THIS WAY TO E STREET; WHAT'S ALL THE FUSS ABOUT? ASK A FAN.Byline: Stuart Levine Special to the Daily News Call it an obsession. Call it the confessions of a Bruce fanatic - but first, a true story. My brother, Mark, and his friend, Sharon, were driving back home to Washington, D.C., following one of Bruce Springsteen's 15 shows in New Jersey a few months ago. Through luck, determination and a credit card, the two of them had combined to accumulate tickets for 12 of the 15 shows. Somewhere in Delaware at about 2 in the morning, Sharon just started shaking her head while Bruce and the E Street Band blasted from the car's speakers. My brother asked what was wrong. ``I can't believe I'm going to miss three shows,'' she sighed. It sounds, well, never mind. But for the legions of Springsteen fans out there, it's entirely believable. Somewhere along the line, Springsteen became more than just a musician, songwriter and bandleader to thousands of people across the country. It's hard to say at what point the Boss moved from being just another rock star to becoming part of the fabric of thousands of fans' lives. For those of us who call ourselves Bruce Tramps - and having gone to 60 some concerts, I qualify - Springsteen has kept delivering a message of how music can be uplifting and how it can make a difference in your life. Yeah, I know that sounds awfully cliched cli·chéd also cliched adj. Having become stale or commonplace through overuse; hackneyed: "In the States, it might seem a little clichéd; in Paris, it seems fresh and original" . But when you watch him on stage, it rings true. Trying to reconcile this larger-than-life Bruce with the man isn't always easy. Last month, I went back East to catch a few shows on this tour. Having never seen Springsteen except on stage, my brother and I staked out the hotel where Bruce and the band were staying. When we we spotted Bruce signing autographs, the first thing I noticed was that the man I've put on a mile-high pedestal wasn't very tall. Not a profound observation, and not that it matters, of course, but seeing the real Bruce made me wonder what it was about him that led me to spend countless hours watching his concerts, traveling cross-country more than I care to admit and recounting stories - not songs but on-stage stories - verbatim from shows 15 years ago? Which takes me back to the beginning of my Springsteen addiction. As a freshman at California State University, Northridge CSUN offers a variety of programs leading to bachelor's degrees in 61 fields and master's degrees in 42 fields. The university has over 150,000 alumni. It's also home to a summer musical theater/theater program known as TADW (TeenAge Drama Workshop) that leads teenagers through an , in 1981, I wandered into the student union and put on a pair of headphones Head-mounted speakers. Headphones have a strap that rests on top of the head, positioning a pair of speakers over both ears. For listening to music or monitoring live performances and audio tracks, both left and right channels are required. to check out the ``Born to Run'' album. I had heard the hoopla hoop·la n. Informal 1. a. Boisterous, jovial commotion or excitement. b. Extravagant publicity: The new sedan was introduced to the public with much hoopla. 2. about Springsteen years before and seen the Time and Newsweek covers but had never given it much thought. I'm not going to say that hearing his music was a burning-bush kind of moment, but from the opening harmonica harmonica. 1 The simplest of the musical instruments employing free reeds, known also as the mouth organ or French harp. It was probably invented in 1829 by Friedrich Buschmann of Berlin, who called his instrument the Mundäoline. chords of ``Thunder Road'' to the passion of ``Backstreets'' and storytelling of ``Jungleland,'' something grabbed at me. When I told some friends who had shared similar feelings about it, all they kept saying was, ``Wait till you see him in concert.'' Unfortunately for me, it was a torturous three-year wait. And by the time 1984 hit, Bruce was no longer a secret passion shared by a few, but a full-fledged phenomenon. Where he was once able to play clubs such as the Roxy on the Sunset Strip The Sunset Strip is the name given to the mile and a half stretch of Sunset Boulevard that passes through West Hollywood, California. It extends from West Hollywood's east border with Hollywood at Marmont Lane to its west border with Beverly Hills at Phyllis street. , this was now the Summer of Bruce. A seven-night stand at the L.A. Sports Arena, with scalpers making a small fortune, is where I would first see Bruce. And as with friends who shared my passion, many of us went every night, with each show offering a few different songs than the others. Just as his audience has grown, so, as a writer, has Bruce. Where once every song seemed to be about cars and girls, as time went by the music became about marriage and responsibility and doing what's right. A friend of mine told me the other day that the greatest moments in her life are the five seconds between when the lights go out at a Springsteen concert and when he hits the stage. That first night, I knew what she meant. Just the ``1, 2, 3, 4'' countdown before he plunged into ``Born in the U.S.A.'' sent shivers through me. As it turns out, that show was probably in the top three I've ever seen. And a lot of those songs he played that night will probably reverberate re·ver·ber·ate v. re·ver·ber·at·ed, re·ver·ber·at·ing, re·ver·ber·ates v.intr. 1. To resound in a succession of echoes; reecho. 2. through the walls at the Staples Center This article has multiple issues: * Its neutrality is disputed. * It may contain original research or unverifiable claims. * It does not cite any references or sources. , when Bruce opens his four-night run on Sunday. But beyond the music, what I have always admired about Bruce and the band was the camaraderie. It seemed like we - Bruce, the band and the audience - were in it together. And in each town, Bruce always talks about giving back to the community by helping spread the word about food banks or shelters. He asks his audience to donate and then does so himself, usually without fanfare. Bruce turned 50 on Sept. 23. The shows are a tad shorter than they used to be, and there's less storytelling and theatrics the·at·rics n. 1. (used with a sing. verb) The art of the theater. 2. (used with a pl. verb) Theatrical effects or mannerisms; histrionics. than in previous tours. It really doesn't matter, though. These concerts are about what it means to be glad you're alive. At a Bruce concert, it's about living for the moment. At the end of each show, he preaches to the audience that he can't make false promises about the future, that there's no such thing as everlasting good fortune. What he can and does promise, however, is a good time right now. And he delivers it, night after night. What more can we ask of our idols? The facts Who: Bruce Springsteen & the E Street Band. Where: Staples Center, 865 S. Figueroa St., Los Angeles Los Angeles (lôs ăn`jələs, lŏs, ăn`jəlēz'), city (1990 pop. 3,485,398), seat of Los Angeles co., S Calif.; inc. 1850. . When: 7:30 p.m. Sunday, Monday, Thursday and Oct. 22. Tickets: Sold out, try brokers. Information: (213) 480-3232. 10 things you might not know about Bruce 1) He's appeared on the cover of Rolling Stone rolling stone Noun a restless or wandering person 10 times. 2) While his dad has been the subject of many songs, Bruce has written only one song for his mom, ``The Wish.'' 3) Manfred Mann's Earth Band's single ``Blinded by the Light,'' which reached No. 1 on the charts in 1977, was written by Bruce. 4) During the '80s, he often said he would never marry, concerned that he wouldn't know how to write ``married songs.'' Today he is married to E Street Band member Patti Scialfa, and the couple has three children. 5) After his performance Sunday at the Staples Center, Bruce will have covered seven L.A. venues dating back to 1975, with performances at the L.A. Coliseum, Sports Arena, Forum, Shrine Auditorium The Shrine Auditorium is a landmark large-event venue in Los Angeles, California, USA. It is also the headquarters of the Al Malaikah Temple, a division of the Shriners. , Santa Monica Civic Auditorium Santa Monica Civic Auditorium is a multipurpose convention center in Santa Monica, California. It was built in 1958. For trade shows, the Civic Auditorium features 11,775 square feet (1,094 m²) of space, while the stage adds 4,485 square feet (417 m²) more space, and Roxy. 6) Bruce is the middle child of Dutch and Italian parents. He has an older sister, Virginia, whose life was the basis for ``The River,'' and his younger sister, Pam, is an accomplished photographer who had a bit part in the film ``Fast Times at Ridgemont High.'' 7) Bruce signed his first record contract on the hood of a car in a dark parking lot. He would regret it later on, as he would take his former manager, Mike Appel, to court to gain ownership of his songs. 8) If you have bad seats to the shows at the Staples Center, there's always the Men in Black. Two guys from Springsteen's crew head to the upper echelons of every arena about 90 minutes before each show and upgrade lucky ticketholders to seats in the first two rows. 9) In the past, Bruce has checked into hotels using a name of a character in one of his songs. 10) Chances are slim you'll hear fan favorite ``Rosalita'' on this tour, as he's only played it once, back in New Jersey. But, like with all things Bruce, you just never know ... E Street Stories Roy Bittan Roy Bittan (born July 2 1949 in Rockaway Beach, Queens, New York City) is an American keyboardist, best known as a member of Bruce Springsteen's E Street Band, which he joined on August 23, 1974. Bittan, nicknamed "The Professor", plays the piano, organ, accordion and synthesizers. Instrument: piano Nicknane: Professor Hometown: New York New York, state, United States New York, Middle Atlantic state of the United States. It is bordered by Vermont, Massachusetts, Connecticut, and the Atlantic Ocean (E), New Jersey and Pennsylvania (S), Lakes Erie and Ontario and the Canadian province of How he and Bruce hooked up: Answered an ad in the Village Voice. Bruce was looking for Looking for In the context of general equities, this describing a buy interest in which a dealer is asked to offer stock, often involving a capital commitment. Antithesis of in touch with. a piano player. Did you know: Also played on Meat Loaf's chart-busting ``Bat Out of Hell'' album as well as Dire Straits' ``Making Movies'' Signature songs: ``Backstreets Backstreets is a novel by Australian horror writer Rob Hood (Hodder Headline, 1999).It is is effectively an urban ghost story, its plot centering on a young man Kel who wakes from a coma to find that his friend Bryce is dead, and is thereafter plagued by strange dreams, which draw him to ,'' ``Jungleland,'' ``Growin' Up'' Clarence Clemons Clarence Clemons (born January 11, 1942 in Norfolk, Virginia) is an American musician, best known as the saxophonist in Bruce Springsteen's E Street Band. Known as "The Big Man", Clemons has been playing with Springsteen since 1974; his sax parts are an easily recognized Instrument: saxophone Nickname: The Big Man Hometown: Virginia How he and Bruce hooked up: Legend has it the two met at a small club during a rainstorm on the Jersey shore. Did you know: He tours with his own band when not on the road with Bruce. Signature songs: ``Jungleland,'' ``Thunder Road,'' `The Promised Land'' Dan Federici Instrument: organ Nickname: Phantom Home state: New Jersey How he and Bruce hooked up: Met on the Jersey shore in the early '70s. Did you know: Bruce had one of the roadies go to his house in L.A. during one of the '84 Sports Arena shows and pick up his washer and dryer, which Bruce brought on stage as a gift to celebrate Dan's birthday. Signature songs: ``Hungry Heart'' Nils Lofgren Instrument: guitar Nickname: Incredible Hometown: Washington, D.C. How he and Bruce hooked up: They both played in San Francisco San Francisco (săn frănsĭs`kō), city (1990 pop. 723,959), coextensive with San Francisco co., W Calif., on the tip of a peninsula between the Pacific Ocean and San Francisco Bay, which are connected by the strait known as the Golden at the Fillmore West in the '70s. Did you know: Nils once said playing with Bruce is like playing with Neil Young, which Nils also does. Except with Bruce, there's extra 0's in the paycheck. Signature songs: ``Youngstown'' Patti Scialfa Instrument: vocals, rhythm guitar When a guitar is used to provide rhythmic and harmonic accompaniment for a singer or for other instruments in an ensemble, it is referred to as rhythm guitar. The rhythm guitar is commonly used to provide a rhythmic complement for the lead guitar, although the actual instruments Nickname: Red, Mrs. Bruce Springsteen Home state: New Jersey When she joined the band: 1984 How she and Bruce hooked up: She performed at the Stone Pony in New Jersey while Bruce was looking for a backup singer for the ``Born in the U.S.A.'' tour. Did you know: She's working on her next album, a follow-up to ``Rumble Doll.'' Signature songs: ``Red-Headed Woman,'' ``Mansion on the Hill'' Garry W. Tallent Instrument: bass guitar Nickname: Mister Hometown: Houston How he and Bruce hooked up: Unknown Did you know: Garry is a music producer based out of Nashville. Signature song: ``Fire'' Steve Van Zandt Van Zandt, a surname, may refer to: People
Instrument: guitar Nickname: Miami Home state: New Jersey How he and Bruce hooked up: The two are lifelong friends. Did you know: He plays Silvio Dante Silvio Manfred Dante, played by Steven Van Zandt, is a fictional character on the HBO TV series The Sopranos. He is Tony Soprano's consigliere. Biography According to The Sopranos, A Family History on the critically acclaimed HBO Hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBO) A form of oxygen therapy in which the patient breathes oxygen in a pressurized chamber. Mentioned in: Ozone Therapy series ``The Sopranos.'' Signature song: ``Two Hearts'' Max Weinberg Instrument: drums Nickname: Mighty Max Home state: New Jersey How he and Bruce hooked up: As with Roy, Max answered an ad in the Village Voice. Did you know: He was in the orchestra of the Broadway hits ``Godspell'' and ``The Magic Show'' before joining the E Street Band. Signature songs: ``Thunder Road,'' ``Cadillac Ranch,'' ``Light of Day,'' ``Candy's Room'' - Stuart Levine CAPTION(S): 2 Photos, 2 boxes PHOTO (1 -- cover -- color) Springsteen and E Street Band were born to open the Staples Center. (2) Rabid rabid /rab·id/ (rab´id) affected with rabies; pertaining to rabies. rab·id adj. Of or affected by rabies. rabid affected by rabies. fans of Bruce Springsteen have a new revue at which to see their hero, the Staples Center in downtown Los Angeles Downtown Los Angeles is the central business district of Los Angeles, California, located close to the geographic center of the metropolitan area. The sprawling, multi-centered megacity is such that its downtown core is often considered just another district like Hollywood or . Daniel Mears/The Detroit News Box: (1) 10 Things you might not know about Bruce (see text) (2) E Street Stories (see text) |
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