Springsteen on Springsteen: Interviews, Speeches, and Encounters

by Jeff Burger

Bruce Springsteen has always taken interviews seriously. As he told critic Neil Strauss in 1995, "If I have some work that I've done and want to talk about, that's why I end up doing interviews".

Here is an unprecedented collection of Springsteen on Springsteen, spanning the past four decades.

It begins in 1973, when he is earning $75 a week and struggling to emerge from the New Jersey bar circuit. It ends in 2012, by which time The Boss has achieved worldwide fame and has shared a platform with the likes of John Kerry and Barack Obama.

This collection features interviews by well-known media figures including, US talk show host Charlie Rose, novelist Nick Hornby, and rock critics Paul Williams and Neil Strauss.

It also includes rare gems from smaller periodicals that even serious Springsteen fans may not know.

In addition are transcripts of radio and TV interviews that have not previously appeared in print.

Taken together they trace the unique trajectory of an incomparable artist hanging onto his integrity throughout the days of youthful ambition and – a bigger challenge – the years of superstardom.

Genres: Music, Biography, Nonfiction

432 pages, Kindle Edition

First published April 1, 2013

About the author

Jeff Burger has covered popular music for American and international magazines and newspapers for four decades and was one of the first journalists to talk with Bruce Springsteen for a national publication. He has also published interviews with such musicians as Tom Waits, Billy Joel, the Righteous Brothers, and the members of Steely Dan, as well as with public figures like Suze Orman, James Carville, Sir Richard Branson, F. Lee Bailey, Sydney Pollack, and Cliff Robertson. He has contributed to more than 75 periodicals and books, including the Los Angeles Times, Reader's Digest, Family Circle, Barron's, Creem, All Music Guide and GQ. A former consulting editor at Time Inc., he has been editor of several major consumer and trade magazines. He lives in Ridgewood, New Jersey.

Reviews

[Stephen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really enjoyed this one but think that you really need to be a fan and to have read something else on the background of Bruce's life to get the most out of it. Luckily I recently read Bruce which was full of information of the detail of his life but didn't have enough on the man himself and his inner thoughts. This book provides exactly that and so is a perfect complement to that book but it's a level of detail that will probably only appeal to the true fan (of which I am - 9 concerts attended over the years so must be over 30 hours worth !). Fascinating to see from the interviews how Bruce evolves and develops as a person over the years and there are observations about life, death, family that are relevant to everyone as Bruce has never forgotten his roots from before he became a superstar and still behaves as if each concert is a personal performance for everyone in the crowd. A satisfying finish to the last few weeks during which I have read these 2 books and attended 2 Bruce concerts (including one where we got right at the front and were within touching distance which felt like a personal concert for us, almost forgetting about the 70,000 people behind us).

[Ralph · Rating 4 out of 5]

Have to agree that the "South by Southwest Music Festival" keynote speech is a real treat. It says it all about the man (the "Boss"), his music, what influenced him, and his intensity of emotion for what he does.

[Mel · Rating 3 out of 5]

A nice collection of Springsteen interviews dating back to his early career. I didn't learn anything new but it was interesting to see the artist develop over his career. Some interviews were from the same time period so the questions and answers were redundant.

[Sherry Getz · Rating 1 out of 5]

Couldn't finish

[Gareth Davies · Rating 3 out of 5]

Enjoyed this one. Excerpts from Springsteen’s interviews and speeches to give a well rounded picture of “the Boss”.

[Murray · Rating 3 out of 5]

Although I thoroughly enjoyed this book, I found it repetitive and tedious at times. Especially when Springsteen provides long, convoluted answers to some of the questions posed at him. His train-of-thought answers often meander in different directions, leaving readers to wonder 'what did he actually just say'?

I can't blame Springsteen for trying to over-intellectual and even over-analyze his thoughts, but they are often hard to follow. I did, however, find that his thoughts became much more cogent and developed as he got older. Nonetheless, Springsteen provides a lot of fantastic insights when he talks about the creative process of writing his songs, the majesty of his live performances, and the band of brothers known as the E Street Band. He also thoroughly discusses how his past experiences drive both him and his music, with special attention focused on his developmental years in Freehold, NJ.

After reading this book, it is evident that Springsteen is an artist with excessive drive, talent, and passion -- but I wonder just how unique these are in his chosen profession. Yet, something makes him stand out above other rock and rollers, and the X factor seems to be, as he says at a keynote address in the end, the importance of not taking things seriously, but taking them as serious as death itself.

[Vanja Ilić · Rating 4 out of 5]

After reading D.March's "Two Hearts", a pretty subjective book that serves as a fine and detailed indroduction to the life and work of Bruce Springsteen from a close acquentince of his, I opted for a more objective look at the story - Bruce's own words.
Altogether, it was an enjoyable read, but the book is in desperate need for some good editing.
Repetitive parts about his visit to Graceland and relationship with his parents start to bore after some times, but the speeches are great and a few inteviews are incredible gems that really show the character and views of Springsteen.
I have to except this is the closest thing to an autobiography we'll ever get from Bruce.
As a huge Boss fan, I'd recommend it as a supplement read to everybody who read one of the more detailed biography of Bruce Springsteen.

[MaryAlice · Rating 1 out of 5]

I checked out this Kindle edition biography from library via Libby. That tile did not include: "Interviews, Speeches, and Encounters." I missed those words on the 'book' cover due to coloring.

Elliot Murphy wrote a long forward, fawning over Bruce. He said they were from "the same class of 1949." Huh? I stopped reading to check the Boss' birthdate; I did not know he was that old. The class of 1968, both born in 1949.

He also said they both grew up in the "suburbs surrounding Manhattan." I do not consider Asbury Park, New Jersey to be a suburb of Manhattan. Finally got to the first chapter. The author mentions things about an interview, his analysis of same, giving a few snippets of the actual interview.

At that point, I closed and returned the book to library.

[Philip · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you are a fan of Bruce, this is a must-read. The book adopts an approach that is simple but very effective and proves that no one can explain the myth of Springsteen better than the man himself. Throughout the interviews completed over 40 years what you get is a man with a clear and consistent vision. Having watched the fate of his own idols Bruce has largely avoided most of the trappings of fame and continued with his work to be the keeper of the flame for rock and roll's past present and (yes even in his 60s) future. Absolutely loved this book.

[Amanda · Rating 5 out of 5]

Worth it for the South by Southwest speech alone! The chapter on the riot was very interesting, may the Phantom rest in peace. It's fascinating to watch Bruce grow into the man and artist he is today.

[Steve Peifer · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've read so many musical biographies lately, and none of them have been worth much. This was great. To see the guy who was making $75 a week become the boss was a fun read. You might not agree with all the politics but you walk away admiring the man.

[Peter · Rating 4 out of 5]

Read the parts of the book that interested me.

Good idea for a book. Learned lots, from his own words. Springsteen is a stand-up guy, and to be admired. Deserves the success and recognition.

Newmarket library.

[Alta Cloete · Rating 5 out of 5]

A wonderful compilation of speeches etc, which gives a balanced view of Springsteen's career over more than forty years. An absolute must for every fan.

[Peter · Rating 4 out of 5]

Enjoyed it. Good format for a book - the Boss' own words, in interviews. Not twisted by a journalist.

Vacation read.

Newmarket library.

[Kristin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love this I am a huge Springsteen fan and it is awesome.

[Suzanne · Rating 4 out of 5]

Having been a Bruce fan since before Born in the USA (when most heard of him), this was a fun book to read. The author/editor chose some poigant and interesting pieces to include.

[Anthony · Rating 5 out of 5]

the best

[Door · Rating 5 out of 5]

il manque seulement un CD pour aller avec le livre