New for 2024: Video for 1999 and 2014; article for 2008
1974: Bruce and the not quite E Street Band play a poorly advertised (and therefore poorly attended) show at the New Jersey State Theater in New Brunswick. In attendance tonight: Penn Jillette.
1981: One night after debuting “Can’t Help Falling in Love,” Bruce opens his second show in Paris by premiering his cover/adaptation of “Follow That Dream.” The encores include another world premiere: Bruce’s first cover of “Sweet Soul Music.”
1985: Bruce’s tour of Japan moves from Tokyo to Kyoto for a night at Furitsu Taikukan.
1988: Tunnel of Love is certified 3x multi-platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America.
1993: Bruce brings his World Tour 1993 to Rotterdam for the first of two nights at Sportpaleis Ahoy. Watch the final encore of “Working on the Highway” below.
1995: Born in the U.S.A. is certified 15x multi-platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America.
1996: Bruce plays a solo acoustic show in Berlin. Three songs from tonight’s show (“Darkness on the Edge of Town,” “Born in the U.S.A.” and “Spare Parts“) will be released on Bruce’s Missing EP later in the year.
1999: At the first of two Reunion shows at the Fila Forum in Milan, fans witness the live debut of “Where the Bands Are.” “Jungleland” makes its tour debut as well.
2003: The Canadian leg of the Rising Tour concludes with a show at Bell Center in Montreal, where “Hungry Heart” makes its tour debut. The set also features a solo piano “Incident on 57th Street.”
2008: Bruce reschedules a scheduled show in Orlando due to the passing of Danny Federici.
2014: Record Store Day is a busy one: Bruce releases a new EP, American Beauty, performs the title track at soundcheck in Charlotte, and films it for release a few days later. That night, Bruce stuns the audience by opening with only the second-ever performance of “Iceman” and a cover-filled set that included “Louie Louie,” “Mustang Sally,” and “Brown-Eyed Girl.” One of my favorite shows. For highlights, see my Where the Band Was report from this show.
2018: Springsteen on Broadway continues its theatrical run at the Walter Kerr Theater in New York City.
2019: Director Emilio J. Ruiz releases the trailer for his new movie, Broken Poet, featuring cameos by Bruce and Patti.
