Bruce Springsteen is shown on the cover of the March 29, 2012 issue of “Rolling Stone” magazine. (AP)
NEW YORK (AP) ― Bruce Springsteen tells Rolling Stone he shed tears when he heard Clarence Clemons’ saxophone on “Wrecking Ball.”
Clemons died last year. Springsteen intended to have Clemons on the new album, but says he passed on a recording session to check out his health and soon after had a stroke.
Springsteen went to Clemons’ bedside. Clemons squeezed his hand when Springsteen spoke, but Clemons never regained consciousness.
After Clemons died, producer Ron Aniello took a live rendition of the concert staple “Land of Hopes and Dreams,” separated Clemons’ part and put it into a studio version.
Springsteen said: “When the solo section hit, Clarence’s sax filled the room. I cried.” He said losing Clemons was “like losing the rain.”