New for 2024: Audio for 1984; review for 1996; new entry for 2009 and 2023
1972: The still-unnamed E Street Band makes its concert debut as the Greetings from Asbury Park Tour kicks off with Bruce’s first-ever show in Pennsylvania, where they open for Cheech & Chong at West Chester College. Bruce was a late addition by the school, and Cheech & Chong’s manager does not approve. He forces the school to end Bruce’s set early.
1976: Bruce and the E Street Band kick off a six-night stand at the Palladium in New York City.
1980: Bruce and the E Street Band play their second of two River Tour shows at the Oakland Coliseum, where they open with “Good Rockin’ Tonight.” They won’t play it again for 28 years.
1984: Bruce and the band play their third of seven Born in the U.S.A. shows at the Los Angeles Memorial Sports Arena, where “Rosalita (Come Out Tonight)” comes out for the last time that year.
1992: Bruce takes ill with a sore throat and postpones his scheduled show in St. Louis to December.
1995: Bruce makes a return engagement at Neil Young’s Bridge School Benefit in Mountain View, playing a solo set that features the live debuts of “The Ghost of Tom Joad” and “Sinaloa Cowboys,” and joining Neil, Chrissie Hynde, Hootie & the Blowfish, Steven Tyler, Beck, and Emmylou Harris for a show-closing “Rockin’ in the Free World.”
1996: Bruce plays a solo acoustic show at the Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall (formerly the Paramount Theater) in Portland, Oregon.
1999: Bruce and the E Street Band play their last of three Reunion Tour shows at the Oakland Arena, where “Sinaloa Cowboys” makes its tour and full-band debut and Southside Johnny guest-stars on “Hungry Heart.”
2004: Bruce performs “The Promised Land” and “No Surrender” at two rallies for presidential candidate John Kerry, the first in Madison, Wisconsin, the second at Ohio State University.
2005: Bruce’s solo acoustic show at the TD Banknorth Garden in Boston is filmed but remains in the vaults to this day. In 2008, “Dream Baby Dream” from this show will be released as a single and on various promotional EPs.
2006: Bruce and the Sessions Band play a show at Parken Stadium in Copenhagen.
2009: Bruce and the E Street Band rehearse their set for the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame 25th Anniversary concerts with Sam Moore, John Fogerty, and Tom Morello at Sir Studios in New York City.
2017: Springsteen on Broadway continues its theatrical run at the Walter Kerr Theater in New York City.
2019: At Bruce’s home in Colts Neck, Turner Classic Movies host Ben Mankiewicz interviews Bruce for his upcoming guest appearance on TCM.
2020: E Street Radio airs Volume 14 of Bruce’s From My Home to Yours radio show, entitled “Farewell to the Thief.”
2022: Bruce releases the third advance single from his upcoming Only the Strong Survive album: “Don’t Play That Song.”
2023: Bruce makes a surprise appearance at Monmouth University during the Springsteen Archives’ symposium celebrating the 50th anniversary of The Wild, The Innocent & The E Street Shuffle.
