Born to Run at 50

Today was "The Main Event" of the Born to Run 50th Anniversary weekend at Monmouth University, and it was the most thrillingly unique day I've ever experienced as a Springsteen fan. Walking in to the Pollak Theater in the morning, I was immediately struck by how happy everyone seemed. Then I noticed how many in the capacity 750-seat room I've known for decades. Today was to document the anniversary, but in a way it was also for us.

Consisting mostly as panel discussions and interviews, the day started with a Boom. Boom Carter, that is, the drummer that most Springsteen fans have never seen, who recorded exactly one song as a member of the E Street Band: Born to Run. Boom was joined by Garry Tallent and David Sancious for the first panel of the day, moderated by radio personality Tom Cunningham on the band as it existed from February through August 1974. Sancious was eloquent recalling events from long ago, though he also noted that in 1974 he was busy focusing on the present rather than how he might recall it decades later. This was the only panel I recall that addressed the issue of race, as that version of the E Street Band was 3 black members and 3 white members. When Cunningham asked if they'd ever had problems in their travels, Garry quipped that he hadn't had any. 

Tom Cunningham, David Sancious, Garry Tallent and
Earnest "Boom" Carter

Other panels in the morning and early afternoon included former Columbia executives, Bruce's former management and sound team, a session on the album cover featuring Pam interviewing photographer Eric Meola (a discussion that, having shot several Springsteen shows for Backstreets, I found fascinating, from the technical details of the shoot to Eric's anecdotes of his interactions with the band, and Clarence in particular), and a panel with various music writers putting Born to Run in context. Barbara Pyle, the photographer who traveled with the band during the "Born to Run" tour, was especially goofy and candid about her experience. The panels were all engaging and occasionally hilarious.

But we were also there for Bruce, and he didn't disappoint. After lunch, the cell phones went in Yondr bags. 

First up was an interview segment with Bob Santelli on writing the song "Born to Run." In this session, Bruce offered up his assessment of the finished product: "That is what I fucking sound like." The next session was a panel with author Peter Ames Carlin with Bruce and Jon Landau, with both subjects commenting on their bonds as well as how the final recordings came about. 

Pam Springsteen and Eric Meola

Then, the surviving band members as well as Mike Appel, Jon Landau, and recording engineer Jimmy Iovine. Iovine, who engineered "Born to Run" before moving on to founding Interscope, was especially hysterical, notably when he did an impression of how he could pretend to be awake while dozing. At several points, he had Jon laughing so hard I was wondering if Jon might fall out of his seat. Stevie also demonstrated why he had heard a minor key chord in "Born to Run." Throughout the panels, the thank-yous, the compliments and the remembrances of all the difficulties of the sessions were plenty, though more than a few times the participants confessed to not remembering many items at all. But everyone seemed to appreciate their own small role and the creation of the landmark record. Bruce noted, with some humor, that despite the fact that virtually nobody involved with the record had the requisite experience that might be needed - especially after Louis Lahav was dismissed as lead engineer shortly after the move to The Record Plant - that "these were the people I wanted!" That all of the surviving members of the band came, that Mike Appel and Jon Landau easily shared a stage, and that Jimmy Iovine also came, was a demonstration of the tremendous loyalties all around.

The Main Event concluded with a brief performance by the E Street Band for "Thunder Road" and "Born to Run," with David Sancious taking the organ spot, Bruce playing the guitar (for the first time in a long time, he said), Eddie Manion on saxophone, and with two drummers: Max and Boom. The cordiality between Max and Boom was very nice to see. Few in the audience had seen David play with Bruce, and fewer still had seen Boom play with Bruce. David and Bruce were together on stage during the encores of the Amnesty International tour in 1988, when David was in Peter Gabriel's band, but I'm pretty certain Boom hadn't played with Bruce since 1974. It was a special treat to see Max hang back while Boom took the polyrhythmic passage in the "Born to Run" break -- something I don't think Max has ever performed. Seeing that, and hearing that, occurring just a few feet in front of where I was standing, was thrilling.

Boom Carter and Max Weinberg on drums. September 6, 2025.
Photo courtesy of Eileen Chapman