Rumors fly that Springsteen could show at Norfolk concerts

CORRECTION: An earlier version of this story incorrectly mentioned when Bruce Springsteen would be in Spain. Those shows are scheduled for May and June.

Will the Boss show up or not?

Nobody seems to know for sure, though the promoter of the two Clarence Clemons tributes scheduled this weekend in Norfolk says he's not banking on it.

There's a swanky one with reserved seating Friday night at the Attucks Theatre and another one for general admission at The NorVa on Saturday. Both shows are the first tributes produced since Clemons, who was born in what is now Chesapeake, died of complications from a stroke in June. He was 69.

Rumors of an appearance by Bruce Springsteen, Clemons' superstar buddy for more than 40 years, have floated around since the holidays.

"It's one of those kind of things where you never know," said Bill Reid, promoter of the concerts. "It's certainly not anything that we're counting on."

Clemons, who played saxophone, was an irrepressible presence in the E Street Band. He was hard to miss. At 6-foot-4 and well over 200 pounds, Clemons was known as "The Big Man," with a mighty, gospel-charged sound to match his presence.

He and Springsteen shared a warm, sometimes hammy connection on stage, and that vibe was famously captured in the photo on the cover of "Born to Run," Springsteen's 1975 pop breakthrough.

In between his own tours, albums and work in TV and film, Clemons continued to tour with his friend until his health declined. Springsteen delivered the eulogy at his funeral.

"He and Bruce were friends from the very start, man," said Vini "Maddog" Lopez, the original E Street Band drummer, who will perform at both tribute shows this weekend. "Clarence was this big black guy with these skinny white guys, so, yeah, he stood out. But he brought something special with that sound of his."

Besides Lopez, other performers will include Gary U.S. Bonds, Southside Johnny and members of Clemons' family, including his son and a nephew.

Lopez played with Springsteen last year at a heritage show in Asbury Park, N.J., where the band formed in the early '70s. Nobody expected Springsteen to show, Lopez said, but he surprised everyone and jammed with the band on guitar.

"He certainly knows about the shows in Norfolk," said Lopez, calling from his home in Jackson, N.J. "Whether or not he's in town or in the United States of America, I don't know."

According to Springsteen's tour schedule, nothing is on his schedule for this weekend. Calls to his New York publicist weren't returned.

Lopez suspects his old boss may be relaxing in New Jersey before he leaves the country next week.

"Listen, Bruce is on his own schedule. He does his own thing," Lopez said. "If he's going to show up for the tributes, he won't tell me. But when he shows up, it's a good thing."

Rashod Ollison, (757) 446-2732, rashod.ollison@pilotonline.com