Max Weinberg, the man The New York Times called "the rhythmic backbone of Bruce Springsteen's E Street Band," is one of the most visible and recorded drummers of the late 20th century. Born in New Jersey, Max Weinberg has played the drums professionally since the fifth grade. By the mid-1970s, he was doggedly pursuing a career as a musician, playing on Broadway in the "Godspell" pit band. After listening to 60 drummers audition, Bruce Springsteen in 1974 offered Weinberg a spot in the newly formed E Street Band. Said the percussionist: "I would have done it for free--it was that kind of incredible musical experience." As the longtime drummer for Springsteen and the E Street Band, Weinberg has performed for millions of fans around the world, as well as at presidential inauguration galas, the Grammy Awards, and the 1995 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame dedication in Cleveland, Ohio. In February 1999, Weinberg took a leave of absence from "Late Night" to join Springsteen and the E Street Band for a historic reunion and world tour, which wrapped up in July 2000 after an explosive 10-night stand at New York's Madison Square Garden. Cited by the Playboy Pop and Jazz Music Poll and the Rolling Stone Critics Poll as "Best Drummer," Weinberg has performed with some of contemporary music's biggest names, including: Sting, Paul McCartney, Peter Gabriel, Barbra Streisand, Ringo Starr, Natalie Merchant, Pete Townshend and Meatloaf. He has the distinction of having played on both the No. 1- ("Born in the U.S.A."/Springsteen) and No. 2-selling albums ("Bat Out of Hell"/Meatloaf) in rock history.
Since the premiere of "Late Night with Conan O'Brien" in 1993, he has led The Max Weinberg 7--labeled the "best band in late night TV" by The Washington Post--and is a featured performer in numerous "Late Night" comedy sketches. It is, according to Weinberg, "one of the ultimate gigs."
GROOVE DIVISION features Mitch Stein, Jeff Pevar, JV Collier, and Prairie Prince:
Mitch Stein (Keys) is one of the West Coast's most in-demand keyboardists. He has played piano since the age of 4, and has performed and/or recorded with such jazz, blues, and funk greats as Dizzy Gillespie, Ella Fitzgerald, Paul McCandless, Frank Morgan, Jaco Pastorius, Charles Neville, Jim Keltner, Todd Rundgren, Derek Trucks, Peter Cetera, Gary Burton, Leland Sklar, Scott Page, Betty Carter, Freddie Hubbard, Karl Denson, Jon Anderson, Luther Tucker, Jeff "Skunk" Baxter, The Greyboy Allstars, Branford Marsalis, John Entwhistle, John Lee Hooker, Little Jimmy Scott, Buddy Rich, Les Claypool, Robert Walter's 20th Congress, Tootie Heath, Zero, John Heard, Rob Wasserman, Harvey Mandel, Al Foster, Von and Chico Freeman, Steve Rodby, Papa John Creach, and many others. One of Mitch's more memorable gigs was when he was hired to perform solo jazz piano at Mick Jagger's daughter Karris' wedding, and another was when his trio played at a private birthday party Mick threw for Jeri Hall the following day. Mitch is the exclusive composer of DeadRingers, classic Grateful Dead ringtones for cell phones (www.dead-ringers.com). Mitch is also a feature film producer, having produced two Sundance Film Festival Official Selections ("Dream With the Fishes" and "Christmas in the Clouds"). He also co-produced "The Earth Will Swallow You", a feature-length documentary/performance film about -- and starring -- the popular rock band Widespread Panic.
Jeff Pevar (Guitars) is a world-class multi-instrumentalist, vocalist and veteran of worldwide touring and recording with such renown artists as Ray Charles, Crosby, Stills and Nash, Phil Lesh, James Taylor, Rickie Lee Jones, Joe Cocker, Donald Fagen (The Rock And Soul Revue), Michael Bolton, Marc Cohn, Jimmy Webb, Carly Simon, Chaka Khan, Jonatha Brooke and the Story, Shawn Colvin, and Jackson Browne. He has also shared the stage with B.B. King, Dr. John, Wilson Pickett, Taj Majal, Bonnie Raitt, Hot Tuna, David Grisman, Robben Ford, Art Garfunkle, Michael Ruff, Glen Campbell, Kenny Loggins, and others. Jeff has appeared on Saturday Night Live with Rickie Lee Jones and the duet of Linda Ronstadt and Aaron Neville. Jeff continues to be a driving force in the evolution of Jazz Is Dead (current members include Kenny Gradney, T Lavitz, and Billy Cobham), and continues to bring his formidable gifts to his role as the "P" in CPR with David Crosby and David's son, James Raymond.
JV Collier (Bass) is one of the most sought-after bass players of his generation. As a student of legendary Motown bassist James Jamerson, JV learned from the best. JV was only 16 when Jamerson moved with Motown Records to Los Angeles, and the void left by James' departure gave JV the chance to record with some of the hottest R&B artists of the day including The Temptations, Earl Klugh, Freda Payne, Ron Banks and The Dramatics, Enchantment, The Floaters, and more. Soon after, The Emotions offered JV the chance to go on tour, which led to New York recording sessions with Frankie Valli, The Brecker Brothers and Kelly Patterson. Calls from L.A. led to work with such artists as Herbie Hancock, Ben E. King, Tyrone Davis, Dee Dee Bridgewater, and Alton McClain and Destiny. In the early 80's, JV met a struggling Detroit songwriter named Don Was. Their collaboration led to JV's laying the foundation for two albums for (and tours with) Was Not Was. In 1983, JV joined Gladys Knight & The Pips and was with them for 10 years. JV LAO worked with The 5th Dimension, The Pointer Sisters, Marilyn McCoo and Billly Davis, Jr., and Norman Connors. For the past 10 years, JV has provided the bass groove for Bruce Hornsby, and has shared the stage with Bonnie Raitt, Chick Corea, Bela Fleck, George Duke, Kirk Whalum, The Band, Branford Marsalis, and has played bass duets with Victor Wooten and Christian McBride.
Prairie Prince (Drums) grew up in Phoenix, where he met guitarist Bill Spooner in high school and formed the band "The Beans", which evolved into The Tubes. Prairie's earliest drummer influences were Gene Krupa and Buddy Rich in swing jazz, Stevie Wonder and Clyde Stubblefield in funk and soul, Sandy Nelson and Dick Dale in surf music, and Ringo Starr, Charlie Watts, Mitch Mitchell, Keith Moon, Ginger Baker, and John Bonham in the British Invasion of Rock. Later John French, Billy Cobham, Lenny White and Jack Dejohnette were inspirational in fusion and more avant-garde styles of drumming. Prairie started the band Journey with Neal Schon and Greg Rollie, and recorded the demos that got them their first contract, but opted for his dedication to The Tubes. After session work with Tommy Bolin, Brewer and Shipley and others in the 70's, the 80's brought work with Chris Isaak, and Prairie played drums on his first four albums. During the course of the last 30 years, while continuing to record, perform and tour the world with The Tubes (15 albums and world tours), Prairie also performed and recorded with world-class artists including Nicky Hopkins, George Harrison, Brian Eno, David Byrne, Phil Lesh, Mick Taylor, Glenn Frey, Tom Waits, John Fogerty, Jefferson Starship, Ron Wood, Ray Cooper and Klaus Voormann, and recorded 7 albums and toured the world with Todd Rundgren. Prairie is currently on tour with The New Cars featuring Kasim Sulton, Todd Rundgren, and original Cars members Elliot Easton and Greg Hawkes. In addition to his mastery of the drums, Prairie is also an exceptional stage and set designer, and has worked in this capacity with some of the world's biggest touring acts including Michael Jackson, Shania Twain, Bonnie Raitt, Gloria Estefan, The Tubes, Todd Rundgren, and others.
