(Supplied photo)

BEVERLY HILLS, Calif. —Steve Van Zandt is glad The Sopranos didn’t end with what he describes as “fraudulent closure.”

“Right from the beginning (Sopranos creator) David Chase broke every rule and everybody loved him for it,” said Van Zandt, who played Sil. “(Chase) just refused all along to compromise and play by the Hollywood-imposed game of fraudulent closure.

“He was like, ‘Life doesn’t work that way, it doesn’t get wrapped up every 30 minutes or 60 minutes, and we’re not going to play that game. It’s my last show on TV, I’m going out without compromise.’ And I think he kept it that way right to the end ... I thought it was a brilliant ending, myself.”

Then again, what does Van Zandt know? As the series ended, his character was in a coma.

Van Zandt, a member of Bruce Springsteen’s E Street Band, was at the Television Critics Association tour to promote a new documentary series called Seven Ages of Rock. Van Zandt was asked if there are any similarities between Springsteen and Chase.

“Yes, there are a lot — just seeing New Jersey become fashionable twice in a lifetime was something,” said Van Zandt, prompting a huge laugh. “They’re both crazy, and uncompromising, and singular in their vision. They both have been very inspirational to me and I’m proud to call both of them my friends.”