“I’m interested in what it means to live in America. I’m interested in the kind of country that we live in and leave to our kids. I’m interested in trying to define what that country is. I got the “chutzpah” or whatever you want to say to believe that if I write a really good song about it, it’s going to make a difference”
~ Bruce Springsteen
I remember the exact day and time I first saw Bruce Springsteen live. It was on November 18th 1975 in London at the Hammersmith Apollo Theatre, 8:00pm. I had heard about this great band from America that was something special. I was a quiet kid growing up in London and coming of age in the 60’s. I had always been interested.. no.. “obsessed” with American culture. So I managed to get a good orchestra ticket, pretty close to the stage, dead center. The show started on time. On walks the band, they wave to the audience and then, Wham! For the next 3 hours I experienced a surge of energy and excitement I had never seen in a rock performance before. In my mind this summed up the spirit of America. I decided to move there four years later and the rest has been my life's history. That night must have been my subconscious tipping point. It is hard to believe that Bruce has been at it for 50 years now since the release of “Greetings from Asbury Park”
Flash forward to a few years ago, his lovely wife Patti comes into the gallery.. “Bruce loves photography. I want to buy him a great photograph, I hear you have some”. I tell her I think her husband is the reason I’m in America. Ain’t life great? Full Circle.
