- Steel Mill
Steel Mill was one of
Bruce Springsteen 's early bands and performed regularly on theJersey Shore , inVirginia , and also inCalifornia from 1969 till January 1971.Biography
In 1969 Springsteen jammed regularly at a small
Asbury Park, New Jersey club named The Upstage, and there he was noted and immediately contacted by three other regulars of the place, organistDanny Federici , drummerVini Lopez and bassistVinnie Roslin , in order to form a band, which was called Child. From 1969 through 1971, Springsteen performed around New Jersey with Child, later renamed Steel Mill after Bruce heard that there was already another band named Child performing on the Jersey Shore.They went on to play atVirginia Commonwealth University inRichmond, Virginia , and also performed regularly at small clubs in Asbury Park and along the Jersey shore, quickly gathering a cult following. Steel Mill also tried their luck heading out to California in late December 1969, and in January of the following year they played an unforgettable multiple night stand at The Matrix, aSan Francisco club founded byMarty Balin ofJefferson Airplane . But most of all the California trip was marked by an invitation from Bill Graham to perform at hisFillmore West and then to audition at Pacific Recording Studio, in San Mateo, at 1737 S. El Camino Real. Also referred to as "Pacific Recorders", this studio is best known as the place where bothThe Grateful Dead ’sAoxomoxoa LP andCarlos Santana ’s debut LP were recorded.The audition resulted in the recording, on February 22 of 1970, of three band originals: "Guilty", "The Train Song" and "Going back to Georgia". The event represents the first true professional studio recording in Springsteen career and was followed by a recording contract offer by Graham. The offer was eventually turned down because the advance money was judged too small. When Steel Mill returned home the band was joined by Springsteen long time friend
Steven Van Zandt , who replaced Roslin on bass, and later by vocalist Robbin Thompson. Steel Mill disbanded at the end of January, 1971.Vini Lopez has recently reformed Steel Mill and the band has released a CD on Mega International records. The new lineup of the band consists of Vini Lopez on drums, Bill Kacerek (Bill Kace)on Keyboards, Ed Piersanti on bass and John Galella on guitar. Tinker West the original manager is also the current manager for the project. Steel Mill Is currently in the studio working on their next release.Federici, Lopez, and Van Zandt would go onto become members of Springsteen's longtime backing group
The E Street Band . The very name Steel Mill would presage Springsteen's late 1970s interest inworking class Americana , as exemplified by later songs such as "Factory" and "The River" and so on.
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