It was also a sad year in music. The E Street Band lost Danny Federici in April. He had been suffering from Melanoma and underwent surgery during the band's Spring tour in the States. When he made a surprise appearance in Indianapolis in March, many thought that he was recovering. But a month later, he passed away.
If there's any good that came out of this, Bruce and the band has performed their best live shows in their 30 plus year career. Their first performance after Danny's death in Tampa will probably remain one of their most significant and emotional shows ever. They opened that show with Backstreets---minus the organ. I've never heard Bruce so devastated when he sang that song. It was like his voice could break any time and was trying hard to fight back tears.
Now every time I listen to 4th Of July, Asbury Park (Sandy), I can't help but single out the accordion. Danny Federici really was a pivotal member on E Street. His organ playing gave voice to Bruce's music and without him, there wouldn't be what we know today as the classic E Street sound, or what I like to refer to as the 'Asbury Boardwalk' sound.
But it's comforting to know that Danny did play on Working On A Dream. And Bruce paid tribute to him on the album's last track, titled The Last Carnival.
