I will never forget Springsteen's Rolling Stone interview in 1992. When they asked him what his favorite bands were, the first band out of his mouth was Social Distortion. He said that "Born To Lose" was just a masterpiece of a song. I think so many people forget that Bruce was embraced by the punks in in NY/NJ. "Hungry Heart" was written for The Ramones because they wanted The Boss is write a song for them. Mike and Bruce share so many of the same influences in Hank Williams Sr., Johnny Cash and all the 50's rockers. And no matter if Bruce is playing to 95,000 people, there's no pyro, stage props, half-nude dancers or any of that bullshit. It is just one man, a guitar and a great rock band. You cannot fault an artist for being popular. What you can fault is how he or she allows their popularity to detract from their dreams of why they wanted to be a rocker in the 1st place. Bruce has never altered his stance, and that is why Mike respects him so much.
To bad The Boss let his popularity detract from his blue collar roots. He’s embraced the woke narrative and he’s become so out of touch with the working class fans who made his career. It’s become insufferable. That being said, he’s still the best live performer to ever grace the stage in the last 50 years.
I was at the 2009 show at the Sport Arena in LA when Ness came out and the band and Bruce did Bad Luck with him. Probably my favorite concert cover by Bruce and E Street Band ever.
