If you are a fan of rock music, you may have heard of Steven Van Zandt and Ronnie Van Zant. Steven Van Zandt is a musician, singer, songwriter, and actor who is best known as a member of Bruce Springsteen’s E Street Band and as Silvio Dante in The Sopranos. Ronnie Van Zant was the lead singer and co-founder of the southern rock band Lynyrd Skynyrd, who tragically died in a plane crash in 1977.
But are these two rock stars related? There has been a rumor circulating on the internet that they are half-brothers, based on a DNA test that Steven Van Zandt allegedly took. However, this rumor is false and has no basis in reality. Here are some facts that debunk this myth.
Different Family Backgrounds
Steven Van Zandt was born Steven Lento on November 22, 1950, in Winthrop, Massachusetts. He has Italian ancestry; one grandfather was from Calabria and one grandmother’s parents were from Naples. His mother, Mary, remarried in 1957 and he took the last name of his stepfather, William Brewster Van Zandt. The family moved to Middletown Township, New Jersey, when he was seven.
Ronnie Van Zant was born Ronald Wayne Van Zant on January 15, 1948, in Jacksonville, Florida. He had two younger brothers, Johnny and Donnie, who also became musicians. His parents were Lacy Austin and Marion Virginia (née Hicks) Van Zant. He grew up in a working-class neighborhood and attended Robert E. Lee High School.
As you can see, there is no evidence that Steven and Ronnie share any biological or adoptive parents. Their last names are coincidental and do not indicate any kinship.
No DNA Test Confirmation
The rumor that Steven Van Zandt took a DNA test that revealed his relation to Ronnie Van Zant seems to have originated from a website called TimesMojo.com, which published an article with the headline “Does Ronnie Van Zant have any brothers?” on October 20, 2021. The article claimed that Steven Van Zandt was shocked to discover that he had half siblings all over the world, including Ronnie Van Zant.
However, this website is not a reliable source of information. It has no author name, no contact information, no disclaimer, and no references for its claims. It also contains many grammatical and factual errors. For example, it states that Ronnie Van Zant died in 1979 instead of 1977, and that he was born in Alabama instead of Florida.
Moreover, there is no confirmation from Steven Van Zandt himself or any reputable media outlet that he ever took a DNA test or found out about any half siblings. In fact, Steven Van Zandt has been very open about his family history and his admiration for Ronnie Van Zant in interviews and social media posts. He has never mentioned anything about being related to him.
Conclusion
Steven Van Zandt and Ronnie Van Zant are not related by blood or adoption. They are both talented musicians who have influenced generations of rock fans with their music and personalities. They share a common last name and a love for rock and roll, but nothing more. The rumor that they are half-brothers is false and based on a dubious website article that has no credibility or evidence..
