Kingdom of Days: July 2

New for 2023: No updates

1949: “Professor” Roy Bittan is born in Rockaway Beach, New York.

1966: The Castiles play an opening set for The Rogues at the new Surf ‘n’ See Club in Sea Bright, New Jersey.

1967: The “Fabulous” Castiles play a gig at the See ‘n’ Surf Club (not a typo–same club, new name) to mark its first anniversary.

1971: The Sundance Blues Band plays the Upstage in Asbury Park.

1976: Mike Appel sends Bruce a letter informing him that he is prohibited from recording new music due to their ongoing legal dispute. Bruce will spend 1976 and much of 1977 touring instead of recording as a result.

1981: Bruce and the E Street Band kick off the final leg of the River Tour by playing the first-ever event (by anyone) at the Meadowlands. Bruce debuts his cover of “Jersey Girl” for the occasion; other highlights include the tour premiere of “I Don’t Want to Go Home” and the last-ever “Born to Run” opener.

1984: The last of three nights in St. Paul (and the opening stand of the Born in the U.S.A. Tour) features the live debuts of “Downbound Train” and “Cover Me,” along with the last full-band arrangement of “No Surrender” for fifteen  years.

1986: On the CBS television network, West 57th airs a segment profiling Clarence.

1988: The Tunnel of Love Tour comes to Stockholm for the first of two nights. The second night will make headlines, but Night One still provides a great show, featuring the tour premiere of “Cadillac Ranch.”

1989: Bruce joins Gary U.S. Bonds at The Cafe Bar in Long Branch for six songs: “This Little Girl,” “Angelyne,” “Bony Moronie,” “Your Love,” “Dedication,” and “New Orleans.”

1992: A scheduled show in Barcelona is postponed by two days due to a transport worker strike.

1999: Bruce films a cameo performance in the movie High Fidelity  at Disney Soundstage Studios in New York City.

2009: The Working on a Dream Tour arrives in Germany. In Munich, Bruce plays back-to-back tour premieres of “This Hard Land” and “Oh, Pretty Woman.”

2021: Springsteen on Broadway continues its reprise run at the St. James Theater in New York City.