Clemons died at age 69 last year after a stroke. Van Zandt said Thursday that the band’s work will always be a tribute to Clemons and keyboard player Danny Federici, who died in 2008. Springsteen and the E Street Band begin a long tour next month.

Despite the emotion, Van Zandt says band members have to ask themselves whether their colleagues would have wanted them to carry on with the work. The guitarist said: “I think the answer’s yes.”

Besides the music, Van Zandt is promoting “Lilyhammer,” Netflix’s first original series. It is set in Norway and begins streaming Feb. 6 on Netflix.