Bruce
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4.1 • 136 Ratings
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- $14.99
Publisher Description
From the New York Times bestselling author of Tonight in Jungleland comes the first biography in more than twenty-five years written with Bruce Springsteen’s cooperation—an intimate, powerful portrait that captures the enduring impact of the Boss: “Carlin gets across why Mr. Springsteen has meant so much, for so long, to so many people” (The New York Times).
In Bruce, acclaimed music writer Peter Ames Carlin presents a startlingly intimate and vivid portrait of a rock icon. For more than four decades, Bruce Springsteen has reflected the heart and soul of America with a career that includes twenty Grammy Awards, more than 120 million albums sold, two Golden Globes, and an Academy Award. Peter Ames Carlin masterfully encompasses the breadth of Springsteen’s astonishing career and explores the inner workings of a man who managed to redefine generations of music.
A must read for fans, Bruce is a meticulously researched, compulsively readable biography of a man laden with family tragedy, a tremendous dedication to his artistry, and an all-consuming passion for fame and influence.
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
Rock biographer Carlin (Paul McCartney) delivers a straight-on, rockin' and rollin' life of the Jersey youngster who sold his soul to rock and roll the night he saw Elvis on the Ed Sullivan Show in 1957. Drawing on exclusive interviews with members of the E Street Band, including Clarence Clemons's final interview, and unrestricted conversations with Springsteen's family, friends, manager Jon Landau, and Springsteen himself, Carlin takes us on a fascinating journey through Springsteen's childhood, youth, and his rise to fame out of his early years playing in bands such as the Castiles, Earth, and Child to his most recent concerts in support of his Wrecking Ball album. Carlin energetically drives through the streets of Asbury Park, the bars and arenas around the world where Springsteen continues to work his magic. Carlin gives Springsteen the definitive treatment, and this is by far the best of the many books about the rock and roller, capturing his many moods, his desire to retain his privacy, but his secret craving for superstardom, and, above all, his consummate musicianship and his deep passion for pleasing audiences with rollicking, energetic shows.
Customer Reviews
Springsteen
A very good book.Recommended
Almost definitive
Overall a well written and very detailed bio.
The story of Bruce Springsteen's life and career is truly amazing and singular in modern day entertainment history. If it wasn't (mostly) true, you could not make it up.
After reading, I still have the feeling that we're still not getting the full behind the scenes story. At least not while all participants are still marketing their public images and shaping their historic legacies.
Actually, the more I think about it it's probably a good thing we only get a taste of the darker side; all that should matter is the music and it's personally mattered to me for all my life. A person's personal life should remain as personal as they want to keep it.
Still, major kudos for the many on-the-record interviews and insights from family, friends and band mates that have not been found in any other bios. These provide a much deeper insight on the very early days and Springsteen's dogged, single-minded vision to succeed on his (and only his) terms.
One major complaint, the misquotation of Jon Landau's famous "rock and roll future" quote - can no author get this right? Especially when other parts of his article are correctly referenced earlier in the text.
Another observation is that there is no real discussion of Springsteen's place in rock history from his influences, contemporaries and disciples. It would have been interesting to read what Dylan, Joel, Seger, Mellencamp, Costello, etc. have to say about Springsteen's legacy. That's probably another book!
As close as we'll probably get to a definitive, independently written biography. Well done.
Very nuanced book
Carlin's book depicted the essence of Springteen very nicely: his creativity, discipline, his temper and his humanity. After reading the book, I appreciated Springsteen as a hard working musician much more, and I admired the fact how Bruce channeled all his demons towards his music.