European Stars And Stripes (Newspaper) - August 14, 1985, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Page 16 the stars and stripes August 1985 Bruce really is the Boss now stories by Frank Spotnitz United press International Bruce Springsteen was on the cover of the edition of Newsweek but the charges of hype that dogged him for months after he appeared simultaneously on the covers of time and Newsweek a decade ago Arent Likely this after a worldwide tour that been seen by 3 million people in 140 cities and an album that has sold More than 10 million theres Little question that Springsteen has earned the right to be called the he is revered in Rock music circles and has drawn Praise from such diverse figures As president Reagan and conservative columnist George will to Union presidents and the head of the Vietnam veterans of when Springsteen born in the tour was Only two months old last he played 10 nights on his Home turf at the Brendan Byrne Arena in new Hes playing four nights at the nearby giants stadium this and Odds Are he could play twice As Many nights and still sell in the decade since he was hailed As rocks new hero with the release of 1975s bom to has gone through personal and artistic changes that have led to a More finely chiselled definition of just who he fans have watched Springsteen come to terms first with his then with his and ultimately with the departure of longtime guitarist Miami Steve Van Zandt last year and Springsteen marriage last Spring signalled to Many that the Boss has come into his its no Accident that born in the is Springsteen biggest seller As Well As the bestselling album in the history of Columbia it also is perhaps his most clearly defined using Rock n Roll to etch detailed portraits of the common Springsteen has no heroes in the usual his characters victories Are often personal triumphs in areas ignored by Many rockers dedication and truth to ones although culling these themes from Springsteen songs is a simple they Are subtly in the plight of an out work Vietnam Veteran in bom in the for or the Bond Between two friends in no it is not surprising that Springsteen has attracted some of the most devoted fans in the Given the enduring values he believes in and the brilliance with which he espouses Springsteen seems As much a hero to his band As to his it was just real Fate that i got hooked up with Bruce and could play the Way he wanted me to drummer Max Weinberg the feeling i got when i sat Down the first time this is the band Ive been looking for All my Veteran guitarist Nils called in to replace the departing Van Zandt last is equally i wanted to play with Bruce and the band really he playing with him has Given me a lot More Confidence in by All accounts warm and Friendly in Springsteen already reclusive nature has become More intense As his cadre of followers has even a decade when he was doing an interview for a Springsteen was said to have been tricked into it by his who bought the reporter a seat on a plane next to Springsteen to make sure the interview came he consents to few interviews now and was said to have been upset by reporters attempts to cover his wedding in Oregon last May to actress Julianne a longtime Singer Southside has said Springsteen has had to give up a lot of the everyday activities he like going to get pizza or going to the his privacy is Likely to become even More precious As the bom in the phenomenon after More than a the album is still in the top it has yielded five top 10 singles and one or More others seem if he holds to his past its bound to be a year or two before another Springsteen album and that part of the reason Boss fans Are Rushing to get one More concert which Springsteen himself described in a people Magazine interview last year As his favorite some nights when in up i feel like the King of the he its the greatest feeling on glory Days for Asbury Park Madam the Fortune Teller Bruce Springsteen Sang about in his 1973 song 4th of Asbury Park still plies her Trade in a Booth along the Boardwalk of Asbury a fading Beach she sits in a folding chair looking out into the and smiles broadly when reminded that Springsteen song had her being arrested by the police for telling fortunes better than they it Doest bother she in a you make things Madam Marie never knew Springsteen but she remembers him As a pleasant Young very he has never forgot where he came Springsteen want born in Asbury but Ever since his debut greetings from Asbury was released in his fans have adopted the sleepy Seaside town As his Springsteen was actually born in nearby but it was in the clubs and Honky tonks of Asbury Park and a Hal dozen other towns along the Jersey Shore that his musical cast was forged in the late 60s and Early the farther you get away from the More of this Mecca like image Asbury Park has because of a top City official the ranks of the curious have the locals with the massive popularity of Springsteen latest born in the despite the hoopla Over its adopted Asbury Park has shown Little interest in capitalizing on Springsteen its neighbourhoods Are quiet and things move at a Small town like most resort towns on the Jersey Asbury Park has been in a state of decline for in the first half of this thousands of tourists checked into its hotels for the weekend or a playing games on the Boardwalk and sunning themselves on the of the is usually empty and dozens of stores have been boarded those that Are open seem Many areas of the City have been declared blighted in preparation for a massive above the rows of two Story a Carousel rises from beside the exuding an air of mock arabian amusement palaces stand peeling and the warbling sound of merry ground music just an the Boardwalk and a narrow strip of Sand slip into a yawning Blu Egray not More than 50 Yards Inland from Madam Maries Post stands the nightclub most associated with the Stone on the Walls there Are dozens of pictures of performing on the Pony chatting with club owner Butch or playing softball with his the e Street against the clubs Pony in Stone Pony disc jockey Lee Mrowicki said he first met Springsteen at the club in he comes in now and sitting at a table with some friends or standing in the Booth helping Mrowicki pick out sometimes hell jump onstage with the band that playing that night and sing a two or three someone from the Springsteen Camp has called the Pony around in the evening and asked if the band could come in and play the 550 seat club that the answer is always no announcement is those Lucky enough to wander in catch a show Many would pay hundreds of dollars to Hes a regular Mrowicki you can Tell by the Way he he Doest do the Michael Jackson scene or Prince weve never seen him in a he always drives his own Mrowicki and the others at the Stone Pony clearly treasure their relationship with for that there careful not to exploit its a conscious Effort for us not to play up the Springsteen Mrowicki we try and make it Clear its a club where he not the Home of Bruce although there is a lot of Pride that Springsteen is associated with the City manager Samuel Addeo said he is hesitant to place too much emphasis on its Rock n Roll should our image be that Asbury Parks a Honky club cruising place Many of us dont feel that a Good image for a he i personally would like a place like that but not in my the cites Rock music heritage is exceptionally including not Only Springsteen but Southside Johnny and the Asbury Little la Bamba and several popular local such As the the influences of nearby new York City and Philadelphia have brushed against a deep rooted local Affinity for rhythm and blues to produce what has become known As the sound of Asbury or through that sound has spread from the Jersey Shore around the influencing big time rockers like John Cougar Bryan Adams and Bob newcomers like John Cafferty and John and untold numbers of garage Addeo even remembers a West German band asking for permission to Call itself Asbury when the City said they were in seventh looking at the closed shops and dilapidated apartment buildings of this once thriving resort Many area residents see their musical heritage As an important asset not Only for Asbury but for Long maligned new new jerseys image has been Addeo the past few with the Advent of a couple football teams and Bruce people Are taking another perhaps even More important than changing outsiders perceptions of the Springsteen popularity has Given Many in a town whose Pride has taken a Licking for a Long time a new reason to be said the Stone Pony since most of us have seen Bruce go from the Bottom to the top he cant get any higher than he is now Hes an inspiration for