It was a very long time ago, but I can still remember how Bruce introduced him during my first Springsteen show.

The man who brings the thunder! Night after night! Annnnnnd star of late night telllllleeeeeeeevision!!! THE MIGHTY MAX!!!

At the time, Max Weinberg was still the bandleader for "Late Night with Conan O'Brien", and it was always very cool when, before departing to go on the road Bruce and The E Street Band, Conan would always bid him farewell on the air, saying Max was going to his "day job".

He's been with Springsteen since 1974: a long time. His first recorded performance was heard on '75's "Born to Run".

The last time I saw Springsteen and E Street was 2008 in St. Paul. The show was held about two weeks before Conan's ill fated journey to NBC's "The Tonight Show". 

Max was scheduled to join Conan for the (then) momentous occassion. Springsteen was scheduled to take the tour to Europe that week.

Enter Jay Weinberg, Max's son and accomplished drummer in his own right. Bruce agreed to the jr. substitute but that the kid would need to time to learn all the songs. The solution? Max and Son would take turns each night on the set lists.

This night, Jay played the first half (for the record, he doesn't possess dad's power and timing, but he did have a raw, urgent, youthful energy). Halfway through the set, Max emerged onstage and he and his son embraced before Max took his throne behind the drum kit. The crowd went wild.

Max opted not to join Conan on his TBS show. He's recently toured with "The Max Weinberg Big Band", his jazz ensemble.

Happy birthday to "The Mighty Max"!

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