Happy Birthday, Vini Lopez, the mellowed "madman drummer" with a heart of gold!

Vini drums while Toney Hall strums, in their Florida-based group The Hula Hula Boys, via Vini's Facebook page

January 22, 2026

Happy birthday, and best wishes for many more happy birthdays ahead, to E Street Band alumnus and Rock & Roll Hall of Famer Vini "Mad Dog" Lopez, who's turned 77 today. Back in the day, Vini earned that "Mad Dog" nickname the hard way. But these days, Vini's a much more mellow fellow, still making music - now via The Hula Hula Boys duo with Toney Hall, playing gigs in Vini's half-the-year home down in Florida - and still a guy with a heart of gold. Check out this recently published TBN (Tampa Bay Newspapers) Weekly profile.

And also check out (and support) Vini's 2026 Facebook birthday fundraiser for Light of Day:

Good on ya, Vini! Best wishes for the happiest of birthdays, good sir. Keep up the good work, and keep those drumsticks poundin', too!