New for 2023: Video for 1987, 2004, and 2009
1965: The Castiles play what is believed to be their first publicly advertised gig at the I.B. Club in Howell, New Jersey.
1971: The Bruce Springsteen Band headlines at The Ledge at Rutgers University.
1975: Born to Run is certified gold by the Recording Industry Association of America.
1985: Fresh off the fifteen-month Born in the U.S.A. Tour, Nils appears on Late Night with David Letterman.
1987: Bruce films the video for “Brilliant Disguise” at Fort Hancock in Sandy Hook, New Jersey, singing the vocal live over the album’s instrumental track for a remarkable 24 takes. Meiert Avis directs the shoot and the video, and we are fortunate to have his lengthy and fascinating recollection of the events.
That evening, Bruce joins Little Steven and the Disciples of Soul at The Ritz in New York City, where they perform “Native American” and “Sun City.”
1992: A scheduled show at Mountain View’s Shoreline Amphitheater is postponed until later in the month after Bruce takes ill.
1998: Bruce and Mike Appel testify in the Royal Courts of Justice in London to prevent the unauthorized publication of some of Bruce’s early recorded but unreleased songs.
2004: The Vote for Change Tour stops in Orlando, where Tracy Chapman joins Bruce on stage for “My Hometown” and Bruce guests with R.E.M. on “Permanent Vacation.”
2006: Bruce and the Sessions Band play a show at Palamaggio in Caserta, Italy.
2009: At Night Four of five at Giants Stadium on the Working on a Dream Tour, Bruce and the E Street Band perform the entire Born to Run album, during which Jake Clemons makes an early E Street appearance with Ed Manion and Curt Ramm on “Tenth Avenue Freeze-Out.”
2011: Ben Stiller reprises his impeccable Bruce Springsteen impression when he guest-hosts Saturday Night Live and pitches a box set that in all honesty many fans would probably buy. (I know I would.)
Neither of the new videos for 2009 feature Tenth Avenue Freezout or Jake’s premier.
The new ones might not, but the older ones still included do!
New for 2023: Video 2004/ “People Have the Power” (Orlando, “Vote for Change”)
Bruce, Michael Stipe, Tracy Chapman and all others sing and play Patti Smith’s “decree” with passion and verve. Bruce digs deep into the lyrics: “I saw fountains. Like cream the waters rise,
And we strolled there together, With none to laugh or criticize…” And, Stipe’s fun and expressive dance–and no need of teleprompter–add inspiration to a great E Street, etc. performance.