"I Am At The Head Of A Wrecking Machine."

[LonelyPilgrim1]

WOW. If you haven't already checked out the video of the Danish interview (posted on Backstreets.com: http://goaften.tv2.dk/article.php/id-9671786.html), I highly recommend it.

One of his best interviews, IMO. Can't recall him being as open and honest about personal stuff before. Really, really excellent. And I particularly love the closing comment by the interviewer...

Sigh :love:

[HeldUp]

404 Ikke fundet

Den forespurgte side findes ikke på goaften.tv2.dk.

Se evt. vores indeks over tv2.dk.

Translation: Rats!

[ahunte1]

take the ")" off the end of the url and you're good!

[downsdway]

My Favorite part is when he said

"I'm going to be a real old guy making nasty music"

and I'll be listening:nod:

[BruceNut]

what a lovely interview.thank you for posting it.

[BronxDarren]

....Bruce must be smoking some hash if he thinks the band "rips it up on Badlands the way they did when [he] was 28"

It's funny that he picked Badlands. Cause if he listened to Badlands '78 and then Badlands '07 he would hear that there's simply no comparison -- the new version isn't even in the same league in terms of spirit, fire, passion and pure rockingness.

The sad thing is the band has it in them to play it just as well as they used to, but for some unknown reason, they just don't do it. It's not lack of chops, or age or ability. I think Bruce just believes his own hype and I guess Steven does too. Too bad there's not one person in the entire bruce camp to pop on a CD of Piece De Resistance and say "Um, Bruce, about that interview you gave...."

[estband]

....Bruce must be smoking some hash if he thinks the band "rips it up on Badlands the way they did when [he] was 28"

It's funny that he picked Badlands. Cause if he listened to Badlands '78 and then Badlands '07 he would hear that there's simply no comparison -- the new version isn't even in the same league in terms of spirit, fire, passion and pure rockingness.

The sad thing is the band has it in them to play it just as well as they used to, but for some unknown reason, they just don't do it. It's not lack of chops, or age or ability. I think Bruce just believes his own hype and I guess Steven does too. Too bad there's not one person in the entire bruce camp to pop on a CD of Piece De Resistance and say "Um, Bruce, about that interview you gave...."

BD, with all due respect, you may be the one smoking hash. Bruce and the Band certainly don't need me to defend them but I'll state my case.

First of all, it ain't 1978 and those days are gone forever. And dude, they're ALL 30 years older. Let's see if anyone jumps around the way they did 30 years ago. I believe what he meant is they're still playing with the same fire, and passion, and emotion as they did back in the Darkness days. It may not seem like it to you (and I wasn't there in '78 but I have heard and watched the shows) but in the end it's all relative.

Here's to many more shows for years to come...

And what an incredible interview!

[imabrucefan]

I love this interview! Thanks so much for sharing it.

"I did it to get so far inside your bones"

He's definitely inside my bones.

[Patter]

Such a great interview ... thanks for posting this!! ( also, "Amen" to you estband!!)

Is there a way to save this video on my 'puter, anyone?
I'm sure it can't be that difficult but I'm looking for a little help........Thanks!!

[letterman]

Nobody is mentioning that Bruce is speaking bad about the U.S. while not on U.S. soil. That should not be done. You never speak bad about your country when you are outisde the country. He is typical of the far left loonies. I dont care what your politics are - YOU NEVER SPEAK BAD ABOUT YOUR COUNTRY WHEN YOU ARE OUTISDE YOUR COUNTRY.

[BruceNut]

Nobody is mentioning that Bruce is speaking bad about the U.S. while not on U.S. soil. That should not be done. You never speak bad about your country when you are outisde the country. He is typical of the far left loonies. I dont care what your politics are - YOU NEVER SPEAK BAD ABOUT YOUR COUNTRY WHEN YOU ARE OUTISDE YOUR COUNTRY.

oh spare me and maybe us will you?
If you put your listening ears on,he wasnt speaking bad about the USA. He was speaking badly about the present administration though.
Now lets get to the truth.You`ve been gone for about 90 days.Does the facility know your out?

[HeldUp]

I think the rule of thumb is you don't speak badly of the President when he is out of the country. Someone might think it signals the start of a coup or revolution.

Thanks for sharing the interview. Not sure I've seen a TV interview of him of this length before.

[BruceNut]

I think the rule of thumb is you don't speak badly of the President when he is out of the country. Someone might think it signals the start of a coup or revolution.

Thanks for sharing the interview. Not sure I've seen a TV interview of him for this length before.

Tarik? Where is that rule written?
When Bruce said what he said wasnt GWB in the USA?
Should we now treat Bruce like the Dixie Chicks? :devil:

[HeldUp]

Tarik? Where is that rule written?
When Bruce said what he said wasnt GWB in the USA?
Should we now treat Bruce like the Dixie Chicks? :devil:
What I'm trying to say is this: letterman doesn't know what he is talking about except that we are all bad fans here... ;)

[downsdway]

Nobody is mentioning that Bruce is speaking bad about the U.S. while not on U.S. soil. That should not be done. You never speak bad about your country when you are outisde the country. He is typical of the far left loonies. I dont care what your politics are - YOU NEVER SPEAK BAD ABOUT YOUR COUNTRY WHEN YOU ARE OUTISDE YOUR COUNTRY.

You are a piece of work, yesterday you call us bad people, and now someone shares a really cool interview and you, attempt to pull out a negative (where there is none) we all know Bruce has a major issue with this administration, so do a lot of AMERICANS many of which voted for the President. How about you, are you part of the dwindling % that thinks the President is doing a good job? Is that why you are looking to bash Bruce?

Just go away already, you contribute nothing positive to a great board but bring it down with your negativity.

[BruceNut]

What I'm trying to say is this: letterman doesn't know what he is talking about except that we are all bad fans here... ;)

well from one bad fan to another,thank you for clearing that up :music:

[BronxDarren]

BD, with all due respect, you may be the one smoking hash. Bruce and the Band certainly don't need me to defend them but I'll state my case.

First of all, it ain't 1978 and those days are gone forever. And dude, they're ALL 30 years older. Let's see if anyone jumps around the way they did 30 years ago. I believe what he meant is they're still playing with the same fire, and passion, and emotion as they did back in the Darkness days. It may not seem like it to you (and I wasn't there in '78 but I have heard and watched the shows) but in the end it's all relative.

Here's to many more shows for years to come...

And what an incredible interview!

I'm not talking about how the band moves around on stage, I'm talking about how they sound. My point is, there are times when it's obvious that they STILL HAVE WHAT IT TAKES to play as great as they once did. But. They. Just. Don't.

And I can't figure out why. It's a mystery to me.

Individually they each have the chops: Clarence is playing better than ever. Bruce's voice has gotten better over the years & his guitar playing still achieves guitar hero intensity. Max's chops are sick when he's on Conan or when he he's doing fill!

....yet when you throw it all in the blender, they've slowed down, mellowed out, and gotten too starigh ahead and plodding on too many of the old songs. Born to Run, Jungleland, Thundercrack, Thunder Road, Tenth Avenue Freeze out and especially Badlands have all been turned from passionate barnburners into mid-tempo rockers that are almost lounge-y in feel

I'm disputing the notion that Bruce has put forth several times, and which you've stated again, that the band is "playing with the same fire, passion, and emotion" as they did back in the Darkness days.

I don't think this is subjective - I think if you listen to '78 and '07 back to back, it's clear. One performance is better than the other.

And of course it's all relative! Relative to the Human Touch tour, ESB version '07 is awesome! Relative to ESB '78....not so much.

Offtopic, Heavenly Hash is one of my favorite ice creams.



I don't think it's s

[SpringsteenMagic]

Awesome interview. Thanks.

[JAG]

It's official:

LD Rookie of the Year: SpringsteenMagic
LD Newest Poster on my Ignore List: Letterman

Re BD's comment -- I totally agree. They're 30 years older, they're rich, and they have so much less to prove. Bruce may feel that in terms of musicianship, everyone plays better, but in terms of passion and energy, there's no comparison to 78-85.

which would be true of any 35-year-old band.

and i wouldn't be talking about it if bruce didn't raise the point.

[blaktransam]

Great interview. The interviewer did a great job of connecting with Bruce.

[Travelling Slim]

Great interview. The interviewer did a great job of connecting with Bruce.

Agreed. I loved his line at the end: "You're my best friend that I've never had a beer with."

[SpringsteenMagic]

Great interview. The interviewer did a great job of connecting with Bruce.

Yea, it's great when the person on the other end really does care about their subject. Clearly this guy was a fan. I liked how he threw in the personal question about 'Brilliant Disguise', beause the 'God Have Mercy' line is one of my favorites as well.

[HeldUp]

I liked how he threw in the personal question about 'Brilliant Disguise', because the 'God Have Mercy' line is one of my favorites as well.
Same here. I liked Bruce's answer, too. Refreshingly honest. We're all human. We're complex.

[Patter]

Such a great interview ... thanks for posting this!! ( also, "Amen" to you estband!!)

Is there a way to save this video on my 'puter, anyone?
I'm sure it can't be that difficult but I'm looking for a little help........Thanks!!


:angel: Don't mean to intrude on this.....umm......debate :D ;) , but being a lover of "freedom of speech" :nod:, I'm wondering .... is there anyone out there who can answer my original question??? (see above!!) Feel free to speak!!! :angel: :angel: ;) ;)
Thanks so much!

[CurlyWurly]

I think this is the best interview I've seen or read. He seems to be quite comfortable in this setting. Kudos to the interviewer too. It makes a difference when a fan does the asking. (A request for Point Blank? How cool is that?) Quotes that make me believe Bruce is the best songwriter - "There's no resolution in human experience."and "There aint no last time, there's just THIS time." With these beliefs he writes from the heart to us all.

Thanks so much for posting this LP.

[packerfan]

oh spare me and maybe us will you?
If you put your listening ears on,he wasnt speaking bad about the USA. He was speaking badly about the present administration though.
Now lets get to the truth.You`ve been gone for about 90 days.Does the facility know your out?

One of the interesting things about the interview was that most of it was so different from what we're used to hearing from Bruce.

Except for when politics comes up. Then he goes into zombie mode and recites his moveon.org laundry list that is recycled in his Living in the Future rant (Rendition, Habeus Corpus, etc). Bruce obviously cares about the issues...why not say something new about them? Instead, he's just recites the talking points, the same way dittoheads do with Limbaugh. Liberal or Conservative, that's a bunch of crap.

[JAG]

he's just recites the talking points, the same way dittoheads do with Limbaugh. Liberal or Conservative, that's a bunch of crap.

How bout listening to what' bruce is talking about instead of criticizing the delivery method? Bruce isn't ranting about poor illegal immigrants risking their lives to cross the border in search of a better life. He's talking about things like extraordinary rendition, when the U.S. kidnaps a suspect and immediately flies them to other countries where they can torture them. You in favor of that?

and before you give me a stoopid answer like 'well hell yeah, it they're dern terror-o-rists who're gonna blow up buildings,' read this:

http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2005/03/04/60minutes/main678155.shtml

[dudley]

patter - i can't claim to know
what i'm doing but i clicked
"add to favorites" while at the
website - it is now on my favorites
list and i can click on it to go there
but how long it will stay someone
more savvy will have to answer

[dex]

[QUOTE

....yet when you throw it all in the blender, they've slowed down, mellowed out, and gotten too starigh ahead and plodding on too many of the old songs. Born to Run, Jungleland, Thundercrack, Thunder Road, Tenth Avenue Freeze out and especially Badlands have all been turned from passionate barnburners into mid-tempo rockers that are almost lounge-y in feel

I'm disputing the notion that Bruce has put forth several times, and which you've stated again, that the band is "playing with the same fire, passion, and emotion" as they did back in the Darkness days.

I don't think this is subjective - I think if you listen to '78 and '07 back to back, it's clear. One performance is better than the other.

[/QUOTE]

Here is the rub. Since there appears to be a 30 year Darkness aniversary boxset forthcoming, I'm sure Bruce has listened to the '78 shows. His contention is pretty clear, and I've heard him say it a couple of times. He believes the songs were played a little too fast back then. That they are actually better like this, without the breakneck speed. We can all dispute the notion. I've disagreed with Bruce's choices quite often over the years, especially when it comes to what to put on or take off of an album. But Bruce has already analyzed this thoroughly, and this is the determination he has reached.

[BronxDarren]

Here is the rub. Since there appears to be a 30 year Darkness aniversary boxset forthcoming, I'm sure Bruce has listened to the '78 shows. His contention is pretty clear, and I've heard him say it a couple of times. He believes the songs were played a little too fast back then. That they are actually better like this, without the breakneck speed. We can all dispute the notion. I've disagreed with Bruce's choices quite often over the years, especially when it comes to what to put on or take off of an album. But Bruce has already analyzed this thoroughly, and this is the determination he has reached.

Interesting speculation, but I'm not sure if it's definitley true that Bruce is (a) planning a Darkness anniversary release and (b) would take the time to listen to old shows from 78. If he has, and if he's made a determination that they used to play the songs too fast, then um, he's wrong.

[Island Fan]

speaking of wrecks...train...car...plane....or band...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3oFsG-jXGj4

[dex]

Interesting speculation, but I'm not sure if it's definitley true that Bruce is (a) planning a Darkness anniversary release and (b) would take the time to listen to old shows from 78. If he has, and if he's made a determination that they used to play the songs too fast, then um, he's wrong.

I fully Phoenix '78 to be released in the fall of '08, along with remastered Darkness album. This project has been in the works for a while now, and Bruce has always been a hands-on guy with his music. So of course he has listened to the old stuff. Music is the most subjective of all the entertainments mediums, IMO. And if Bruce is wrong about this, then I don't believe it will have been the first time.

[JAG]

just got around to watching it. Fantastic interview.

[Flory Days]

Great interview, sorry if he offends you packerfan, but get used to it because its not changing. It may be better for you to worry about cheering the Packers toward their collision course with the Patriots in the Super Bowl.:nod:

Interesting thoughts from BD, Jag and Dex on the passion of the band then vs. now. First I agreed with BD, of course you're a young guy, so maybe you can't identify with the aging process yet. :) Jag correctly explains how you just can't do anything as fast as you could 30 years ago. If Dex is right then its a combination of both with a concerted effort to slow down.

Accepting that last theory, has anyone thought Lonesome Day is being played slower this tour? That song is only 5 years old and seems slower this time around.

Of the older songs, the only one that just hasn't sounded right to me at the slower pace; is Thunder Road. I have not seen it yet this tour but I am speaking of the two or three times I have heard it since the reunion tour. It seems that the urgency in the lyrics requires the speed as the song builds. Maybe this one has slowed down more than the others.

[Patter]

patter - i can't claim to know
what i'm doing but i clicked
"add to favorites" while at the
website - it is now on my favorites
list and i can click on it to go there
but how long it will stay someone
more savvy will have to answer


Thank you Dudley.....WHEW!!! :wink:
I think that might add that "page" or the website to Favorites but as soon as that "page" is updated it probably goes away, but I could be wrong :confused:, hard to know since none of it's in English!!.....thanks for your help!

[TorontoJeff]

Hey.
My two cents.

I think the band sounds better than it ever has too.

And (to be clear)
I am a huge fan of Bruce dating back to the seventies.
He and the band are the reason that I am a musician and writer now.
He has always blown me away.
But when I listen to Live 1975-1985 against Live in NYC (or the Barcelona show) I wonder where this band has been all my life.
The thing that kills me, I mean, just slays me,
is that in terms of sound and energy and listening and raw power and songwriting he is now EXACTLY where I am. He's lost me a bit before (mid-eighties, Tom Joad)...but I am right there with him right now...I can't get enough.

It's like he used to have to blow you away to "Prove it All Night" (pardon the quote).
And now...
He's got nothing left to prove so it seems like he's just enjoying knocking bodies down.
It's glorious as opposed to cathartic...
I can't get enough...

just an opinion...

Jef

[Patter]

It's like he used to have to blow you away to "Prove it All Night" (pardon the quote).
And now...
He's got nothing left to prove so it seems like he's just enjoying knocking bodies down.
It's glorious as opposed to cathartic...
I can't get enough...

just an opinion...

Jef

Wow Jef, I couldn't agree more!!!!!! Sometimes the "Glory Days" (pardon mine also) were AMAZING but it doesn't mean they haven't "grown" and are the new, different, more mature, "Glory Days"!!

Thanks for your input!!
Patter

[BronxDarren]

Flory Days, I can definitely identify with the aging process and making concessions to time. But to continue to beat a dead horse, if I thought the band COULDN'T play fast any more, I would accept it and move on and just enjoy the shows for what they are. But that's clearly not the case when you listen to some of the other songs they play fast and aggressive.

And if Dex is right and it's a concerted effort to slow down, I guess I could accept that as just a really bad choice on Bruce's part.

But the only unacceptable reason behind the band playing slower is lack of care. That they just never thought about it, or listened to the old versions and compared it to the new versions. That would really get my goat. Considering the $$$ we've all spent, I would hope a LITTLE forensic rock-ology would be in order to put the absolute best product on the road.

But TorontoJef and Patter are blowing me away -- you guys actually think the band sounds BETTER today than back in the day? That Thunder Road sounds better slower? In that case, I'm going to go smoke Bruce's hash, cause 6 is 9 and black is white. That just seems crazy to me! (And yes, Lonesome Days is slower than just a few years ago.)

[TorontoJeff]

BronxDarren,
I think you misunderstand my point...

I don't think Thunder Road has ever sounded better than the soulful, desperate, romantic plea that opens "Live 1975-1985".
I also don't think that Bruce exists anymore.
It'd be nice to hear a "teenage wearwolf" story or a "sad eyes" break in Backstreets...but it wouldn't be right.
It wouldn't be true.
It would be trying too hard.
Listen to the Tunnel of Love tour...he's trying WAY too hard. I can fully understand why he did what he following that year.
Listening to BITUSA shows and River shows and even Darkness shows there is passion, magic and INCREDIBLE desperation.
I found (still find) this compelling when I look back. It's cathartic to watch and listen to an artist exercise pain...but not forever...not always.
It lost me at times.


I think the reason that Bruce is reluctant to play certain songs is because they don't really fit this band.
I'm okay with that.
I'm a "I want this moment right now in this room," kind of fan.
(In truth, I sort of (secretly) crave an Estreet tour with no songs from before '95)
Please don't interpret this to mean that I think the older tunes are not as good as the newer ones.
They aren't.
but
They're now (ish).
And...
consider this:
No version of Estreet could have played this version of "Reason to Believe" (that exact combination of raw yet slick is new to this band)
"Devils Arcade" through "Badlands" on this tour is UNBELIEVABLE. (It means SO much and it is so honest and so THIS moment in our history...and it is handled so egolessly that it is staggering that a rock star can pull it off)

but

I have never and would never pay to see any single song live.
I pay to see a performance.
The Reunion till Magic E Street Band is a celebration. At its tightest it's pure power.They are very aware of their greatness...and they're not taking it for granted...they're using it.
I could not be more energized and excited by great artists existing above themselves, as parts of a greater whole, for two hours.
It gives me hope.

This is what I mean...

Jef

[alan]

oh spare me and maybe us will you?
If you put your listening ears on,he wasnt speaking bad about the USA. He was speaking badly about the present administration though.
Now lets get to the truth.You`ve been gone for about 90 days.Does the facility know your out?

You can bet if the next President is a Democrat and no matter what happens Bruce will not say anything bad about a Democratic President.

[Patter]

But TorontoJef and Patter are blowing me away -- you guys actually think the band sounds BETTER today than back in the day? That Thunder Road sounds better slower? In that case, I'm going to go smoke Bruce's hash, cause 6 is 9 and black is white. That just seems crazy to me! (And yes, Lonesome Days is slower than just a few years ago.)

BD, if you look back at my post, I didn't say that the band sounds BETTER today, etc. That's not what I believe TJef (or I) were getting at.

Being a Bruce fan since '75, I've been to quite a few shows. And I'm willing to admit that seeing Bruce "live back in day" was amazing, almost spell-binding....his carefree, casual bond with the audience, the "Growin Up" type monologues (sp?) etc., his total abandon on stage....all of it! I think we probably all may agree, with regret, that those shows are never gonna happen again, not ever in that same way. So maybe we need to accept (& in some fashion even "CELEBRATE")the fact that these shows now are a mature Bruce & ESB BUT that in no way means it's a "less passionate, inspired, or cracking (to borrow an adjective) Bruce & ESB. So I agree with Toronto Jef on the point that "at THIS TIME, 32 F**kin' years later" (for me anyway), it pretty damn glorious to watch them still "BRING IT ON"...

I think Bruce fans are the luckiest fans ever. He has given us an "INCREDIBLE" catalog of music to enjoy over all these years, he never remains "stagnant", even if we may not like where he's "at" at the moment (for me the SSB...hmmmm), he doesn't go on tour and give us a boring kind of "my best known or hits show", his music is always evolving, growing, maturing....... He doesn't seem to mind at all about all the ..UMM...."trading" we've all done over the years (some artists have gone to court over less)......I could make a longer list here but I'll stop. I don't know of any other Artist who has given so much to his fans over the years. We're pretty damn lucky.

Along with Bruce, I've also aged 32 years since 1975 and for me, the fact that he's still here, still touring (& it's not a "My Greatest Hits" tour), and still was able to blow me away "AGAIN" ...it's amazing & inspiring! Of course I would "LOVE" to write "my own setlist" but then for each of us that would be different, thanks to all the amazing life stories Bruce has given us... .but I haven't left a show disappointed - EVER, and that's just "glorious" to me!! IMHO

One last thought....maybe, just maybe, Bruce may change the tempo of an older song in order to present it to me in a way I may not have "heard/interpreted" it before......i.e., the evolution of "Reason" over the years, amongst others....... just a thought.......:sunny:

[Cville]

Patter...Toronto Jeff,
You guys are on the right track here...and I dig your enthusiasm.

Observations are interesting to ponder and respond.

but, Complaining...just strikes me as too much arm chair whining. Anything that Bruce and the band aren't doing for you is just you. Because, it ain't from lack of trying on their part. I really don't see that they are just phoning this tour in and resting on their laurels. They are coming out and blowing the place down... giving it their all. And, that is what I admire about these guys.

[Patter]

Patter...Toronto Jeff,
You guys are on the right track here...and I dig your enthusiasm.

Observations are interesting to ponder and respond.

but, Complaining...just strikes me as too much arm chair whining. Anything that Bruce and the band aren't doing for you is just you. Because, it ain't from lack of trying on their part. I really don't see that they are just phoning this tour in and resting on their laurels. They are coming out and blowing the place down... giving it their all. And, that is what I admire about these guys.

Cville
I really agree with your "observations comment".....it's always interesting to hear each others, as it gives us "food for thought"...:nod:

AND as you mentioned....complaining really serves no purpose....it doesn't change what "IS", a more mature, thoughtful, but "STILL ROCKIN', ....and as "Jacksrake" says..... "cracking" Bruce & ESB. As has been mentioned on this Board by others, "this may well be the last ESB tour", so I'm going to just jump in and enjoy it!! Wasn't there a song with the line "You don't know what you've got, until you lose it" ??? :music:

Happy HOLIDAYS!!!

[Mo Riley]

Wow! That was a fun interview. Bruce looks good, too.

[Toots]

I just wanna say.....I love Patter. I'm too tired from work the past few weeks to write much of anything, but for me Patter hit the nail on the head. :)

[Patter]

I just wanna say.....I love Patter. I'm too tired from work the past few weeks to write much of anything, but for me Patter hit the nail on the head. :)


HEY Tootser Sparkle Butt!

PERK UP!!! It's Christmas...."Santa Claus Is Comin' To Town"!!!! Besides, Douger in a Santa outfit ....well, I'm just sayin' :love:

Would love to also hear your thoughts on this, .. all the "sploogers" have gone dark! :wink:

[Patter]

hiccup*