New for 2023: Advertisement for 1974; video for 2006; review for 2009
1973: Bruce and the E Street Band headline two shows at the Roxy Theater in Roxborough.
1974: Joe Walsh is in the audience when Bruce and the boys play a gig at the University of Virginia in Charlottesville.
1978: Bruce and the boys play a Darkness show at the Munn Ice Arena at Michigan State University in East Lansing, and at least one reviewer is not impressed. Watch rare video from this show below, but note that the footage was recorded silently–the dubbed audio is from a different show.
1987: Bruce and director Meiert Avis film the video for “Tunnel of Love” in and around Asbury Park. You’ve seen the final result, no doubt, but have you seen this original rough cut? It features a lot more footage of Bruce.
1990: Bruce plays the second of his remarkable pair of acoustic shows to benefit the Christic Institute. Tonight sees the world debuts of “The Wish,” and “Soul Driver.” The arrangement of “Real World” played these two nights is far superior (IMO) to the version that will be released two years down the road, and when Bruce resurrects the song in 2005, he will return to this arrangement.
1992: Just like in the old days, several minutes after Bruce leaves the stage following his World Tour 1992 show in Chapel Hill, he stuns remaining fans (and the band and crew) by returning to the stage to play an extra encore of “Working on the Highway,” muttering “All I was gonna do is sit in the hotel room anyway…”
1994: Born to Run is certified quadruple platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America.
1999: “Downbound Train” makes an appearance by request when Bruce and the E Street Band play a Reunion show at the Value City Arena in Columbus.
2005: Bruce tour premieres two notables at Night Two in East Rutherford on the Devils & Dust Tour: “Meeting Across the River” and (finally) “Born to Run” make their return to the setlist.
2006: Patti rejoins the Seeger Sessions Tour for its home stretch, which kicks off with this first of a three-night stand at Dublin’s Point Theater. The show is recorded and filmed, and seven songs will be released on the Live in Dublin CD and video release. “My City of Ruins” from this show will be released on a special Bruce Springsteen With The Sessions Band PBS Exclusive EP for PBS pledge donors.
2009: Bruce performs a four-song acoustic set at the Concert for Autism Speaks at Carnegie Hall.
2011: Bruce and Jessica take in Taylor Swift’s concert in Raleigh. Backstage, he borrows Taylor’s guitar, plays “Dancing in the Dark,” and signs the guitar for her. Watch Taylor tell the story and show a clip of Bruce’s impromptu performance below (and check out her own cover of “Dancing in the Dark” here).
2012: The Wrecking Ball Tour comes to the Sprint Center in Kansas City, where Bruce opens with, well, “Kansas City.” Bruce also tour premieres “My Beautiful Reward,” played by the E Street Band for only the second time and dedicated to Bruce’s cousin and assistant tour manager Lenny Sullivan, who died in Kansas City three years earlier.
2014: Bruce releases The Album Collection Vol. 1 1973-1984, collecting remastered editions of Bruce’s early work.
2017: Springsteen on Broadway continues its theatrical run at the Walter Kerr Theater in New York City.
2018: Springsteen on Broadway continues its theatrical run at the Walter Kerr Theater in New York City. In attendance tonight: James Burrows.
