Bruce

[russycarps]

It is true. So do you prefer the '78 intro to Prove It All Night with the Roy Bittan solo or just the Nils Lofgren guitar solo in the middle?

Sorry ....doing it again

[Wooderson]

There is a certain strange aspect to Bruce's fandom in Ireland at least, it might be similar in the UK but maybe not. Lot of people here not necessarily "music" (specifically live music) fans are Springsteen fans.

His awareness or otherwise of the public persona he holds fascinates me. I love the notion that Bruce is an unbelievably calculating mastermind fully in control and in charge of the bizarro gathering of tourheads, hypergeeks and drunks when he plays. Chameleonic in sound, yet rock solid in word and deed. Just that little bit of blue collar roots, Irish-Italian Catholic guilt, American heartland dirt under the fingernails, teeny bit of dylan, woody guthrie, teeny bit of Elvis, teeny bit of Brill Building, teeny bit of Motown... it goes on - all the boxes get ticked.

He plays with the notions of "authenticity" better than he ever played that Fender.

[russycarps]

I think there are certain acts who attract people who, as you say, dont like any music other than their chosen idol.

Bruce Springsteen attracts these people. U2 also. It's interesting, and also quite terrifying.

I suppose it's just a product of mega-stardom.

[The Nal]

It is true. So do you prefer the '78 intro to Prove It All Night with the Roy Bittan solo or just the Nils Lofgren guitar solo in the middle?

[Ted Dansons Wig]

He certainly does attract a level of train spotter thats above and beyond. Here's an interesting list of geeky fan groups (bit yank but there you are).

http://www.vulture.com/2012/10/25-most-devoted-fans.html

In my case - I'm just anally retentive

[Ted Dansons Wig]

The 1978 intro hands down. Was lucky enough to see him play it in Barcelona in May.

Nils solo on Youngstown is better anyway.

[russycarps]

He certainly does attract a level of train spotter thats above and beyond. Here's an interesting list of geeky fan groups (bit yank but there you are).

http://www.vulture.c...voted-fans.html

In my case - I'm just anally retentive

[Ted Dansons Wig]

game of thrones number 1? Amazed me that.

[russycarps]

And no mention of efestival forum types with over 4000 posts. Wierd.

[milly16]

I would like to thank Bruce for the boring opening of his headline because I decided to go off and watch Jarvis instead and Jarvis was my highlight....pilchard.

[SonOfTroyMcClure]

game of thrones number 1? Amazed me that.

[5co77ie]

I still can't believe Bruce Forsyth is being touted as headliner next year - was his one performance at Latitude this year that good?

Edited November 6, 2012 by 5co77ie

[The Nal]

I still can't believe Bruce Forsyth is being touted as headliner next year - was his one performance at Latitude this year that good?

[alframsey]

Can recognise the kind of fan they're talking about in this article as I suspect others will on here. Apologies for those who've seen it before.

http://www.guardian....pringsteen-fans

[Ted Dansons Wig]

Thought that was a brilliant read, I can definitely see why people don't 'get' him. I've said many time I love him so I won't go into it anymore. The one comment I don't understand about Springsteen's Glastonbury set is people moaning about him not playing 'Born in the USA', it'd be like going to a Floyd gig and moaning that it was crap because they didn't play 'Another Brick in The Wall part 2'. Springsteen is about much more than 'Born in the USA'. I'll never personally get why people don't like him, but I can understand (sort of) some of the reasons. I'm starting to waffle now

[alframsey]

Won't get any argument from me. Of all the hundreds of gigs I've been to over the years (including Glastonbury) almost all my greatest most memorable moments have been at Springsteen gigs. My first one (Stafford Bingley Hall 1981 on the River tour) is by MILES the best gig I've ever been at.

[rexclark]

Great story Tony.

[Ted Dansons Wig]

not sure I've told this story before, but (pour another one!) here goes (seems an appropriate time)..

I'd seen Bruce at Hammersmith Odeon in '75, both nights. I knew his albums, but Born To Run - the single - was just about the best thing I'd heard in years. I went to the shows fairly open minded, not totally buying the "here's the future of rock n roll" schtick.

The first show was good, but it didn't 'sparkle'. So I went to the second show afer he'd done a couple of shows in Scandinavia (Stockholm?). The second show was so much better ... the last hour seemed like an improvised rock n roll party... loads of covers, very much more relaxed.. and I thought "oh that's what he does"

Jump to 1980, and my band is in America, and we play Asbury Park... I'm so excited about playing in America at all, almost didn't twig that I was in Bruce's home town, when after we finish, our tour manager comes in and says "he's here!".. and I say Who? Bruce? and he says yea. Fuck! Ask him to come for a drink! So then, we're towelling down, getting changed, and the tour manager walks in with Bruce!!!!!!....

The rest of the band are vaguley impressed but I'm just drooling... can't speak... I talk to him about the Hammersmith shows, saying how much I enjoyed the second show, and he said something along the lines of "if you thought that was good, you ain't seen nothin'".. which I thought was rather cocky.

10 - 11 months later, we're back in New York. The day before our first show the next night... but... Bruce is playing Madison Square Garden,,TONIGHT! it's on the news, don't even think about getting a ticket! I call the record company, ask what the chances are, and they're like "forget it"!.

But... some friends of ours are in town as roadies for Rockpile who are playing that night, so me and our other guitarist go to their hotel for a drink and say hello. We're having a game of pool, and in walks a couple of the guys, bragging that they have a couple of tickets for Bruce at Madison Square, but they can't be arsed!... who wants the tickets?... by now it's about 8:30, I know the show has started, but I know it'll be going on for hours.. so it's "who wants the tickets?".. I look at my friend and say "well I'm going, are you coming?" He comes with...

We get to Madison Square near the end of the first half of the show.. so we see all the second half and the encores.. and well, I can't tell you what it was like. Bruce's words "you aint seen nothin' yet" kept playing back in my mind, and all I could think was.. yep. I hadn't.

[Ted Dansons Wig]

His Glasto gig is the best I have ever been to, I saw him in Manchester this year and he was equally as good (if not better) but the combination of it being Glasto and my first time seeing him mean it is more special to me. Live he is just a complete force of nature, bloody brilliant!

[Madyokel]

ta Rex

[The Nal]

not sure I've told this story before, but (pour another one!) here goes (seems an appropriate time)..

[Dave F.]

On no! Not Springsteen again. I've never heard a better argument for legalizing class A amphetamines than his Glastonbury set. The dullest two and half hours I've ever spent at Worthy Farm. Towards the end I kept looking over towards Peel thinking I could have seen Jarvis strut his stuff (well his index finger at least). A definite regret.

[MEGABOWL]

Manchester was a cracker this year.

[Ted Dansons Wig]

Superb. One of the best I've seen in 20 years of gig going. Also went to Sunderland the night before and it was funny to see the same performer put on two very different shows.

He'd obv. looked around Sunderland and played a very 'fallen on hard times' set, seemed to have the weight of the world on his shoulders. Manchester was playful almost from the start. Spirit into Shuffle, Prove It with the intro, the "Stevie double" of Two Hearts into You Can Look and Twist and SHout with poor Curt Ramm's mishap, total party atmosphere.

Edited November 7, 2012 by Ted Dansons Wig

[Gnomicide]

The set list at Manchester was as if I'd written it myself. Absolutely superb night.