The audience of Max Weinberg’s Thursday presentation expected to be entertained by his words – but they got more than they bargained for when he whipped out the “dead-pan stare,” too.
“The staring thing came up one night when I couldn’t think of anything to say on the show, so I just stared,” he said.
The well-known drummer for “Late Night with Conan O’Brien” and Bruce Springsteen’s E Street Band spoke to the nearly full audience at McCormick Tribune Center about the importance of following one’s true aspirations.
“I stand before you tonight a law school dropout, and I’m very proud,” said Weinberg.
Although Weinberg spoke lightly about his academic indifference, he used it to illustrate that passion is inherent to success. The New Jersey native described the turning point in his lengthy music career as the moment he walked out of the legal studies classroom and back to his drumset.
“My true soul is that of a musician, and though I am well-versed as a businessman, what really makes me tick is playing the drums,” Weinberg said.
Peering out at the audience through his horn-rimmed glasses, Weinberg emphasized the role faith plays in achievement. Referencing the movie “Field of Dreams,” he explained his career outlook with the slogan “If I just drum, then the gigs will come.”
Weinberg said playing with Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band is the “physical embodiment” of everything he ever dreamed in his childhood.
He also described his work as leader of the Max Weinberg 7 on “Late Night” as “deeply fulfilling.”
“In some ways it shows that if you just hang in there and embrace that faith, you just might get that dream,” Weinberg said.
Weinberg has played with The Beatles, Sting, Meat Loaf and Barbra Streisand, but the graduate of Seton Hall University, South Orange, N.J., said playing with Tony Bennett was one of the proudest moments of his musical career.
Hillel President and SESP junior Zach Galin said Weinberg appealed to him as a guest speaker because of his positive Jewish values. Galin helped book Weinberg in conjunction with the radio-TV-film department, Interfraternity Council and Mayfest.
“In the past Weinberg has spoken on the importance of ‘Tikkun Olum’, or healing the world, a key Jewish principle,” Galin said.
Students in the audience responded with enthusiasm to Weinberg’s speech, particularly to the question-and-answer segment following his presentation.
When an audience member asked him to elaborate on his belief in fate, Weinberg said: “If fate is the same as destiny, then I believe in fate. I believe in the passions of your life leading you on the path you should be on, and it is tied into fate and into knowing who you are.”
“He’s an inspiring guy; he made me want to go out and follow my dreams, basically be like Max Weinberg,” said Communication sophomore Laura Howard with an enthusiastic fist pump.
Reach Carrie Porter at caroline-porter@northwestern.
