Steven Van Zandt Reveals Financial Motive of Taking 'The Sopranos' Role

In HBO's documentary, Stevie Van Zandt: Disciple, which premiered at the Tribeca Film Festival, Van Zandt shares the fascinating journey of how he secured his role on the iconic show, 'The Sopranos.'

David Chase, the creator of 'The Sopranos,' recalls how Van Zandt caught his attention. "He piqued my interest immediately. He was really funny, charismatic, and had this magnetic presence on screen. I thought, 'That guy's gotta be in the show,'" Chase says in an interview.

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After receiving the offer from Chase, Van Zandt, also known as Little Steven, discussed it over dinner with an old friend. He recounted how he got the HBO offer following his speech at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction ceremony. "I said, 'Steven, you can't f---ing do that. You can't be on television,'" recalls Lance Freed, a music publisher and son of Alan Freed. "You're Stevie Van Zandt. You're a f---ing rock 'n' roll idol. You can't do this. You're gonna ruin everything.'"

Freed provided examples of musicians who had successfully transitioned to TV, arguing that television has no memory. "I said, 'Steven, if the thing is great, great. If the thing is bad, they'll forget about it.'"

During the audition process, Van Zandt expressed that he didn't want to take a job from an actor, which led Chase to create a character specifically for him. "It was based on a character he had invented named Silvio Dante," Chase explains. "I wrote a whole biography on him. He grew up with Tony Soprano — that was his best friend."

Van Zandt adds, "I kind of used my relationship with Bruce [Springsteen]," drawing a parallel to his long-standing friendship with Springsteen. From playing with Springsteen in the E Street Band to leading political movements through music, Stevie Van Zandt: Disciple "tells the story of an artist through the eyes of those who saw him most closely — the peers and legends that came up before, alongside, and after him," according to the film's description.

-Sushmita Sarkar