Luerssen John D. - Bruce Springsteen FAQ: all thats left to know about The Boss

Copyright 2012 by John D. Luerssen

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any form, without written permission, except by a newspaper or magazine reviewer who wishes to quote brief passages in connection with a review.

Published in 2012 by Backbeat Books

An Imprint of Hal Leonard Corporation

7777 West Bluemound Road

Milwaukee, WI 53213

Trade Book Division Editorial Offices

33 Plymouth St., Montclair, NJ 07042

The FAQ series was conceived by Robert Rodriguez and developed with Stuart Shea.

Book design by Snow Creative Services

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

Luerssen, John D.

Bruce Springsteen FAQ: all thats left to know about The Boss / John D. Luerssen.

p. cm.

Includes .

1. Springsteen, Bruce. 2. Rock musicians--United States--Biography. I. Title.

ML420.S77L87 2012

782.42166092dc23

[B]

2012026374

Contents

Yorn in the U.S.A.

I first discovered Bruce Springsteen when I was ten or eleven years old, around the time that Born in the U.S.A. was big. I appreciated what he was doing from a distance, but I kind of rejected it. I was into the Smiths and the Cure, bands that my older brothers introduced me to when they came home from college. For me, side two of Born in the U.S.A. was the better half. I loved the energy and emotion of songs like Bobby Jean and the crumbling drums of No Surrender, which was, for a long time, my favorite Bruce song ever.

When I was in college, I had this awakening about Springsteen after someone told me to smoke a joint and listen to The Wild, the Innocent, and the E Street Shuffle. Songs like New York City Serenade and Wild Billys Circus Story and Sandy were just brilliant lyrically and so natural in their presentation. It opened a door and I walked through it, and Ive been a proud fan ever since.

Its hard to pick a favorite album, but Darkness on the Edge of Town is up there for me. When people talk about Darkness as the real deal, theyre on the money. Springsteen plays and sings like his life depended on it. And it probably did on some level. Racing in the Street and Candys Room may be fiction in part, but they feel so genuine and sound so desperate and so heartfelt, theres no denying the brilliance of that record.

In April 2007, I had the opportunity to play my version of Dancing in the Dark and play drums behind Bruce on Rosalita when he appeared at a tribute show in Carnegie Hall. But as much fun as that was, it was a little hectic because bands like The Hold Steady, Steve Earle, and Patti Smith also played, so there wasnt much of an opportunity to interact. Thankfully, that wasnt my first encounter with him.

I first met Bruce Springsteen right before my debut album, musicforthemorningafter, was released. I went with my brother and Ed Burns to see him at the Staples Center in Los Angeles. And Ed had known Bruce and Patti because they both had songs in his movie, No Looking Back, as did I. Anyway, the whole time before the show we were partying, drinking beers, and Ed was like, Bruce is gonna play Candys Room, I just know it. He told me he would. And we were kind of like, Yeah, whatever.

Moving along, we really enjoyed ourselves at the show, which was probably the first time I saw Springsteen and really appreciated what he could do in a live setting. He was so powerful. Anyway, afterward the three of us are backstage in this small room and in walks Bruce. And he just looks at Eddie and smiles. Were looking at him and he goes, I owe you a Candys Room. It was a thrill to meet him and shake his hand. I couldnt help but feel nervousI was awestruck to be in the presence of one of my heroes.

If I had to describe Bruce Springsteenwhom I admire although he probably has not had a direct influence on my songwritingId say hes a beacon of musical hope. His dedication to his craft, his perseverance, his willingness to take chances, and his ability to not only still be relevant during his forty-year career, but sell out stadiums around the world at the same time, are fucking amazing. At the same time, I cant think of a time where he was ever corny. Well, maybe a track or two on The River or the production on Born in the U.S.A. But even that he corrected in my opinion with the box set Tracks, when he revealed a raw, stripped-down version of that song.

For the bonus disc of musicforthemorningafter I did a Smiths cover of the song Panic and two Bruce tunes. I remember Don Ienner at Columbia telling me that Springsteens daughter liked my version of Dancing in the Dark better than her dads. That seemed cool. But Don also told me that Bruce favored my rendition of New York City Serenade. Who knows, though? That might have been fuckin bullshit.

When Bruces website asked me to do another song for its Hangin on E Street series, a lot of people were surprised I picked a more recent song, Your Own Worst Enemy. But I love that song. Bruce only played that song live maybe once or something, but its one that deserves to be revisited. When Magic, the album that it appeared on, came out, it really was magical to me. I loved that song. It really spoke to me.

When I signed to Columbia Records, the career-long home of the Boss, I couldnt help but be stoked. Growing up, that red Columbia label spinning on the turntable signified something special. It meant something, which is why I kind of insisted on my first few albums that the CD pay tribute to those red paper labels that could be found on Born to Run and Darkness on the Edge of Town.

When people ask if I would ever record with Bruce, all I can say is I wouldnt say no. But its not something Im actively seeking out. And honestly, Im happy just to have heard and enjoyed his music. Sharing the stage with him at Carnegie Hall or shaking his handthose things are just icing on the cake.

Pete Yorn

as told to the author

September 21, 2010

Pete Yorn is an acclaimed singer/songwriter who released his debut album, musicforthemorningafter, in 2001. The Montville, New Jerseybred, Los Angelesbased rocker has covered New York City Serenade, Dancing in the Dark, Atlantic City, and Your Own Worst Enemy.

Thank you to my wonderful, beautiful wife Heidi for being my Jersey Girl and our three awesome children, Meredith, Hayley, and Jack, for always delivering awesome backseat chant-along choruses on Marys Place and The Rising.

Special thanks to Pete Yorn for a kickass foreword, Bruce Springsteen for the music and inspiration, John Cerullo, Robert Rodriguez, Bernadette Malavarca, Jaime Nelson, Wes Seeley, Dave and Pinky Luerssen, Paul Cavalconte and 101.9 WRXP (R.I.P.), Bill Crandall, Jessica Robertson, Kim Davis, Dan Reilly, Melissa Olund, Doug Waterman, Brucebase, Tom Jardim and Karen Fountain, Sheldon Ferris and Michelle Weintraub, Jenny Weintraub, Angelo Deodato, Liz Luerssen, Ann and John Crowther, Marie Garner, Marianne Mercer, Dick, Harriet and Jay Mercer, George Mercer, Dan Yemin, John Kieltyka, Nick Catania, Nick Helander, Dennis McLaughlin and Yvette Scola, Kenneth and Elizabeth Hoerle, Tasneem Baten Carey, Jose and Donna Rios, Marc McCabe, Rob and Anastasia Harrison, Scott and Noreen Singer, Jim and Monica Gildea, Doug and Dawn Heintz, William Cort, Mark and Chrissy Bradley, everyone in Westfield, New Jersey, that I may have forgotten, Jim Walsh, Mike Stefanelli and all my friends at PSE&G, the Yinglings, Ben Forgash, Kevin Houlihan, Kim and Pete Murin, Libby Coffey, Tim Dodd, Mary Glynn Fisher, and Mary Jane and Ray Aklonis.