The E Street Cafe Podcast

Our listeners may be more familiar with Wesley Stace as John Wesley Harding. That guy who has been responsible for several great Bruce covers and some guest appearances with The Boss. Wesley can be often seen curating his own live show with a mixture of performing artists. One day - he hopes he can persuade Bruce to make another surprise appearance.

Tune in and listen to some brilliant tales about him and Bruce hanging out whilst we share some of his great music. For more information please visit www.wesleystace.com

Frankfurt 1981 - the River Tour. 43 years ago this week. Our own Dan French gets an invite he can't refuse. 'Meet me in Frankfurt - I have a ticket for you' says a fellow fan. What happens next? Let's just say you couldn't make it up.

No more spoilers, but let's just say that this story is legendary in E Street fan circles and we have finally persuaded Dan to recount those amazing few days.

Jeff and Dan also conduct an E Street Shuffle for each other in between the refreshments provided by Rosalita and the E Street Cafe podcast team.

Jeff, Dan and Mike get together in the cafe to have a good old chinwag about the first 3 live gigs of 2024 in Phoenix, Las Vegas and San Diego.

Also in this episode, we each choose our Top 3 Bruce albums of all time and our favourite track from each of those albums.

Rosie cooks up a couple of specials to keep the boys well fed.

What do you think of our choices? What would your Top 3 be? Let us know and we'll give you a shout-out.

May 9 1974 - Bruce Springsteen performed a show that is considered to be a watershed moment in his career. A local photographer, Barry Schneier, had seen Bruce perform a few months earlier and suggested to the promoter that Bruce should open for Bonnie Raitt that night at The Harvard Square Theatre, Cambridge, MA. The promoter agreed and Bruce was booked in to perform at short notice.

Also in the audience that night was Jon Landau, a music critic for Rolling Stone and The Real Paper. What Jon witnessed that night, and would write about afterwards, would alter Bruce's life, and indeed his own.

Not only was Barry instrumental in putting Bruce on the bill that famous night, but he was there with his camera to capture this important piece of musical history.

For more details on Barry's book 'Bruce Springsteen: Rock and Roll Future' - visit barryschneierphotography.com or any other major online store like 'you know who'!

Pull up a chair, pour your favourite drink and rewind 50 years. Enjoy.

When Dutch superfan Jeff Molenaar heard 'Sherry Darling' playing on Ally McBeal many years ago, it began a lifelong obsession with following Bruce on tour. Jeff tells the story of how pure persistence meant that 'Annie and her guy' not only got a mention at the iconic Leeds Arena gig - but they got a very special and rare song played for them by Bruce.

In part 2 of our chat with Vini 'Mad Dog' Lopez, we cover the recording of the second Bruce Springsteen album, the break up from the band, golf, Steel Mill Retro and the various reunions with Bruce and the band over the last decade or so.

Entertaining and engaging as ever - Vini regales stories from his lifelong career in Rock and Roll and we make sure he partakes in our very own E Street Shuffle challenge.

Enjoy and don't forget to leave us a nice review if you liked this double header!

The founding member of the E Street Band. Rock and Roll Hall of Famer. Do I have to say his name? It's only Vini 'Mad Dog' Lopez in the Cafe to join Jeff for a chat about the early years up to and including the recording of the first album.

As you can expect, this episode is crammed full of epic Jersey Shore tales from the 60s up to 1973.

Part 2 is in production and covers the recording of The Wild, the Innocent and the E Street Shuffle and the 'ups and downs' thereafter. Strap yourself in and enjoy.

Mike 'Mikipedia' Saunders and co-host Dan French compete in a winner-takes-all quiz in the E Street Cafe. Suitably refreshed for the event - the two adversaries go head to head on their specialist subjects. Who will win the BIG prize - a fresh cinnamon bun freshly served by Rosalita.

If you're in the car - wind down your windows and let the wind blow back your hair as you join in and shout the answers out. If you're in the comfort of your own home, grab yourself a pen and paper and have a go.

Who'll win the battle of the Titans? Tune in and play along.

Meet Jean Mikle, possibly the hardest working lady on the New Jersey shore. Not only does Jean have a day job as a reporter with the Asbury Park Press, but sh is busy on the board with The Light of Day foundation and the Asbury Angels. Oh and she also runs guided tours of famous Springsteen sites in New Jersey with her good friend Stan Goldstein. In this episode, Jean recounts her memories back to 1978 and her first Bruce concert, and we also talk about her 2024 tour hopes.

Warning - 3 podcast hosts on 1 episode. This could get messy! Seriously, Jesse Jackson, podcaster extraordinaire, joins us in the cafe for a good old natter about some of his favourite podcast moments from Set Lusting Bruce, and his early musical memories.

And if Jesse ever invites you to a night out at the casino - don't turn him down.

Check out Set Lusting Bruce wherever you pick up your podcasts.

After the exertions of the staff Christmas party, we manage to escape the frivolity of the E Street Cafe and 'hit the road' to record the podcast's first roving report, on the Light of Day gig in Leicester.

Jeff chats backstage to Carol Messenger, Jersey Budd, Sally Barker, Joe D'Urso, James Maddock, Williams Honor, Rob Dye and Tom Brooksby to find out what brings them to rural Leicestershire on a cold December night!

For more information about the great work of Light of Day Foundation - please visit https://www.lightofday.org/

When Phil started selling records in Evesham market with his late brother Steven 38 years ago, little did he realise that he would still be happily running Badlands today. Not only do Badlands sell records, but they provide tickets and packaged tours to Springsteen shows in Europe and the US.

In this episode, Phil joins Jeff and Dan in the cafe to reminisce over the last 38 years.

Sloppy Sue messes up again - and almost wipes Peppie (the Cafe dog) out too.

For more information - visit www.badlands.co.uk

Maggie Powell first heard Born to Run in 1975 on BBC Radio 1's breakfast show. The impact on her musical interest and subsequent fandom was immense. Not just Bruce, but all things E Street related and beyond.

Originally from Scotland, but now living in Germany, Maggie walks us through her musical journey and gives us an insight into the legendary Jukestock convention.

Mark A Wright is a natural born performer. He is widely known to the Bruce community for his brilliant cover versions of Bruce's songs - and not all the obvious ones! He has performed at Bruce pre-show parties and Light of Day.

Not only that, but he has an 'Elvis sings the Boss' act and many other guises. He is also a singer-songwriter. Mark is a wonderful guest and our staff really enjoyed Mark's musical performance live in the cafe.

Pour yourself a ginger ale or some Bruce Juice and enjoy the scintillating chat with Jeff and Mike.

Slane Castle in Ireland in 1985 was a first for Bruce on many fronts. It was also a trip that will live with our intrepid podcast hosts (and 12 other fellow travellers) for the rest of our lives.

The trip was filled with mishap, adventure, danger and a lot of fun. Well, it is Ireland - we wouldn't expect any less.

Tune in for a bag full of stories from 38 years ago that will make you cringe and laugh at the same time. Glory Days indeed. Oh, and don't spill your Guinness.

Lauren Onkey has probably one of the most respected CVs/ résumés in the music industry. Not only has she interviewed The Boss online a couple of years ago, but she was asked to write the introduction to Dave Marsh's new book 'Kick Out The Jams.' In fact if it wasn't for Dave's encouragement all those years ago - Lauren's career may not have taken the turn it did.

In this episode, with the help of Rosalita and the new staff plying Lauren with ice-cold beers, she tells Jeff and Dan about how she discovered Bruce's music, her journey into music journalism and her working relationship with Dave Marsh.

Ken Rosen is the author and creator of the Bruce Springsteen blog - EStreetShuffle.com In this episode Ken tells us that his wife was the inspiration for him starting the blog. Well, kind of! She was fed up of him recounting Bruce stories over dinner, so asked him 'Why don't you start a Bruce blog?'. Now that Mr and Mrs Rosen talk about normal things over dinner, he has fresh vigour and energy to put out daily postings that, for E Street fans, are absolutely riveting.

Rosie gets the order slightly wrong today. Peppie is heard barking in the background, and staff interviews were conducted so that we can get well deserved help in the E Street Cafe. Pour yourself some Bruce Juice, sit back and enjoy the chat.

In 2015, Jake Clemons played a very intimate and special gig in the tiny front room of Deirdre and Saoirse Houston's house on the west coast of Ireland. 37 very lucky people (and a cat) were there that night as Jake pulled up in his small red rental car and proceeded to unload his saxophone and guitar. That night will stay with those lucky 37 people forever - especially as they were required to collectively help out on one song! Tune in to find out the full story of that wonderful night in Galway and to hear the fantastic memories from that living room gig.

The E Street Cafe Podcast often asks our guests: 'If you could travel back in the Gig time machine and see any concert - what would it be?' Our three intrepid hosts often state that the 1976/1977 Chicken Scratch and Lawsuit Tours would be right up there. Not only has this week's guest been to those concerts, but he was also very lucky to be in the second row of the second Hammersmith show in 1975. Are we envious of John Hersov - you bet we are! However, we are very fortunate that John dropped into the cafe to regale tales from his time on the road during this very special time and beyond. Enjoy!

Bruce's career is pretty well documented from 1975 onwards. In this intriguing chat, the author and researcher Craig Statham pops into the cafe to talk about his updated version of his book Springsteen: Saint in the City 1949 to 1974 - a superb and thoroughly researched book about his real formative years. On one of the hottest days of the year, Rosie keeps the guys going with iced water and other refreshments. Please contact Craig direct if you want to order a revised copy of this great book.

In this episode, we give first hand accounts of some of the recent European gigs that our hosts attended. What was the first E Street Band gig in Edinburgh for 42 years like? A welcome tour debut in Birmingham. Geezers reunited in Gothenburg, and have we uncovered a better way to 'see' Bruce in Hyde Park? Mix all that up with a random mix of predictions for 2024 and this makes for a friendly chat in the cafe.

'I'm with my main man' says Bruce of Pete Harris in 1975. That's why the media couldn't get anywhere near him at the iconic Hammersmith '75 concert. Pete was a confident and self-assured sales rep for HP Sauce at the time, but had managed to talk his way into Bruce's inner circle on the day of Bruce's first and historic overseas concert with the help of an oversized jar of pickled onions!

Again in 1981, Pete hung out with Bruce and the band on the River tour. A larger than life character, Pete shares some of his personal stories with Jeff and Dan whilst Rosie searches around the kitchen for Pete's chosen drink of Vimto and a peculiar special bread request.

We hope you enjoy listening to this episode. We certainly had great fun making it.

Don't forget to leave us a nice review, tell your fellow E Streeters about the podcast and follow us on Facebook.

Eileen Chapman is the Director of the Bruce Springsteen Archives and Centre for American Music. She lives in Asbury Park and takes the short ride to Monmouth University each day for work, passing all the iconic New Jersey shore attractions.

In this episode, Eileen joins Jeff and Dan to discuss the work of the Springsteen Archive Centre and the worldwide interest from Bruce fans. We discover the rarest item in the collection (prepare to be astounded) and of course the E Street Cafe team are on hand to provide refreshments.

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These are the best clips and bits from Episodes 7 to 12 of Season 1. Listen to Hywel (rhymes with towel) Roberts try and engage with our waitress Rosalita, and make a new doggy friend for life. Tune in for the journalist Patrick Humphries impersonating one of our dear old departed friends. Nicki Germaine talks about photographing the band backstage in 1974, and Marc Ribler wonders what does 'Mikipedia' Saunders really wear behind the camera on a podcast.

Jeff and Dan also catch up with fellow fanzine editor Paul Limbrick, and we finish off with a funny clip from our 'almost live' Barcelona report.

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Enjoy folks!

In this compelling episode, Jeff and Dan chat to Warren Zanes, the author of the brilliant new book Deliver Me From Nowhere - The Making of Bruce Springsteen's Nebraska. As Dan so eloquently observed - this book tells you more about Nebraska than you could ever pick up from listening to it for over 40 years. It's a deep dive and it's a truly magical conversation.

Listen to Warren talk about his meeting with Bruce in the very house where the album was recorded, how Bruce and Nils jammed with his band in 1985 and the importance of musical friendship!

We hope you enjoy this episode as much as we enjoyed making it. Rosalita had a quiet afternoon - find out why.

Don't forget to pick up a copy of the book from your usual online supplier or local bookstore. You won't regret it.

Just before we launch into Season 2 fully - Jeff, Dan and Mike put their feet up in the cafe with some much needed Bruce Juice to review their favourite moments from Season 1. In this episode, we review Episodes 1 to 6 which includes guests Dick Wingate, Frank Stefanko, Bobby Chirmside and Donna from Bruce Funds. Highlights from Episodes 7 to 12 to follow.

Don't forget that if you haven't heard all the episodes yet from Season 1 - it's not too late. Each episode is crammed full of E Street chatter and the usual fun and games!

Jeff talks to Mike and Dan about the opening night of the European tour. Yes - they were there in the pit after a 7 year lay off for Bruce Springsteen and E Street Band in Europe. Reporting the following day from their Barcelona apartment (complete with live street noises filtering up from the street) - the guys share their first thoughts on the bands performance, the setlist and hopes for Barcelona Night 2.

It was also Mike 'Mikipedia' Saunders' 65th birthday, so Rosalita, Spanish Johnny, Weak Knee Willie and Sloppy Sue plan a little surprise for the birthday boy!

This episode is dedicated to the memory of Judith Miller and Holly Cara Price and all our absent E Street friends.

Jeff and Dan welcome fellow Springsteen fanzine editor Paul Limbrick to the E Street Cafe podcast. How were fanzines produced, edited, sold etc ....? Put three fanzine editors together in the E Street Cafe, fuelled with coffee from Rosalita, and the 'dark art' of fanzine editing is exposed!

Candy's Room, Point Blank, The Fever, Jackson Cage and Rendezvous were the 5 UK fanzines from the early 1980's. Back then, there was no Internet - everything was put together with a typewriter, letrasets, glue and scissors. It was great fun.

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This episode carries a health warning! It's rather funny. We explore if Hywel (rhymes with towel) and his brother were the real characters in Highway Patrolman. Besides, Joe and Frankie does sound better than Hywel and Alan after all. Jeff and Hywel get together live in the E Street Cafe with one mic and a rather amorous dog. It contains multiple references to Bruce of course - but it also covers all kinds of other random stuff from growing up in the North of England, Nebraska the album, which instrument most attracts attention in the street, soundtracks, Stephen King, Half Man Half Biscuit, playing in a band for fun, Jaws, Botheredness (it's not a real word, we know), Jaws again, early memories of the cinema, how the hell do we pronounce his name and even more Jaws.........

Every once in a while we like to lighten the mood and this episode will make you chuckle as Jeff and Hywel combine their northern wit to chat casually about just about anything. Listen out at the end for a twist to the E Street Shuffle. To Hywel's dismay - there's 2 quizzes.

Donna from Bruce Funds has been helping the E Street Nation for over 10 years. Her tireless work and dedication started in 2012 when she always bought two tickets for a concert. If her 'plus one' was unable to attend, she would donate her spare ticket to a person with a deserving cause. Other fans have also generously gifted spare tickets over the years, and Donna has now helped over 700 fans see Bruce for the first time. This is an inspiring story of 'kindness in action' by the E Street community. This is a heart-warming episode that will restore your faith in humanity. For more information on Bruce Funds visit www.brucefunds.org 

To keep up to date with all the news, please follow us on Facebook groups/547987037245963 or Instagram @estreetcafepodcast

Bob Chirmside was Bruce's Road Manager and room-mate between 1976 and 1981. In this time, he describes his role as a 'glorified babysitter' for Bruce effectively doing everything from organising tours, cooking for him and actually living with him! Bob recalls some amazing stories from the road which will have you laughing throughout this episode. 

Find out the truth behind the defaced Darkness billboard. What was life like in the big house on Telegraph Hill, especially during band rehearsals? And don't miss the hilarious story about how Bob and George Travis were almost sacked for trying to think 'outside the box' to create special effects for one concert!

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'Hey Frankie - this is Bruce. How about we get together and do some photographs?' Frank Stefanko is the photographer who has been taking pictures of Bruce Springsteen for 45 years. In February 1978, his world was about to change with one phone call. His work features on Darkness on the Edge of Town, The River and the biography - Born to Run. But how did Frank's journey in photography and music begin? In this episode Jeff talks to Frank about how he found a Box camera in the family home at the age of just 7, and this led on to him following his passion for photography and music.

We talk about his college days in New Jersey with Patti Smith, his early music memories, THAT Main Point gig in 1975, the Darkness shoot, The Great British Bake-Off and much much more! We also talk about his iconic heavyweight book - Further Up The Road - which documents his photographic career with the Boss. 

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With the Bruce Springsteen world tour now up and running, we get some early eye-witness accounts from some of the lucky fans who were in Tampa for the first show. Thanks to Kevin, Karen and John for calling us. Jeff, Dan and Mike share their own thoughts on the early setlists. The guys also reflect on the sad news that Backstreets are no longer going to providing their fantastic news service/ fan forum and fanzine after 43 years. 

Rosalita was on fine form in the cafe today and Dan tucked into a very generous portion of Clemons Meringue Pie, whilst Mike was a bit more traditional with a bacon butty. Enjoy the episode and make sure to check out our Facebook page too.  

Dick Wingate was the Publicity Manager for Bruce Springsteen at Columbia Records not long after the hype of Born to Run. In this episode, Dick explains how Bruce turned up at his radio station in 1973 and was literally too shy to speak to promote Greetings from Asbury Park. Fast forward a few years and Dick gets a key job at Columbia Records. He has one condition - he wants to look after The Boss!

His story starts with his first love of music, the iconic gigs of the late 60s and of course - his relationship with Bruce.

Rosalita was on great form today in the Cafe and served up Dick's favourite drink and sandwich. Enjoy the episode and don't forget to follow us and tell your fellow E Streeters. You can also join our Facebook group too for more up to date news.

If you like Bruce Springsteen and his music, then you are in the right place. In Episode 1, we open the doors of the E Street Cafe Podcast to talk about the 2023 E Street Band tour, our earliest Bruce memories and wonder if this episode will ever see the light of day! 

With the help of Dan ‘Point Blank’ French and Mike ‘Mikipedia’ Saunders, our host Jeff Matthews talks about connecting again with the help of modern technology.

We also reveal some of our forthcoming guests who will be joining us for a conversation and some friendly chat. So put your make up on, fix your hair up pretty (if applicable) and let the Virtual Cafe team of Rosalita, Sloppy Sue and Weak Knee Willie look after you whilst you enjoy the company of fellow E Streeters. This Podcast is made for the fans - by the fans.

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