My 30th concert experience was performed at Madison Square Garden where Bruce Springsteen & the E Street Band took the stage and rocked the house. Back in the 1970’s, event security was not what it is today, and at the end of those marathon Bruce Springsteen shows some fans, most female, would climb up onto the low situated stage and run towards Bruce, hugging him before security dragged them off as the band played on (Rosalita?). My buddy from our Flushing neighborhood, Joe Fisk, and I had managed to work our way down to the front orchestra near the end of the show. I got stalled at about 5th row and we got separated at some point as Joe continued forward. The extended jam encore played on and the gals in the front hopped onto the stage until security pulled them off and then I spotted Joe leaning against the stage left center. I then saw him lift one leg on to the stage and he pushed himself upright. Springsteen was furiously working the stage and Joe walked toward him with extended right hand. Bruce grabbed Joe by the left wrist and ran off the stage with him to the right of us into the dark. The E Street Band played the extended jam throughout. My first thought was “My god, when they get him backstage they are going to beat the sh*t out of him”. The next thing I know Bruce Springsteen was running back center stage still holding on to Joe Fisk’s wrist, they stopped dead center and Bruce raised both their arms in the air triumphantly. The sight of Joe wearing his white T-shirt with the Chicago (the band) logo in red lettering prominent across his chest is embedded in my memory. With that, Bruce still holding on to Joe”s wrist, ran the both of them offstage once again and the concert ended. Afterward I told Joe I thought that he might have gotten a beating by security but he said Bruce actually looked back to ensure that would not happen. Bruce Springsteen and his fans exhibited a true joy during all of this concert that unbelievably took place 42 years ago. Let’s hope that Bruce Springsteen and all the true believers in the power of rock and roll are back out on the road soon as none of us are getting any younger.
One Step Back
Stay well and RocK on!
GQ