With all due respect to all the excellent comments of moonlighting band members (see below for the full list), the best of the bunch went unmentioned. To wit I submit Steven Van Zandt.
After building a reputation as a member of Bruce Springsteen’s E Street Band, Van Zandt unleashed his criminally-overlooked solo debut, Men Without Women, in 1982. The album picked up on the rock and roll base that he explored with Springsteen but injected a heavy dose of R&B to dazzling effect.
A few years later Van Zandt exposed a political perspective with 1984’s Voice of America. That album’s masterful “I Am a Patriot” has become a concert staple for musicians from Jackson Browne to Eddie Vedder.
Continuing his social and political activism, Van Zandt organized the “Artists United Against Apartheid” in 1995 to record “Sun City.” Over 35 diverse artists ranging from U2 to Springsteen to Miles Davis lined up to participate in this powerful global statement.
As if that weren’t enough, Van Zandt spun in a different direction to join the cast of the Sopranos in 1999 as mob consigliere Silvio Dante. Come on people, can you top that?
Back to our original purpose, Twangville congratulates Jason Fiske of Richmond, VA, the winner of our Albert Hammond Jr. give-away. Here are some choice videos from Hammond and Van Zandt to round out the day.
Residents of Twangville opined:
- Jim Cuddy of Blue Rodeo
- Rhett Miller of the Old 97’s
- Albert Hammond Jr of the Strokes
- Jim Bryson (plays with Kathleen Edwards)
- Jerry Garcia of the Grateful Dead
- Neil Young of CSNY
About the author: Mild-mannered corporate executive by day, excitable Twangville denizen by night. 
September 5th, 2008 at 12:33 pm
Don’t forget, Steve also hosts one of Rock’s finest radio shows, the Underground Garage. On top of that he runs his own record company, Wicked Cool Records, giving some of Garage finest a shot at Rock fame. If that wasn’t enough he organizes various festivals as well and designed a school program to teach the Hip Hop generation all about R&R.
The man is capable of anything. Except saving CBGB’s unfortunately. But not for the lack of trying. Van Zandt is the patron saint of R&R these days!
September 6th, 2008 at 9:03 am
Good call. Silvio sure can rock. Thanks for sharing the vids.
September 9th, 2008 at 10:55 pm
[…] Moonlighters Extraordinaire: Results Are In [Mayer] […]
September 9th, 2008 at 11:55 pm
That’s the truth you’re talking there! But I can’t say no to any member of the Van Zandt family.