Bruce's life and career has spanned for more than five decades. In this section we try to pin down his life, who he is, who and what inspired him, what he did. We will do so by presenting possibly the largest collection of articles about Bruce Springsteen that can be found freely available on the internet. We will present suggestions for further reading, listening and watching, in the shape of biographies about him, music he listened to, and movies that moved him.
For now this section is unfortunately still rather incomplete, but we hope to add more in the months to come.
Bruce library
Lawrence Kirsch (production editor)
For You: Original Stories and Photographs by Bruce Springsteen's Legendary Fans
miscellaneous
Gary Graff
The Ties That Bind: Bruce Springsteen From A to E to Z
Bruce joins his first band, the Castiles, a five-piece rock band with Beatles and Rolling Stones influences. The band is mostly a cover band and performs at local malls and "battles of the bands".
1966
May 16
The Castiles record a single in the Bricktown Studio in New Jersey. It contains two songs written by Springsteen and singer George Theiss: "Baby I" and "That's What You Get". The single is pressed in five copies of which only two are known to be in existance today.
1968
The Castiles break up when most of the members begin to find other interests in life. Bruce however has his mind set on a musical career and forms a new Band called Earth.
Bruce meets Steve Van Zandt for the first time.
Bruce briefly attends Ocean County College, but soon realizes he will never accomodate to the educational system.
Bruce's parents move to California. Bruce himself remains in New Jersey staying at friends' houses and at a surfboard factory in Asbury Park. It is in Asbury Park he from now on will have his base and shape his musical style.
1969
Bruce forms a new band, Child, which quickly changes its names to Steel Mill when it turns out there is another band called Child. Steel Mill is Springsteen's most famous early band. Their style is characterized by long bluesy instrumental passages and Springsteen's lyrical experiments. The lineup changes a couple of times, but among the members are Danny Federici, Steve Van Zandt, Robbin Thompson, and Vini Lopez
1970
January-February
Steel Mill drive cross-country to California to try and make a break on the West Coast. They play a few dates at the Matrix in San Francisco to critical acclaim and record a few demos in a studio. They are even offered a record deal, but turn it down and return home to the East.
