Hear Little Steven’s Festive Cover of Ramones’ ‘Merry Christmas’
E Street Band guitarist and garage-rock aficionado Little Steven Van Zandt has put his own spin on the Ramones‘ festive anthem “Merry Christmas (I Don’t Want to Fight Tonight),” adding a third verse about Frosty and Christmas carolers. He recorded the track, which sounds much grander in Van Zandt’s hands, in late November with his backing band the Disciples of Soul, which created a Wall of Sound with glockenspiel, chimes, string, organ and sleigh bells, a vocal chorus and saxophone.
“It’s our tribute to the Ramones,” Van Zandt tells Rolling Stone. “We’re keeping their music alive. We cut it live at a soundcheck in Utrecht, Netherlands, two weeks ago. I needed…