Greetings Patrons,
We started today’s Lunchtime At The Laguna with “No Surrender” off the Bruce Springsteen album Born In The USA.
On this date in 1984, “The Boss” was getting ready to embark on what would eventually become his biggest-ever tour, promoting an album that would sell 30 million copies worldwide.
He was on his way to becoming an 80’s musical, cultural, and American icon.
Eight years earlier, he broke into the home of arguably the most significant music icon ever.
It was the spring of 1976, and Bruce Springsteen & The E Street Band played in Memphis.
The sonic powerhouse was touring the Born To Run LP.
This album and the reputation of Springsteen’s lengthy and enthusiastic performances landed him on both the cover of Time and Newsweek magazines the same week.
Following a performance at Ellis Memorial Auditorium, “The Boss” and guitarist Steven Van Zandt hailed a cab to find a late-night diner.
The driver recommended a place near Graceland, the home of Elvis Presley.
Upon the revelation the cabbie knew where “The King” lived, they persuaded him to take them there.
After arriving, Springsteen wanted to go inside and meet Presley.
The cab driver informed him of all the security on the grounds and the difficulty getting in.
Springsteen told Van Zandt and the cabbie to stand watch, and he proceeded to scale the fence surrounding the home of Elvis.
The story goes that he walked up the driveway and was getting ready to knock at the door when a large security guard came out of the bushes and asked the young singer if he needed help.
“I’m Bruce Springsteen, and I was wondering if I could just say hello to Elvis,” the 26-year-old eventual Rock N Roll Hall of Famer said.
The guard informed him that Presley was in Las Vegas.
Springsteen politely said, “Oh well, if you could just tell him I was here, and if he doesn’t know who I am, I was on the cover of Time & Newsweek a while ago.”
The guard famously said, “Um…King, he don’t read that much; I’ll walk you to the gate.”
Springsteen rejoined his bandmate at the cab, and they went off to a late-night Memphis eatery.
This story is true; you can find many clips of Bruce telling the tale online.
Just the visual of two of the immense musical forces of all time attempting to meet in the middle of the night on the doorstep of what is now a national landmark with Steven Van Zandt (who would eventually play the role of mafia consigliere Silvio Dante in The Sopranos) standing guard in case “the heat” rolls up, makes one smile.
The thing about the past, be it the 80s or any time really, is the cast of characters and absurd situations that couldn’t exist in these modern times.
Like Springsteen once sang, “Glory days, well, they’ll pass you by.”
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