 David Chase (II) (qv) was a longtime fan of  Steve Van Zandt (qv)s music and had always wanted to write a role  for him. When Chase saw Van Zandt induct The Young Rascals (qv)  into The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, he invited Van Zandt to  audition for Tony Soprano even though he had never acted before. Van  Zandt did not want to take a role away from a real actor, so Chase  wrote the role of Silvio Dante for him.