Actor Rob Lowe spoke recently about his love for a certain set of lyrics by Bruce Springsteen. Lowe, who was introduced to Springsteen’s music later in life, has confessed to having an emotional connection to a particular verse that resonated with him the moment he heard it.
Growing up in California, Lowe had not been familiar with the New Jersey-born musician. His musical interests lay elsewhere, particularly with singer-songwriter Jackson Browne. This dedication led him to the ‘No Nukes: The Muse Concerts For a Non-Nuclear Future,’ a film of an event at which Browne played a significant role as a key organizer.
The ‘No Nukes’ concert marked the first official appearance of Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band’s live act on record. As Springsteen’s voice echoed through the saloon, Lowe found himself entranced by the lyrics of ‘Thunder Road’. The experience was such a revelation that Lowe vividly remembers every detail of that moment, including where he was sitting.
Reflecting on that memorable night, Lowe said:
“I don’t ever remember Bruce being played on the radio as a kid growing up in California. I don’t. I made it as far as 1980 before I even had heard his name, and I went and saw ‘No Nukes’ because I was a huge and remained a huge Jackson Browne fan. I went to ‘No Nukes’ to see Jackson Browne, the movie, and Bruce came on.
I remember where I was sitting. I remember the moment when Bruce sang, ‘Roll down the window and let the wind blow back your hair.’ I remember it like it was yesterday. I’ve never heard the song before, never heard of him before, nothing.”
A single lyric, a particular verse, can stir emotions and create a lasting impact that can resonate for years. For Lowe, that moment was when he first heard Bruce Springsteen’s ‘Thunder Road’. It not only transformed Lowe’s musical tastes but etched a moment in his memory that he remembers ‘like it was yesterday.’
