The importance of Jon Landau to Bruce Springsteen

The importance of Jon Landau to Bruce Springsteen

The relationship with the journalist, producer and businessman will be one of the aspects of The Boss’s life portrayed in the biopic that premieres in Brazil on October 30

Scheduled for release on October 30th, the biopic Springsteen: Save Me From the Unknown will portray various aspects of the life of Bruce Springsteen in the early 1980s. One of them is the relationship with Jon Landaua businessman who played a decisive role in his career.

Landau’s importance in Springsteen’s rise, however, predates the direct connection between the two. His first impact on the artist’s career was as a journalist, in 1974, when he praised a performance by the musician in the city of Cambridge, Massachusetts (USA).

At the time, he wrote in the newspaper The Real Paper (via Clash):

“I have seen the future of rock and roll and his name is Bruce Springsteen.”

Bruce Springsteen and Jon Landau in 1980, during the recording of ‘The River’ (Photo: David Gahr/Getty Images)

Until then, Springsteen had come from two albums with little prominence and almost no commercial appeal. Still, Landau saw potential in the singer-songwriter of New Jersey and praised in the same article:

“On a night when I needed to feel young, he made me feel like I was hearing music for the first time.”

Jon Landau and Bruce Springsteen

From then on, Bruce Springsteen’s career gained new momentum. Jon Landau was recruited to work as co-producer on his third album, Born to Run (1975). The album was a success and became a turning point for the artist.

In 1978, Landau became Springsteen’s manager, after a complicated breakup with his previous professional, Mike Appel. He also continued to be credited as co-producer on all of the musician’s albums until 1995 – with the exception of Nebraska (1982).

According to Bruce Springsteen himself, Jon Landau was important even in the most difficult moments of his career. The musician says that the businessman played a fundamental role when he suffered from depression, taking him to appropriate treatment with specialized professionals.

To the website NJArtsSpringsteen stated in 2020:

“When I looked down and saw rock bottom, Jon helped me find help that would refocus me and change the course of my life. I owe a great debt to my friend for his kindness, generosity and love. He also did a great job managing it.”

Bruce Springsteen and Jon Landau in 2017 (Photo: Jim Spellman/Getty Images)
Bruce Springsteen and Jon Landau in 2017 (Photo: Jim Spellman/Getty Images)

Transcendental collaboration

From journalist to businessman, to producer, confidant, friend and right-hand man to Bruce Springsteen, Jon Landau has done a bit of everything in the last 50 years alongside The Boss.

He jokes:

“I never wanted to be a businessman. It was just a collaboration that transcended all categories.”

More about the film

In Springsteen: Save Me From the UnknownBruce Springsteen will be played by Jeremy Allen Whitethe Carmyfrom The Bear. Jon Landau’s role was Jeremy Strongwhich did Kendall Roy in the series Succession.

The film will focus on the production journey of Nebraskaan album responsible for marking a different artistic direction for the singer. Read synopsis below.

Springsteen: Save Me From the Unknown features Bruce Springsteen, played by Jeremy Allen White, in the album’s conception and production process Nebraska (1982), when he was a young musician on the brink of global stardom, struggling to reconcile the pressures of success with the ghosts of his past. Made in the artist’s bedroom, in New Jersey, on a 4-channel recorder, Nebraska It marked a turning point in his life and is considered one of his most enduring works, a raw and haunted acoustic album, populated by lost souls in search of a reason to believe.”

Rolling Stone Brasil: Avenged Sevenfold on the cover

The new edition of Rolling Stone Brasil features an exclusive interview with the 5 members of Avenged Sevenfoldon the eve of his biggest solo shows in Brazil. There is also a chat with Planet Hempa special Bruce Springsteentribute to Ozzy Osbourne and much more. Buy on the Loja Perfil website.

Source: Rollingstone

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