In a recent interview with NME, The Gaslight Anthem frontman Brian Fallon talked about memories of his encounters with Bruce Springsteen, hinting he might have secured a place in Springsteen’s elite circle.
Fallon opened up about his personal relationship with Springsteen, expressing amazement at the ease with which he can now reach out to him:
“Bruce is a friend, and it’s not lost on me how crazy it is that I can say: ‘Oh, I can text my friend Bruce Springsteen and see if he wants to catch a little TV tonight! Him coming on the record now felt like a full-circle moment of owning our own story and accepting that we’re a band from New Jersey.
‘Cause there are other bands from New Jersey, but there are no other bands who hold that position with him. My Chemical Romance are a much bigger band than ours worldwide, but Uncle Bruce doesn’t hang out with them!”
Back in June 2009, Springsteen made an unannounced appearance on the John Peel Stage, joining The Gaslight Anthem three songs into their set. The following day, the band supported Springsteen at the Hyde Park Calling festival in London. Recalling their performance of ‘The ’59 Sound’ in Glastonbury, Fallon said:
“We were playing in 10 minutes, so when he showed up, I couldn’t think. My musical professional brain took over because my regular brain freaked out, and I said to him: ‘Do you know the song? Then let’s go!’ It was a small tent and felt pretty epic afterward. I freaked out.”
He continued by saying Springsteen’s surprise appearance left him astonished:
“I had to go straight back to the bus and lie on the floor thinking: ‘What the hell just happened? Am I in a club now? Do I get a card or a badge now?’ I should at least get a Nando’s Black Card after playing with Bruce Springsteen at Glastonbury!”
Fallon also admitted that a chat with Springsteen played an important role in inspiring him to pen down new tracks for the band. Upon completion of their song ‘Positive Charge,’ Fallon felt confident that they were charting the right course:
“I wanted to make that deal with myself because I felt like if I call the guys and say: ‘Do you want to do this?’ you have to have something to show them. I wanted four demos that I felt good about, which is practically half an album. When I finished the first song, ‘Positive Charge,’ it felt like a Gaslight Anthem song that would belong up there next to ’45’ or ‘The Sound of ’59,’ and I knew I was onto something special.”
Springsteen and The Gaslight Anthem have not only shared stages but also studio time. The band recently released a single titled ‘History Books’ featuring ‘The Boss.’ This track is a precursor to their upcoming album, also named ‘History Books,’ slated for an October 27 release via Rich Mahogany Recordings. This is their first album after a nine-year hiatus.
While The Gaslight Anthem gears up for the release of ‘History Books’ and a series of US headline shows, Springsteen made headlines with two concerts in London as part of BST Hyde Park, although he had to postpone some of his September gigs due to health concerns.
You can listen to ‘History Books’ below.
