From the Archives: Steven Van Zandt

Here's The Thing with Alec Baldwin

iHeartPodcasts

Tv & Film, Music, Music Interviews, Arts, Performing Arts, Film Interviews

4.4 • 8.4K Ratings

🗓️ 30 September 2025

⏱️ 48 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

Singer, songwriter, producer, and actor Steven Van Zandt aka Little Steven is perhaps best known as a member of Bruce Springsteen's E Street Band. But the talented musician also co-founded the band Southside Johnny and the Asbury Jukes, as well as his solo act, Little Steven & The Disciples of Soul. He later found success in an entirely different career, playing the inimitable role of Tony Soprano’s consigliere Silvio Dante in The Sopranos and Frank Tagliano in Lilyhammer. The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame member recently released his autobiography, “Unrequited Infatuations,” which chronicles the many twists and turns that make up his remarkable life. Steven tells Alec why Bruce Springsteen was originally not allowed in his band, why he decided to walk away from the music business, and how he became a part of television history - twice.

Originally aired March 22, 2022

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Transcript

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0:00.0	This is an IHeart podcast.
0:06.4	I'm Alec Baldwin, and you're listening to Here's the Thing from IHeart Radio.
0:12.8	Few performers cross over from one artistic medium to another and achieve great success in both.
0:20.0	My guest today, Stephen Van Zant, known as Little
0:23.2	Stephen to some, is one such performer. Singer, songwriter, and producer, Van Zant first found
0:30.4	fame as a member of the East Street band with Bruce Springsteen. But this prolific musician also
0:36.6	founded New Jersey's own Southside Johnny and the
0:39.8	Asbury Jukes, along with his solo project, Little Stephen, and the Disciples of Soul. In a surprising
0:47.5	second act, Van Zant starred as the inimitable Silvio Dante in the Sopranos for nine years
0:54.2	with no prior acting experience.
0:57.6	It was a role that certainly made its mark on me.
1:01.6	There was a period of my life of about three or four years
1:05.2	where I was divorced. I had my daughter.
1:08.6	I needed stability in my life.
1:10.7	Sunday night, I watched 60 minutes.
1:14.1	9 o'clock I watched you, 10 o'clock I watched Big Love, and then I went to bed. And any show you
1:20.3	watch, it gets in your skin. And my friend and I, we would say this line all the time.
1:31.3	You got to pick your battles. You want you-show jobs. Vito's got to go. It's the right move, T.
1:33.3	It's the right move, T.
1:35.3	We would walk around for five fucking years.
1:39.3	And we'd be in a restaurant, my friends and I go,
1:42.3	waiter, I'm gonna have the chicken, but I don't want, wait a waiter, I'm going to have the chicken,
	...

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