George Theiss, an early Springsteen bandmate, dies at 68

by JAY LUSTIG
George Theiss dead

The Castiles in 1966: From left, Frank Marziotti, Bruce Springsteen, George Theiss, Paul Popkin and Vinnie Manniello.

George Theiss — an important figure in the early days of Bruce Springsteen’s career— has died, according to posts by several of his friends on Facebook. He had been living in Salisbury, N.C., and battling lung cancer since 2016. He was 68.

Theiss and Springsteen performed together in the band The Castiles from 1965 to 1968. Later, Theiss was in groups such as Cahoots and his own George Theiss Band.

“Baby I,” a Castiles song that Theiss and Springsteen wrote together, was included on Chapter and Verse, the companion CD to Springsteen’s 2016 autobiography, “Born to Run.” It is the earliest original Springsteen song to be widely available to his fans.

Theiss, who was born in Newark but grew up mostly in Freehold, originally got to know Springsteen by dating his sister, Virginia.

“I was sitting in my South Street home one afternoon when a knock came at our front door,” Springsteen wrote in “Born to Run.” “It was George Theiss, a local guitarist and singer who’d heard through my sister that I played the guitar. I’d seen George around the Elks. He told me there was a band forming and they were looking for a lead guitarist. While I hesitated to call myself a lead guitarist, I had been hard at it for a while and worked up some very rudimentary ‘chops.’ We walked across town to Center Street and into a little half-shotgun house fifty feet up the block from where the metal-on-metal war of the rug mill spilled out open factory windows onto the streets of Texas. In Texas I’d slip on my guitar and join my first real band.”

In the book, Springsteen also wrote that Theiss “bore a resemblance to both Elvis and Paul McCartney (the King AND a Beatle, the true double whammy!), was our resident lothario and did pretty well for himself.”

The band, named after the band of soap that Theiss used, practiced at the home of their manager, Tex Vinyard. They performed frequently in Freehold and nearby towns, as well as at Cafe Wha? in New York. Theiss, not Springsteen, usually sang lead.

“George was the best vocalist we had,” wrote Springsteen. “He had a real voice and charisma and did the job well. I was considered toxic in front of a microphone, my voice the butt of many of Tex’s jokes, and years later, after selling millions of records, I would visit Tex and he would take grand pleasure in sneering at me, ‘You still can’t sing. George is the singer.’ ”

After The Castiles broke up, Theiss worked as a carpenter, in addition to playing in bands. In 1986, he contributed — along with Springsteen, Southside Johnny, Max Weinberg, Bobby Bandiera and many others — to a charity single, “We’ve Got the Love,” by the all-star charity group, Jersey Artists for Mankind. In 2008, he was selected for inclusion on a plaque on the Asbury Park boardwalk, honoring some of the city’s legendary’s musicians.

According to an article that was published this January in the Salisbury Post, Springsteen attended Theiss’ wedding, in 1969, and invited him and his wife Diana to attend a Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony with him, in 1989. In 2002, Springsteen and Theiss both attended a ceremony honoring Vinyard in Freehold.

Springsteen and Theiss have also “stayed in touch” in recent years, according to the Salisbury Post article, and Springsteen attended a birthday party for Theiss’ mother in New Jersey, last year.

In a 1985 Rolling Stone cover story about Springsteen’s early days, Theiss talked about the tensions between him and Springsteen, toward the end of their years together in The Castiles. But he also talked about the ties that still bound them together.

“We were the only five freaks in Monmouth County,” he said in that article. “And at that time, you had short hair, and were an American, or you didn’t, and weren’t.”

Here is the recording of The Castiles performing “Baby I.”

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27 comments

Joe DePao July 15, 2018 - 10:42 am

Sounds pretty good!!! I hear a little, “Gloria” and some surf rock!! I could dance to this! I give it a ten!

Reply
Paul H. July 15, 2018 - 3:43 pm

Rest in peace my friend.

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Tim T. Tallent July 15, 2018 - 6:33 pm

Cool, very cool, story and verse, RIP, BROTHER, MUSIC RULES. Triple T.

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Chas Scollard July 16, 2018 - 8:10 pm

I saw the George Theiss Band at “Big Man’s West” on Monmouth Street in Red Bank back in the mid 80’s before it closed. I remember having Clarence and his Swedish wife walk into the retail store I worked at in Shrewsbury one day and telling him the fun I had at his club after it closed. His response was, “boy was my lawyer ever glad I closed that place!” Also saw George Theiss in “ The Warehouse” once in Asbury. Rest In Peace.

Reply
Mardifleur July 21, 2018 - 10:49 am

…nice article, not so much the ‘video'(ahem..!) as of Sat.am the 21st, says ‘unavailable’…☮⚜

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njartsdaily@gmail.com July 21, 2018 - 12:02 pm

Thanks though there doesn’t seem to be a problem on my end. Am able to play on both my computer and cell phone.

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Barbara Theiss July 30, 2018 - 5:20 pm

Can only say I was proud to be his sister.

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John September 24, 2020 - 7:08 pm

Our love to you and the family.💘

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Mikey March 14, 2022 - 12:10 pm

Sorry for your loss, though his life gained much.

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Barbara Theiss July 30, 2018 - 5:22 pm

Proud to be his sister!

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Paul Chiarello March 28, 2023 - 5:57 am

Barbara
You may remember me
I lived next door to Paul Popkin growing up and saw the Castiles practice there many times
One day after I heard George on an interview on the radio I called him and talked with him for awhile
He was such an awesome guy
Rest in Peace

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William Fowler July 6, 2019 - 3:57 pm

I knew him when he was in Cahoots. He was the nicest guy in the band, ancd they were all great.

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ralph ruocco June 3, 2021 - 4:51 pm

I also saw George Theiss at Big man’s west. Of all the clubs I’ve been at, Big Man’s West was the best ! Those were the days !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Reply

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