Between 1968 and 1974 Vini Lopez backed Bruce Springsteen in several bands, including Steel Mill and the E Street Band.
18 Facts About Vini Lopez
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2.
Vini Lopez grew up in Neptune Township, New Jersey where he attended Neptune High School with both Garry Tallent and Southside Johnny.
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DeSarno and Vini Lopez would become regular collaborators after Vini Lopez left the E Street Band.
4.
In 1970 Vini Lopez worked at Carvers boatyard in Point Pleasant, New Jersey.
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In February 1969 Springsteen and Vini Lopez got together with Danny Federici and Vinnie Roslin at The Upstage and formed a new band.
6.
Springsteen and Vini Lopez had already met each other on several occasions.
7.
Together with Danny Federici, Garry Tallent, Clarence Clemons and David Sancious, Vini Lopez was a founding member of what eventually became the E Street Band.
8.
However this was not the last occasion that Vini Lopez backed Springsteen in concert.
9.
On July 21,2003, at the Giants Stadium, during The Rising Tour, Vini Lopez made a guest appearance, playing on "Spirit in the Night".
10.
On September 19,2012, Vini Lopez made a guest appearance during Springsteen's first concert at the new MetLife Stadium, playing on "The E Street Shuffle".
11.
Vini Lopez made a guest appearance in 2016 during a show on The River Tour 2016 in Philadelphia on September 9.
12.
In 1977 Vini Lopez briefly moved to Maine where he reunited with Bill Chinnock and played on the latter's Badlands album.
13.
Vini Lopez was the second of three notable drummers to play with the band.
14.
Vini Lopez succeeded Ernest Carter, who had earlier replaced Lopez in the E Street Band.
15.
When he left the band Vini Lopez was replaced by Tico Torres.
16.
An angry Vini Lopez had to be escorted from the club by police.
17.
Vini Lopez has a daughter Liz, who is an accountant, by his late wife Laurel, who died in 2004.
18.
Away from his music career, Vini Lopez has worked as a golf caddy for Mark McCormick for over 25 years.