Linda's Story
My first show was at the old Wembley Stadium back in 1988 for the Tunnel of Love Express tour. I went with my brother who later emigrated to New Zealand. Pretty sure it wasn't anything I said. It's worked quite well because as well as actually visiting him atm, I was able to stay with him when Bruce played Mount Smart back in 2017 in what started out as the River Tour, but by the time he got to the southern hemisphere it was the Summer Tour.
Laura's Story
It all started on November 27, 1980
Thanksgiving night.
My best friend and I were bored so we decided to take a train from New Hyde Park in Long Island to New York to see Bruce Springsteen & The E Street Band at Madison Square Garden for one his River tour concerts.
We only had $35 between us but figured that should be enough to get us two tickets. Boy were we wrong! The prices were high and the scalpers laughed at our low offers. Finally the show started and we weren’t in, YET… So we figured one more walk around The Garden and then we’d head on home. Just as we were about to give up a scalper agreed to sell us 2 lodge seats for $35.
Not a favor, more like the scalper thought they were now worthless.
We raced in like we just got tix via a Willy Wonka candy bar. Big smiles, and we ran up the escalators. A few security guards yelled “slow down!” But we keep on going.
We had great seats, first level by the stage. Bruce & The E St Band were amazing. We stood on our seats, danced and during the quiet songs sat on the edge of our seats. It was fun and sad to hear Bruce speak about the memories of his father. The worst was pouring his heart out about his dad disliking him. It seemed to us that most fans did not feel his sadness. Many cheered as Bruce shed a few tears.
The rest of the show was upbeat, a bit preachy and a religious experience.
A down right addictive drug!
When the show finally ended we swore we would be back the next night and escape life for 3 more hours with reverend Bruce. Before the November 28th show my art major friend decided she could copy a Bruce Springsteen Tour ‘Working Pass’ so we would definitely be at both shows in December. We kept stopping MSG arena personnel to get a closer look out their pass so she could make us our own.
Thanksgiving night.
My best friend and I were bored so we decided to take a train from New Hyde Park in Long Island to New York to see Bruce Springsteen & The E Street Band at Madison Square Garden for one his River tour concerts.
We only had $35 between us but figured that should be enough to get us two tickets. Boy were we wrong! The prices were high and the scalpers laughed at our low offers. Finally the show started and we weren’t in, YET… So we figured one more walk around The Garden and then we’d head on home. Just as we were about to give up a scalper agreed to sell us 2 lodge seats for $35.
Not a favor, more like the scalper thought they were now worthless.
We raced in like we just got tix via a Willy Wonka candy bar. Big smiles, and we ran up the escalators. A few security guards yelled “slow down!” But we keep on going.
We had great seats, first level by the stage. Bruce & The E St Band were amazing. We stood on our seats, danced and during the quiet songs sat on the edge of our seats. It was fun and sad to hear Bruce speak about the memories of his father. The worst was pouring his heart out about his dad disliking him. It seemed to us that most fans did not feel his sadness. Many cheered as Bruce shed a few tears.
The rest of the show was upbeat, a bit preachy and a religious experience.
A down right addictive drug!
When the show finally ended we swore we would be back the next night and escape life for 3 more hours with reverend Bruce. Before the November 28th show my art major friend decided she could copy a Bruce Springsteen Tour ‘Working Pass’ so we would definitely be at both shows in December. We kept stopping MSG arena personnel to get a closer look out their pass so she could make us our own.
They came out great! The hardest part would be getting in. So, on December 18, my fellow Bruce tramp and I get on line at the VIP guest door. In front of us are David Lee Roth and his date. It was exciting and very nerve racking.
We approach a lady with a clipboard and she asks, “Who gave you those passes?” Shaking in my boots I blurt out “My dad is the president of IBM!” She waved us in and we shared the elevator ride with David Lee Roth and his friend. That in itself was exciting beyond words to me as I am a major Van Halen fan!
Then the elevator stops and the doors open. We went straight to the seating area and walked around the Garden.
We approach a lady with a clipboard and she asks, “Who gave you those passes?” Shaking in my boots I blurt out “My dad is the president of IBM!” She waved us in and we shared the elevator ride with David Lee Roth and his friend. That in itself was exciting beyond words to me as I am a major Van Halen fan!
Then the elevator stops and the doors open. We went straight to the seating area and walked around the Garden.
I believe we sat in the guest seats for half of the show and then walked backstage without being questioned by anyone. I noticed a tent area and behind a bar was Keith Richards. I was fine to stay put there. My friend made a beeline straight to the restricted area for band members only. We did see Bruce drying his head with a towel and go into his dressing room. Just then we were caught! Security was called and over the P.A. we heard repeated a few times “I need back up to escort two out of the building.” It was a total walk of shame.
Strange thing was as we were being escorted out, promoter Bill Graham was standing right there and invited us back in. I recognized him from being a big Grateful Dead fan. It was a total pinch me I’m dreaming moment. So there we are back in the guest section to enjoy the rest of the show. What a thrilling way to end an incredible evening.
I’ve seen Bruce and the E Street Band many more times and paid for every single ticket.
To quote Bruce, “Show a little faith, there’s magic in the night”
Thank you Bruce!
Strange thing was as we were being escorted out, promoter Bill Graham was standing right there and invited us back in. I recognized him from being a big Grateful Dead fan. It was a total pinch me I’m dreaming moment. So there we are back in the guest section to enjoy the rest of the show. What a thrilling way to end an incredible evening.
I’ve seen Bruce and the E Street Band many more times and paid for every single ticket.
To quote Bruce, “Show a little faith, there’s magic in the night”
Thank you Bruce!
Paul's Story
I'd bought my first Bruce album in 1974, I hadn't heard it before buying it but any time I read David Bowie recommending any artist I'd go out and listen. The following year I'd bought the BTR single and album on their release. As a pupil at a boarding school with all its restrictions and rules 'Born To Run' was the perfect rally cry. I wanted to go to the Hammersmith gigs but couldn't get a pass out of school being only in the 5th form so like most fans in Britain I'd have to wait until 1981. Those years between I'd left school and found a dream job selling and promoting punk bands at the start of that movement. Seeing the Pistols, The Clash and Johnny Thunders was exciting, dangerous and often unique. When Bruce released the Darkness album in '78 I wasn't alone in making it a favourite, Bruce seemed to transcend into punk's radar and Joe Strummer particularly took great influence from that album and Bruce himself. But we still hasn't manage to see Bruce live, we'd only been teased by the incredible reviews we'd read in the NME and Melody Maker. As time passed I'd lost my dear girl friend, killed in a hit and run, nearly lost my mind, found alcohol, recovered, worked with The Pretenders, rediscovered my belief in rock and roll, and got married. Sadly at the same time Lennon died so did my wife and I, the marriage shouldn't have happened, we were too young, it was too soon, too early. I lost myself in the songs on The River album, it seemed 'Point Blank' and 'Drive All Night' were written for me. I was now working back in record shops and when finally they announced that Bruce was returning to Britain I had to be there. My friends had been worried that after my ended marriage I might go back to drink so they got together and got me a ticket to see Bruce in Brighton in the hope it would give me hope too. Despite the scare in the postponement of tour dates when Bruce got ill eventually it was all good to go. My friend Leigh and his girlfriend drove us down to Brighton from Croydon, my hometown. We spent the day on the beach, walked the pier, rode the open top bus, eat too much, fish, chips, pies, sticks of rock and more. As the day passed the anticipation rose, entering the Brighton Centre for the first time we were struck by its size compared with those hot sweaty clubs we were used to. Our seats were stage right, perfect view of the stage. Nothing we'd read or heard before could have warned us of what Bruce and the E Street Band gave us that night. I'd never danced, laughed and even cried so much for so long at any gig ever before. The energy, theatre and intimacy, even in such a building, was contagious and although it was by far the longest gig I'd ever seen, the time passed so fast, too fast. By the encore which raised the energy level off the scale I thought my body couldn't take any more but if everything ended, and if I'd never see another band, at that moment it wouldn't have mattered, I'd witnessed the past, present and future of rock and roll and it was Bruce! I don't remember much about the long drive home, I literally stumbled through my front door and into my bed but the adrenaline wasn't going to let me sleep that night. Next day back in the record shop, ears ringing, blood-shot eyes and aching legs we couldn't stop telling anyone and everyone of what we had seen last night. With gigs coming at Wembley Arena I knew I had to see more. I'd bought tickets for one night but literally begged, called in favours, 'blackmailed' our Sony rep, nagged the Pretenders' manager (thanks Dave!) and for one night only, shamelessly paid a tout, in order to get myself to as many of the Wembley gigs as I could. Set lists changed, seat locations too, but that excitement and magic of my first time in Brighton never faded, each time it resurrected more intense than nights before but as they say, you never forget your first time, that night the first time Bruce and Brighton rocked for me.
David's Story
Here goes: Next to the last show of the River tour. Sept 13 1981Cincinnatti Ohio. I think 7th row, back in the days of folding chairs and no pits. Me. My brother, my friend Gordon and 2 others. I'd been listening since 76 and they had all seen him and finally asked me to go on the 8 hour car ride. The man went berserk for 3 hours and I've never been the same. And I'm $50000 in the hole at least!!!
Neil's Story
My first show was a Tunnel of Love show at Sheffield United's football ground back in 1988.
I can remember living in my old hometown of Stevenage and purchasing the tickets via a great record shop we used to have called FL Moores
Including the coach.
Seeing the band play that night lives long in my memory.
Although I haven't seen that many shows in my lifetime, less than 30 I reckon.
Since becoming part of the E Street Fans family my life has changed forever, I have made friends around the world because of Bruce Springsteen.
I can remember living in my old hometown of Stevenage and purchasing the tickets via a great record shop we used to have called FL Moores
Including the coach.
Seeing the band play that night lives long in my memory.
Although I haven't seen that many shows in my lifetime, less than 30 I reckon.
Since becoming part of the E Street Fans family my life has changed forever, I have made friends around the world because of Bruce Springsteen.
Steve and Maria's story
Our 1st experience of Bruce live was at Leeds Roundhay Park in ‘85 - it was a surprise 1st Wedding Anniversary pressie (nothing has come close since)! We’d never before been to an open air rock concert & were anxious/nervous but excited beyond words. We stood on the side of a hill, feeling quite intimidated by some of the people around us but any fears we had disappeared as soon as the show started. To say we were blown away is an understatement and, when Bruce started the intro to ‘Because The Night’, we thought we’d died & gone to heaven (this was our all time favourite song at that point & we had no idea it was part written/performed by Bruce)!
Needless to say, we were hooked, line & sinker, from that day on and would willingly do it all over again, and then some. We wholeheartedly agree with Bruce - the older you get, the more it means
Needless to say, we were hooked, line & sinker, from that day on and would willingly do it all over again, and then some. We wholeheartedly agree with Bruce - the older you get, the more it means
Chris's Story
The Journey Begins: Born In The USA
Early in 1985, my friend Pip Vye asked me, over a pint, “would you like to see Bruce Springsteen at Wembley this summer”.” Springsteen! Who’s that? I asked”. I had NEVER heard of Bruce Springsteen!
When I was a teenager in the mid 60’s and early 70’s, I had my tiny transistor radio glued to my ear, listening to the Top 40 countdown. In the late 70’s, I was excited as, for the very first time, I installed a cassette player in my old Ford. I could now play all my own music, which was almost exclusively and joyfully Glen Campbell and The Bee Gees. I’d plan car journeys solely to enjoy my “personal jukebox”! Shamefully, I never returned to live radio .
Consequently, during the 70’s and 80’s I never heard Born To Run from 1975, which peaked at #93 on the UK singles chart, Hungry Heart (#44 in 1980); The River (#33 in 1981) and, given it’s huge UK success, somehow missed Dancing in the Dark which peaked at #4 in 1984.
Thankfully, I accepted Pip's invitation to go to the show and, on a glorious summer’s evening in July 1985 I, along with my wife Gail and our friends Pip, Pat, Mick, Elaine and 60,000 other fans, settled into our seats at Wembleys’ outdoor Stadium, waiting for Bruce Springsteen.
What I was not expecting was “The E Street Band”.
The E Street Band took the stage, one by one, to thunderous applause, followed by Bruce, wearing a sleeveless denim shirt and a stars & stripes bandanna. The countdown 1,2!; 1,2,3,4! and the band tore into Born in the U.S.A; followed by “Badlands, Darlington County, Johnny 99 & Atlantic City” at which point Pip asked me “what do you think?” “I’ll tell you what I think”, I replied, “I’m coming back tomorrow night” and I did just that. Back to Wembley, unknowingly embarking on a wonderful journey that became a soundtrack to my life and, it just keeps going!
The power of Bruce’s voice, his guitar and his harmonica was astonishing. Clarence’s sax, Steve’s guitar, Danny & Roy on keyboards, Max on drums and Gary on bass guitar. Collectively, the energy generated on stage was electric. This transitioned to a helpless audience who, like me, were caught up in frenzy. There was a cyclone on my radar; lightning in a bottle; I got to take it home with me. ALL OF IT.
The following night, I knew what to expect. I was like a coiled spring waiting for concert number two. I i was not disappointed.By the end of the show,I had been elevated to cloud nine. I was beside myself with pure joy, delighted at what I’d found and completely infatuated by the artist.
Early in 1985, my friend Pip Vye asked me, over a pint, “would you like to see Bruce Springsteen at Wembley this summer”.” Springsteen! Who’s that? I asked”. I had NEVER heard of Bruce Springsteen!
When I was a teenager in the mid 60’s and early 70’s, I had my tiny transistor radio glued to my ear, listening to the Top 40 countdown. In the late 70’s, I was excited as, for the very first time, I installed a cassette player in my old Ford. I could now play all my own music, which was almost exclusively and joyfully Glen Campbell and The Bee Gees. I’d plan car journeys solely to enjoy my “personal jukebox”! Shamefully, I never returned to live radio .
Consequently, during the 70’s and 80’s I never heard Born To Run from 1975, which peaked at #93 on the UK singles chart, Hungry Heart (#44 in 1980); The River (#33 in 1981) and, given it’s huge UK success, somehow missed Dancing in the Dark which peaked at #4 in 1984.
Thankfully, I accepted Pip's invitation to go to the show and, on a glorious summer’s evening in July 1985 I, along with my wife Gail and our friends Pip, Pat, Mick, Elaine and 60,000 other fans, settled into our seats at Wembleys’ outdoor Stadium, waiting for Bruce Springsteen.
What I was not expecting was “The E Street Band”.
The E Street Band took the stage, one by one, to thunderous applause, followed by Bruce, wearing a sleeveless denim shirt and a stars & stripes bandanna. The countdown 1,2!; 1,2,3,4! and the band tore into Born in the U.S.A; followed by “Badlands, Darlington County, Johnny 99 & Atlantic City” at which point Pip asked me “what do you think?” “I’ll tell you what I think”, I replied, “I’m coming back tomorrow night” and I did just that. Back to Wembley, unknowingly embarking on a wonderful journey that became a soundtrack to my life and, it just keeps going!
The power of Bruce’s voice, his guitar and his harmonica was astonishing. Clarence’s sax, Steve’s guitar, Danny & Roy on keyboards, Max on drums and Gary on bass guitar. Collectively, the energy generated on stage was electric. This transitioned to a helpless audience who, like me, were caught up in frenzy. There was a cyclone on my radar; lightning in a bottle; I got to take it home with me. ALL OF IT.
The following night, I knew what to expect. I was like a coiled spring waiting for concert number two. I i was not disappointed.By the end of the show,I had been elevated to cloud nine. I was beside myself with pure joy, delighted at what I’d found and completely infatuated by the artist.
Woody's Story
A long time ago in a Galaxy far far away...
It was 1980...maybe early 1981...I was a second year apprentice welder and just listening to music properly for the first time in my life. Hungry Heart was getting plenty of radio airtime and it really stood out for me, it was the first time I was aware of this guy called Bruce Springsteen.
There was never any shows in the little village I lived in or the nearest towns and I'd never seen anyone live before. One of my fellow apprentices had heard me mention that I liked this Springsteen guy and had a ticket for The River tour in 1981. As luck would have it Bruce had to postpone a few shows at the end of the European leg and the lad who had the ticket couldn't make the rearranged date...Charlie had his ticket to the chocolate factory.
Now the problem arose of 17 year old me actually getting to the gig 130 miles away, no problem, my little 125 motorbike was just the machine for the job...unfortunately my mum didn't agree with this for some reason. She offered to pick me up if I made my way there on the train...result
The memory of the show is dimmed by the passing of time now, I've never been one to remember details of shows anyway, but the feeling remains even if I don't have the skills to relate it here.
As I'd never been to a show before I didn't have a clue how long a show normally lasted so asked around...needless to say, my mum turned up way too early to pick me up, I guess security was a little more forgiving in those days and they let her in at the back and she saw the last hour of the show.
Needless to say that one night has ended up costing me thousands over the years :-)
Kirsten's Story
Aged 21, a young student from Heidelberg, I went to Berlin to visit my cousin, and she had tickets for Springsteen at open-air venue Waldbühne. I did not, but she told me it would be simple to buy from security near the entry point. And that’s what we did. I paid 50 DM, can’t remember if that was face value. And I lost my cousin and her boyfriend, who went into the stands, while I pushed my way close to the front. There was no queuing nor FOS humbug those days. (It was in 1988, but no, it was not the legendary Weißensee-concert, which is said to have cracked the Berlin wall, but it was three days later, In West-Berlin, a galaxy away.)
I will never forget the guy right in front of me, holding up his sign with “Candy’s Room” on the front and “Racing in the Streets” on the back, neither of which were played that night, unfortunately. Then, at the end of the show, I have a strong memory of Bruce continuing to play while they were taking down the stage, as if he had no intention to leave. I remember it as if he was playing solo acoustic, but looking at the set-list of that night, I might be mixing things up.
Then came the moment where we quit the venue, after what seemed to me a three-night-journey that would never end, and I had no idea how to find my cousin or the way back to her home. Funny enough, I did not worry for a minute, it was a warm July night, I had been baptized, I was fresh and young, no worries at all. I met two guys at the nearest bus-stop, one of them fast asleep laid back to the green hill behind the bus-stop, and had a chat with the other one. He asked me where I was from and I told him and he said, you’re brave, nobody here except us, are you not afraid there’ll be a rape and slaughter story in the news tomorrow? And I said, I’m not, you’re Bruce fans, you won’t do me no harm.
He laughed, and as we found out there was no bus to be expected soon, we woke up his companion and started walking into the city until we found a taxi. And here the story ends but a life-long Bruce-addiction started.
I will never forget the guy right in front of me, holding up his sign with “Candy’s Room” on the front and “Racing in the Streets” on the back, neither of which were played that night, unfortunately. Then, at the end of the show, I have a strong memory of Bruce continuing to play while they were taking down the stage, as if he had no intention to leave. I remember it as if he was playing solo acoustic, but looking at the set-list of that night, I might be mixing things up.
Then came the moment where we quit the venue, after what seemed to me a three-night-journey that would never end, and I had no idea how to find my cousin or the way back to her home. Funny enough, I did not worry for a minute, it was a warm July night, I had been baptized, I was fresh and young, no worries at all. I met two guys at the nearest bus-stop, one of them fast asleep laid back to the green hill behind the bus-stop, and had a chat with the other one. He asked me where I was from and I told him and he said, you’re brave, nobody here except us, are you not afraid there’ll be a rape and slaughter story in the news tomorrow? And I said, I’m not, you’re Bruce fans, you won’t do me no harm.
He laughed, and as we found out there was no bus to be expected soon, we woke up his companion and started walking into the city until we found a taxi. And here the story ends but a life-long Bruce-addiction started.
Kev's Story
I watched my very 1st Bruce extravaganza in June 2009 at Hampden Park Stadium in Glasgow, the previous year had been an absolute stinker for Lesley & myself having had twins Tommy & Abbie in July 2008 only to have them both earn their Angel Wings by the August & December respectively. But if there is 1 thing apart from the help, support and strength that got Lesley and I through... was listening to Bruce, I personally found his music so helpful which I have always done through traumatic periods in my life... so the early 2009 the Hampden Park tickets were released and I knew there was only 1 place I was going to be the night Bruce came to town... so off Les & I trot with a couple of mates and I found myself at what I can only describe as my MECCA it was PHENOMENAL. To actually be in the same place as the man who kept me sane through some of my darkest hours in my life... was just, well... MIND BLOWING... And that Steven is my story of The 1st time I saw My Savior.
Robin's Story
I was 15 and had been turned on to Bruce by our neighbors while vacationing in Wildwood NJ every summer. My first time to see Bruce and E Street live was on 6/1/74 Kent State Ohio E Street Band performed with Michael Stanley, a very popular NE Ohio band. It cemented my love. That summer we did our normal summer vacation to NJ and the neighbors took me to a birthday party in a seedy warehouse district of Wildwood. Apparently, Bruce knew this birthday girl very well because he showed up with his acoustic guitar and sang Lost in the Flood and Spirit in the Night. What I remember from that night was that it he wasn't treated as a super rock star. It was great he was there but no hoopla. It was just Bruce serenading her for her birthday. My next time to see him would not be until the BTR tour and 8/8/75 in Akron Ohio. The next time would be the phenomenal concert at The Agora 8/9/78. I was very lucky to know a guy that worked at WMMS the Cleveland radio station and he got me in. I had already left Ohio for Houston but as fate would have it, I went back for a dear friend's funeral and ended up at The Agora. That's my story!!!
Steph's Story
My interest in Bruce came about by being teased at school when I was 12. I was born in the USA (actually Youngstown, Ohio but that song wasn't born then) and moved to the UK when I was 2. I used to get that song sung at me and thought I should actually listen to the real song, not just sung by 12 year old school kids, and that was it, I was hooked. The following year was 1985 and I had just turned 13 when Bruce came to Roundhay Park but obviously my parents wouldn't let a 13 year old go to a concert on her own (rugby league games, yes, a Bruce gig was a no :( ) so I had to wait 3 long years until he came back to Yorkshire to Bramhall Lane in Sheffield. I had just finished the last of my GCSE's and my mother said instead of Bruce would I like to see Michael Jackson! I think you will all know what I might have said. Being 16 my parents would only let me go with someone and a friend of the family were big fans too so off I went on Sunday 10th July 1988 to finally see the man who was to be in my life for the next 30 years (and hopefully many more) I cried, I laughed, I sang, I danced and it will be a concert that I will never forget. I still have the programme and ticket and still treasure the battered Tunnel of Love cassette tape. I've now got 19 more gigs under my belt but you never forget your first, do you?
Paul's Story
After years of indifference to my good mate’s Springsteen obsession, I was persuaded to open my mind some 6 months or so ahead of the Wrecking Ball tour in 2012.
Furnished with the Live 1975-85 album, I began to listen (not just hear) to Bruce’s repertoire. Whilst not immediately bowled over, I agreed to, much to the relief of his wife, to attend the Manchester gig.
The gig itself I’m sure many will remember as Manchester experienced roughly the average monthly rainfall in just one day, which tested our resolve whilst queuing for around than 6 hours...yes, an amateur effort as we now understand.
Needless to say I was hooked, despite not still fully appreciating all the songs and lyrics.
Little did we know that this would be the start of a great adventure that for us has been as much about friendship as it has about music.
Furnished with the Live 1975-85 album, I began to listen (not just hear) to Bruce’s repertoire. Whilst not immediately bowled over, I agreed to, much to the relief of his wife, to attend the Manchester gig.
The gig itself I’m sure many will remember as Manchester experienced roughly the average monthly rainfall in just one day, which tested our resolve whilst queuing for around than 6 hours...yes, an amateur effort as we now understand.
Needless to say I was hooked, despite not still fully appreciating all the songs and lyrics.
Little did we know that this would be the start of a great adventure that for us has been as much about friendship as it has about music.