before participating in the Tunnel of Love Express and Human Rights Now! tours in 1988. When Springsteen disbanded the E Street Band in 1989, Lofgren returned to his own work, yet the connection remained dormant but intact. The reunion began in earnest in 1995 with new recordings for Greatest Hits, leading to the historic 1999 Hall of Fame induction performance. This event catalyzed a full-time return to the touring lineup alongside Van Zandt, resulting in a decade of activity that included the 2002 album The Rising and the Magic tour of 2007/2008.

Reader's Guide

Nils Lofgren serves as a guitarist, keyboardist, and backing vocalist for the E Street Band. His tenure began in 1984 when he filled the vacancy left by Steven Van Zandt just before the Born in the U.S.A. Tour. He brought a versatile style that complemented the band's sound, making his first studio impact on Tunnel of Love with the title track solo. After the band disbanded in 1989, Lofgren focused on his solo career until the 1995 reunion sessions for Greatest Hits. The pivotal return occurred in 1999 at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction ceremony, where he performed with Springsteen and Van Zandt for the first time since 1988. Following this event, Lofgren became a full-time member again during the 1999-2000 reunion tour. This era produced The Rising in 2002, the band's first studio album together since 1984, followed by tours in 2002 and 2003. He continued with the group through the Magic album and its accompanying 2007/2008 tour.

Did You Know?

• Lofgren was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as a member of the E Street Band in 2014, fifteen years after Springsteen's solo induction.
• He played the guitar solo on the title track of Bruce Springsteen's 1987 album Tunnel of Love.
• In 1985, Lofgren performed on stage doing flips on a trampoline while playing guitar, a skill he developed as a competitive gymnast in high school.
• He released his last album titled Mountains on July 21, 2023.
• Lofgren was part of the Crazy Horse lineup that performed on Neil Young's 2019 album Colorado and 2021's Barn.