Bruce Springsteen
Born on September 23, 1949 in Freehold, New Jersey, Bruce Springsteen is the only person to grace the cover of both Time and Newsweek in the same week (1975). Those magazines dubbed Springsteen “the New Dylan” because of his songwriting prowess. According to allmusic, He rocked as hard as Jerry Lee Lewis, his lyrics were as complicated as Bob Dylan's, and his concerts were near-religious celebrations of all that was best in the music.” After seeing one Springsteen concert, rock critic Jon Landau declared, “I saw rock'n'roll's future and its name is Bruce Springsteen” (1974). Landau then quit being a music critic and became Springsteen's manager—a role he maintains today.
Springsteen has released nearly 20 albums since his first, Greetings from Asbury Park, in 1973. Also released in 1973, The Wild, The Innocent, and the E Street Shuffle, neither album were commercially successful despite critical success. Columbia was growing weary. In 1974 Springsteen formalized his band, The E Street Band, with Steve Van Zandt (guitar) Clarence Clemons (saxophone), Gary Tallent (bass), Roy Bittan (piano), Danny Federici (organ), and Max Weinberg (drums). They released 1975's Born to Run, their last chance with Columbia records. The album is considered a masterpiece, and earned Springsteen the cover of both Time and Newsweek in 1975. Born to Run made the top 10 lists of “most significant albums of the century” in 1999. Managerial and legal hassles kept Springsteen out of the studio for a number of years. When he finally returned, he relased Darkness on the Edge of Town (1978), an album that reflected the deep, bitter struggles that he was enduring at the time. In 1980, The River, a double album set, was released and contained the pop hit single, “Hungry Heart.” Springsteen was starting to receive commerical/popular recognition. 1982's Nebraska was a dark, acoustic, solo effort that was appreciated by critics and dedicated Springsteen fans. It did not fare well commercially. In 1984, he released Born in the U.S.A., an album that sold more than 10 million copies; and from which 7 hit singles were released. It was Springsteen's most commercially successful album. The album resulted in a 2+ year tour and earned Springsteen superstar status. He released Bruce Springsteen & the E Street Band/Live 1975-1985, a three-album package, which topped the charts in 1986 and 1987. Tunnel of Love, 1985, was a more introspective, personal album that led to a tour through 1988. Springsteen gave `notice' to the E Street Band in 1989 and embarked on a solo career. He released 5+ albums between 1992 and 1999, including 1999's 4 disc set Tracks, featuring mostly unreleased songs that chronicle his career.
Springsteen won an Oscar for “Streets of
Philadelphia,” composed for the movie Philadelphia. And, he won a grammy award
for best folk album in 1997 for The Ghost of Tom Joad.
In 1999 he reunited with the E Street Band and toured Europe and the U.S. for a series of sold out concerts that ended in November 1999. At his last performance, in Minneapolis, MN, he promised, “we'll be back. We'll see you next year.”
The Wallflowers' music has consistently been compared to Springsteen's because of the similar use of piano/organ and its roots rock emphasis. Jakob Dylan's voice has been routinely compared with Bruce Springsteen's voice.
"Lyrically, Jakob has a penchant for dying cities and open roads that is ... reminiscent of Bruce Springsteen. ... He also shares Springsteen's "Candy's Room"-era insight into female insecurity. On "3 Marlenas," he talks about a girl who keeps dyeing her hair to combat the transience of her relationships: a truth no one would expect a guy to pick up on." (The Guardian 6.26.97)
Jakob Dylan admits that Springsteen's music is an important influence: "I do like Bruce Springsteen a lot, but I get asked if he's my hero, and he's not quite that," Dylan said from his Los Angeles home. "I'm aware of a lot of his records. I particularly liked 'Nebraska'" (Minneapolis Star Tribune 8.23.96)
Springsteen understands the pressures facing Jakob Dylan—they've both been dubbed, “the new Dylan.” In an interview with Rolling Stone, Springsteen commented about Jakob's role in music.
When asked about musicial likes, members of The Wallflowers said:
Rami: Love 'The Boss'!
Greg: Definitely
Jakob: 'The Boss' is great. He's 'The Boss'. (Exan 6.97)
Springsteen joined The Wallflowers on stage at The Tradewinds in Sea Bright, N.J. on March 8, 1997 (with Jon Bon Jovi). They sang and played “God Don't Make Lonely Girls,” “My Girl,” “Brand New Cadillac,” “Bring it On Home to Me,” and “Not Fade Away.” Springsteen also joined The Wallflowers at the MTV Music Video Awards on September 4, 1997 and sang One Headlight.
According to the Asbury Park Press (11.21.97):
Jakob Dylan remembers the night that Bruce came backstage. "All of us have been [Bruce] fans as long as we can remember. Bruce saw us when we played with Sheryl Crow and came back stage to say 'hi.' ...Then when we were in Sea Bright, he came by and asked if he could play with us."
They played "God Don't Make Lonely Girls," a track that was not released as a single, so Dylan was thrilled that Springsteen knew it by heart. Jakob speaks fondly of the evening, "That was one of the higher moments I had. They always say they know your record, you know? But it was obvious that he actually listened to the whole album."
