The Dave Clark Five’s Profound Influence on Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band

.

.

.

Play Video:

The Dave Clark Five (DC5), a British Invasion band that stormed the American charts in the 1960s, left an indelible mark on rock ‘n’ roll history. Often overshadowed by contemporaries like The Beatles and The Rolling Stones, their powerful sound and unique stage presence have been celebrated by none other than Bruce Springsteen, Steve Van Zandt, and Max Weinberg of the E Street Band. In a recent discussion, these rock icons reflected on how the DC5’s music, production, and live performances shaped their own approach to crafting unforgettable shows. This 800-word article explores the parallels between the two bands, the innovative elements of the DC5’s style, and the lasting impact they’ve had on the E Street Band’s sound and ethos.

A Bigger Sound: The Dave Clark Five’s Sonic Powerhouse

When discussing the British Invasion, The Beatles and The Rolling Stones often dominate the conversation. However, Bruce Springsteen points out a critical oversight: the sheer sonic magnitude of the Dave Clark Five. “Those were big, powerful, nasty-sounding records, man. Much bigger sound than, say, the Stones or the Beatles,” Springsteen emphasized. In the early 1960s, as the British Invasion swept across the United States, the DC5 rivaled The Beatles in popularity, sparking debates in magazines over which band reigned supreme. Their debut hit in the States, Glad All Over, was a revelation. Springsteen vividly recalls how “things sounded like it was ripping out of the radio,” a testament to the raw energy and production quality that set the DC5 apart.

This larger-than-life sound wasn’t just a studio trick; it translated directly to their live performances. The band’s appearances on The Ed Sullivan Show—the biggest stage for musical acts in America at the time—captivated millions. Steve Van Zandt, reflecting on the cultural impact, humorously noted how every American kid, including himself, practiced an English accent at the supermarket checkout after the British Invasion hit. The DC5’s presence was everywhere, and between 1964 and 1966, they achieved an astonishing 15 consecutive Top 20 hits on the US charts, a record surpassed only by The Beatles. Their records weren’t just popular; as Springsteen described, “they were thrilling, inspiring, simply exciting.”

Unique Elements: The Saxophone and Drum-Driven Arrangements

One of the most striking parallels between the Dave Clark Five and the E Street Band lies in their instrumentation—specifically, the prominent use of the saxophone. Van Zandt and Springsteen both highlighted how the DC5’s inclusion of a saxophone set them apart from other British bands of the era. “They were unique in that very simply because of the saxophone,” Springsteen noted, a feature that resonated deeply with the E Street Band, whose own sound is defined by Clarence Clemons’ iconic sax lines. This shared emphasis on the instrument created a fuller, more dynamic sound that became a hallmark of both bands’ live performances.

Equally significant was the DC5’s drum-centric approach, led by Dave Clark himself. Unlike many bands of the day that replaced drummers over time, the DC5 remained consistent, with Clark not only playing but also leading the group—a rarity in rock history. Max Weinberg, the E Street Band’s powerhouse drummer, credits Clark’s signature style for shaping his own playing. “You could always tell Dave Clark’s drumming by his signature snare drum sound, a build on the tom and the snare drum,” Weinberg explained. He learned to play drums by emulating Clark’s techniques, incorporating what the band affectionately calls “Dave Clark rolls” into E Street Band performances. Weinberg estimates that in a typical set of 20 to 25 songs, at least 20 feature these distinctive fills and builds on the toms, a direct homage to the DC5’s influence.

Production and Performance: A Blueprint for the E Street Band

Beyond instrumentation, the Dave Clark Five’s approach to production and live performance provided a blueprint for the E Street Band. Van Zandt marveled at the unmatched quality of the DC5’s recordings, stating, “I don’t know what Dave did, but the production was unmatched, still in many ways. Most powerful records ever made.” This attention to sonic detail mirrored the E Street Band’s commitment to creating music that resonates with raw emotion and power, whether in the studio or on stage.

Springsteen shared a personal memory of attending a DC5 concert that proved life-changing. “I couldn’t get over the fullness of the sound. It sounded great,” he recalled, noting how, unlike many bands whose live performances paled in comparison to their records, the DC5 delivered the same intensity in person. Sitting close enough to hear every note, Springsteen was struck by the authenticity of their sound—a quality he and the E Street Band have strived to replicate. “There are a lot of parallels to our band in that sense of having the performance thing cooking,” he added, suggesting that the DC5’s ability to captivate live audiences before even recording their hits influenced the E Street Band’s own high-energy shows.

Songwriting and Legacy: An Underappreciated Duo

The Dave Clark Five’s contributions extended beyond performance to songwriting, an area where Springsteen believes they’ve been underappreciated. He places Dave Clark and Mike Smith, the band’s lead singer and co-writer, on par with legendary duos like Lennon-McCartney and Jagger-Richards. “Mike and Dave deserve to be that sort of famous songwriting duo. They were that good,” Springsteen asserted. Smith’s voice, described as one of the greatest in rock ‘n’ roll, brought tracks like I Like It Like That to life with unparalleled grit and passion, further cementing the band’s impact.

Weinberg, too, acknowledges the band’s lasting influence on the E Street Band’s nightly performances. The energy, the drum builds, the fullness of sound—all trace back to the inspiration drawn from the DC5. Even as the British Invasion evolved and other bands took the spotlight, the DC5’s early impact in the States, right on the heels of The Beatles, remains a touchstone for Springsteen and his bandmates. “It was just nice to see that happen,” Springsteen reflected, appreciating how the DC5’s thrilling records carved out a unique space in rock history.

A Shared Spirit of Performance and Innovation

The parallels between the Dave Clark Five and the E Street Band go beyond mere musical elements; they reflect a shared spirit of innovation and dedication to performance. Both bands prioritized authenticity, ensuring that what fans heard on record was what they experienced live. The DC5’s use of unconventional elements like the saxophone and drum-led arrangements inspired the E Street Band to push boundaries, creating a sound that feels both timeless and immediate. As Weinberg incorporates Clark’s signature rolls into modern sets, and as Springsteen channels the raw excitement of those early DC5 records, the influence is palpable.

Moreover, the DC5’s cultural impact during the British Invasion era mirrors the E Street Band’s own role in shaping American rock. Just as the DC5 captivated audiences with their powerful presence on The Ed Sullivan Show, the E Street Band has built a legacy of marathon concerts that leave fans exhilarated. The sense of camaraderie and showmanship that defined the DC5’s performances finds an echo in the E Street Band’s tight-knit dynamic, where every member contributes to a larger-than-life experience.

Honoring a Formative Influence

Reflecting on the Dave Clark Five, Bruce Springsteen, Steve Van Zandt, and Max Weinberg paint a picture of a band whose contributions to rock ‘n’ roll deserve greater recognition. From their earth-shaking records to their electrifying live shows, the DC5 provided a template for what a rock band could be—powerful, innovative, and unforgettable. For the E Street Band, this influence manifests in the saxophone’s wail, the drums’ relentless drive, and the commitment to delivering performances that resonate on a visceral level.

As Springsteen aptly put it, the DC5’s records were “simply exciting,” a sentiment that continues to inspire the E Street Band’s approach to music. In honoring the DC5, they not only pay tribute to a formative influence but also underscore the interconnectedness of rock history, where one band’s innovation can ripple across generations. The Dave Clark Five may not always get the spotlight they deserve, but through the E Street Band’s enduring sound, their legacy lives on, a testament to the power of music to inspire and transform.