Clarence Clemons Tributes Continue From Bon Jovi, Phish

Tributes to legendary E Street Band saxophonist Clarence Clemons, who passed away over the weekend following complications from a recent stroke, continue to roll in. Both U2 and Eddie Vedder paid tribute at their concerts on Saturday night, and the musical tributes continued on Sunday night as Phish and Bon Jovi stepped up with their own musical moments.

The groundwork laid by Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band courses strong through the veins of Bon Jovi, with the influence they’ve gleaned from their older New Jersey brethren particularly apparent in the younger band's live shows.  So it was fitting that Jon Bon Jovi paid a touching tribute to the ‘Big Man’ on Sunday night during the band’s performance in Denmark, with a speech in which he called Clemons a “pillar of the rock and roll community.”

Phish also paid tribute to the 'Big Man,' putting their spin on ‘Thunder Road’ last night during a performance in Portsmouth, Va.  According to fan reports, the band’s rendition wasn’t very “tight.” It was the first Phish performance of the song, and obviously had been learned rather quickly for this tribute. Phish frontman Trey Anastasio reportedly apologized at the end of the song for their “shaky” performance. But fans were kinder, noting that Trey did “nail the Big Man’s section at the end.”

Watch Bon Jovi Perform '10th Avenue Freeze-Out.'