Generally, Bruce Springsteen is the one giving orders to guitarist Steven Van Zandt of The E Street Band. He is, after all, The Boss. But when Springsteen decided to join Van Zandt on his Netflix series Lilyhammer, the tables turned. The show's third season premiered on the streaming service in November, and for those who want to see Springsteen's acting chops, all they have to do is turn on the final episode titled "Loose Ends."
"I know we're friends for 50 years, but still it meant a lot to me that he chose me and trusted me enough to direct him when literally everybody on earth's been wanting to do it," Van Zandt told Billboard.
Van Zandt plays an ex-mobster named Frank "The Fixer" Tagliano who is forced into hiding. He chooses Lilehammer in Norway as his place to lay low, but soon enough he is up to his old ways. Fans of The Sopranos will notice some similarities between Van Zandt's Frank and Silvio Dante.
Springsteen joins the cast in season 3's final episode as Frank's brother.
"He's really acting," Van Zandt added. "It's not some cameo. He's not playing himself. It's a real thing."
Rage Against the Machine's Tom Morello took over Van Zandt's spot last year for some dates in Australia while he filmed the second season of Lilyhammer. Previously, the longtime guitarist exited the band in 1984 to pursue a solo career, but he was welcomed back when The Boss reunited the band in the 1990s.
Springsteen appeared in 2000's High Fidelity as himself and has since parodied his '70s counterpart with Jimmy Fallon and worked on the music video for "Hunter of Invisible Game."
"Was if fun? Yeah, but it's more fun when it's over," a relieved Van Zandt said. "It's fun now."
