Add this exhibit to Bruce Springsteenís list of big hits.† The display, entitled ìFrom Ashbury Park to the Promised Land, The Life and Music of Bruce Springsteen,” is a special exhibit located at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in Cleveland, Ohio that runs from April 1, 2009 to Spring 2010. The display is the first artifact centered presentation about Bruce Springsteen, an artist known to ìplay every show like it might be his last.”
Taking up a full two floors of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, ìThe Life and Music” displays artifacts ranging from Springsteenís Fender Esquire guitar, which is used on the cover of ìBorn To Run,” to the handwritten lyric manuscripts of some of his most popular songs.† The exhibit covers a span of time ranging from his early childhood to today.
The presentation is almost overwhelming in the number of people and the amount of information crammed into one small space.† The flow of knowledge is constant and the artifacts captivating.† The attitude of the space is lively; people look genuinely excited to be close enough to touch so much Bruce Springsteen memorabilia. The ìBruce fans” are literally coming out of the woodwork.
Springsteen, who has been compared to folk artist Woodie Guthrie and author John Steinbeck, was born to a blue-collar family in Long Branch, New Jersey on September 23, 1949.† He was first inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1999.† According to the exhibit Springsteenís music merges ìurgency and realism [and addresses] issues of working class Americans.”
The exhibit begins in Springsteenís adolescence, age 14, at the start of his musical career with the band Castiles.† Springsteen was the lead guitarist and vocalist for the band which formed in 1965.† The band recorded a total of two original songs and played multiple venues including some in Greenwich Village.† The exhibit houses original scrapbooks of the band that were created by manager Tex Vinyardís wife, Marion.
The display not only houseís tributary to his accomplishments as a musician, but family photo albums, letters and Springsteenís childhood knick knacks are all miscellaneous memorabilia displayed throughout the exhibit.
After Springsteenís time spent in Castile we move on to the next segment of his life spent with the band Earth. In the late 1960sí Earth performed locally around New Jersey.† Springsteen lived above a surf shop during this time period, where he obtained his second surfboard which is on display in the exhibit.
After Earth broke up Springsteen formed the group Child.† Child branched out of New Jersey, playing numerous free shows in Virginia in the late 1960ís.† The exhibit displays various concert posters ranging from professional posters to hand written poster boards.† Also available is Springsteenís personal address book from that time.
In 1970 Steelmill, formerly known as Child was formed.† To commemorate this time of Springsteenís life his 1968 Gibson Les Paul guitar is displayed in this part of the exhibit.† Springsteen retired this guitar because he felt it weighed too much.† In addition to the guitar a song book containing the songs ìClouds,” ìWinters” and ìRevelation” which he used the guitar to compose are displayed.
After another stint of time during which Springsteen jumped from band to band, with time spent in Dr. Zoom and the Sonic Boom, we progress to the point in Springsteenís life where he becomes more recognized.† With the formation of the Bruce Springsteen Band in 1971, Springsteen evolved and eventually released his first album with the E Street Band under Columbia Records.
From this point on we transition into the Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band that people know and love today.† At this point the exhibit is filled with magazine covers, clothes, various guitars, harmonicas and newspaper clippings, all focused on the man they call ìThe Boss.”
One of the great things about the exhibit is that it not only includes so many different kinds of things from the life of Springsteen, but it also includes artifacts from his E Street Band members.† Steve Vanzandtís 1984 Guild X-79 Electric guitar and Clarence Clemons saxophone are just some of the E Street Band artifacts you will find.
While standing in the middle of the exhibit at peak visiting hours, one thing is for sure: Springsteenís motto of ìplay every show like itís your last” is one of the things that draws people to him.† Some of the people at this exhibit are positively thrilled to be there.
Nancy Thomas and Kathy Host from Akron, Ohio came to visit the museum with only one thing in mind: Bruce Springsteen.† These women are huge ìBruce fans,” ìWe love the exhibit, you name it theyíve got it, weíve been Bruce fans since before you were born.”
The exhibit concludes with a video clip of Bruce and his band forming a human train through the audience at the MTV unplugged concert in November 1992, a clear representation not only of the exhibit but the person that Springsteen is.