The Beatles song that changed Bruce Springsteen’s life

When the Beatles broke out, millions of people were impacted, including future artists. Belongs to this list Bruce Springsteenwhose relationship with music would change completely from the first time he heard a song by the Liverpool quartet. It is possible to say that, yes, it was “love at first listen.”

In 2020, Sprinsgteen told the Rolling Stone USA your reaction when listening “I Wanna Hold Your Hand” on the radio, in 1964, at the age of 15. The young man bruce had already been interested in Elvis Presley some time before, but not long enough to think about becoming an artist.

With the Fab Four it was totally different, as he explained:

It was on South Street, with my mother driving. I immediately told her to let me down, I ran to the bowling alley, ran down a long neon-lit hallway, through the bowling alley. I ran to the phone booth, got into the phone booth and immediately called my girl and asked, ‘have you ever heard this band called Beatles?’ After that, there was nothing but rock ‘n’ roll and guitars.”

THE Beatles favorite of bruce was John Lennon. Unfortunately, it was not possible to meet him in person.

On the day that Lennon was murdered on December 8, 1980, Springsteen did a show in Philadelphia and commented on his idol. The historian Tim English reported that night’s performance on NJ 101.5 radio (via Far Out Magazine):

bruce said, ‘you know, if it wasn’t John Lennonmany of us wouldn’t be here tonight’ and he said ‘Twist and Shout’ it was the first song he played on guitar, and of course, all those years he used to do the encore with ‘Twist and Shout’. At the beginning of that show at The Spectrum, bruce I said, ‘It’s hard to come here tonight, but there’s nothing else to do’.”

Lennon also mentioned Springsteen in one of his last interviews, for the Rolling Stone USA. On the occasion, he criticized the media’s treatment of some veteran artists at the time, such as Mick Jagger and others. bruce served as an example for John about an artist who had not yet faced the fury of the press. THE Beatles stated:

God help Bruce Springsteen when they decide he is no longer God. I’ve never seen him, but I’ve heard good things about him. Now his fans are happy. He talked to fans about getting drunk and chasing girls and cars and everything, and that’s the level they (press) like it. But when he has to face his own success and gets older, and has to produce again and again, they will turn against him. I hope he survives.”

Paul McCartney “on the outs” with Bruce Springsteen

The relationship of Bruce Springsteen with the Beatles also passes through Paul McCartney. In 2023, the legendary British musician participated in the presenter’s podcast Conan O’Brien (via Vanity Fair) and complained about the current duration of shows, which often last 3 hours. Macca has a culprit for this:

You Beatles they used to do half an hour. That was the business of Beatles: half an hour and we were paid. Now, people do three or four hours. I blame Bruce Springsteen. I already told him, I said, ‘it’s your fault’.”

Even in your 70s, Springsteen He is famous for the long and energetic shows he performs on major tours around the world. McCartney also adopts long durations in its shows. Both are friends and have participated in each other’s presentations on a few occasions.

Collaborated: André Luiz Fernandes.