To anyone with the slightest taste in rock and roll music, the name Bruce Springsteen
holds a great relevance.
“The Boss” of rock and roll has served the music industry for over five decades and
is still going strong.
Even at the age of 68, the “US-born” singer carries an exceptional stage presence and
never fails to mesmerize his fans everytime he walks up the stage.
Although Springsteen has lived the majority of his life in the limelight, there are still
plenty of things most of us don’t know about him.
Today, we are presenting you with 10 facts about Bruce Springsteen you never knew.
But, before you clear your curiosity, subscribe to our channel and click the bell icon to
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#10: No #1 singles in the U.K. or the U.S.
Bruce Springsteen may surely be hailed as
the god of American rock and roll, but the track record of his singles in the U.K and
the U.S. are not as remarkable as we expect it to be.
It is quite surprising to know that one of the most renowned and biggest-selling artists
of all time hasn’t been able to land any of his songs in the #1 spot in either of the
countries.
#9: High-profile fans
The Boss has a pretty huge fan base.
In fact, he has fans in high places.
The former President Barack Obama, who got heavily influenced by his music said that
Bruce Springsteen tells the story of American people through his music.
Obama even said that “he ran for President because he couldn’t be Bruce Springsteen.”
Another fan was late The Clash frontman, Joe Strummer.
#8: There’s a planet called Springsteen
Though Bruce’s songs have failed to top
the charts, he has some dedicated fans and amazing honors.
Astronomers in Auckland, New Zealand named a minor planet (23990) Springsteen in 1999.
Do you know why?
It’s because, on the night of September 4, 1999, the British astronomer Ian P. Griffin,
who was listening to his album, The Ghost of Tom Joad, while observing the asteroid
from the Auckland Observatory, proposed the idea.
#7: “Hungry Hearts” was originally written for The Ramones
In 1979, Springsteen went to see the Ramones concert in Asbury Park, New Jersey.
Joey Ramone asked him to write a song for them when Springsteen met him after the show.
He then wrote “Hungry Heart” for them, but he kept it for himself following the advice
of his manager.
#6: Trouble at school
Raised in a Catholic household, Springsteen
studied in a Catholic school where he was particularly at odds with the strict rules
imposed on him by nuns.
Once, when in third grade, he had been stuffed into a garbage can...by a nun who claimed,
“that’s where he belonged.”
Years later, at Ocean County College, his fellow students filed a petition to the administration
to have him expelled.
#5: E Street really exists
E Street is the name of a street, which is
situated in Belmar, New Jersey.
Apparently, the band used the name because their original keyboard player, David Sancious’
mom lived there and she was generous enough to let the band rehearse in her house.
#4: His first song on guitar
Springsteen was heavily influenced by the
Beatles during his early years.
When Springsteen first picked up his guitar, he learned “Twist and Shout” by The Beatles.
However, at that time, the rockstar hadn’t even imagined he would make thousands of people
twist and shout a few years later.
#3: Severance to the E Street
In 1989, Springsteen decided to disband E
Street.
However, he was kind enough to pay each band member a severance package of a whopping $2
million.
#2: Two wives, single music video
A particularly amazing fact about Springsteen
is that his wife at the time, Julianne Phillips and his present wife, Patti Scialfa, both
can be seen in his “Glory Days” music video.
AWKWARD!
#1: Springsteen’s photography skills
Apart from singing, Springsteen has a keen
interest in photography.
According to his photographer friend, Frank Stefanko, he is actually quite good at photography
and enjoys taking pictures of “weird Jersey billboards [and] funny signs on the sides
of diners.”
Which of the above facts did you find interesting?
Write us in the comments.
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