OT: 25th anniversary of one of the best Springsteen tours ever!

[PiscatawayMike]

Twenty-five years ago today (July 15, 1999)... tailgating in the parking lot at the Meadowlands... enthusiasm and anticipation sky-high... Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band's North American Reunion Tour was about to commence! They were back together after not touring for more than 11 years... 7/15/99 was the first of 15 shows over a 4-week span at the Continental Airlines Arena. I made it to 13 of them.

Most Springsteen fans agree the 1978 Darkness tour is Bruce's best. However, I was a little too young to enjoy that one. IMHO, the 1999-2000 tour has got to rank No. 2. After not performing together for more than a decade, absence made the heart grow fonder for Bruce diehards. I attended 33 shows in 10 different cities during the 1999-2000 tour, including the opener at the Meadowlands and the final show on July 1, 2000 at MSG. Truly, a tour for the ages!

That's me on the left wearing a Rutgers shirt (of course!).

 

[Knight Shift]

Twenty-five years ago today (July 15, 1999)... tailgating in the parking lot at the Meadowlands... enthusiasm and anticipation sky-high... Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band's North American Reunion Tour was about to commence! They were back together after not touring for more than 11 years... 7/15/99 was the first of 15 shows over a 4-week span at the Continental Airlines Arena. I made it to 13 of them.

Most Springsteen fans agree the 1978 Darkness tour is Bruce's best. However, I was a little too young to enjoy that one. IMHO, the 1999-2000 tour has got to rank No. 2. After not performing together for more than a decade, absence made the heart grow fonder for Bruce diehards. I attended 33 shows in 10 different cities during the 1999-2000 tour, including the opener at the Meadowlands and the final show on July 1, 2000 at MSG. Truly, a tour for the ages!

That's me on the left wearing a Rutgers shirt (of course!).

I'd throw in the 10 night stand at the then Byrne Arena that started on August 5, 1984, concluding with the epic August 20, 1984 closing show--33 songs, the Miami Horns, appearance by Miami Steve, IIRC, clocked in at over 4 hours.

 

[RU at the shore]

Like you and many others, I have that same shot with my tailgating crew.

Awesome shows

 

[newell138]

I actually went to that show with my wife and my mom and dad who were both in their 70s at the time. We sat a couple rows behind Tom Hanks and his wife.

 

[Knight Shift]

I actually went to that show with my wife and my mom and dad who were both in their 70s at the time. We sat a couple rows behind Tom Hanks and his wife.

I stood behind Cindy Crawford and her husband Randy Gerber at the show in Las Vegas on that tour. Her bio says she is the same height as me, but she seemed much shorter. Randy knew the words to every song.

 

[PiscatawayMike]

I actually went to that show with my wife and my mom and dad who were both in their 70s at the time. We sat a couple rows behind Tom Hanks and his wife.

I stood behind Cindy Crawford and her husband Randy Gerber at the show in Las Vegas on that tour. Her bio says she is the same height as me, but she seemed much shorter. Randy knew the words to every song.

I was two rows in front of Steve Young at one of the shows I attended in Oakland. The best seats I had on the tour. A friend of ours within the Springsteen camp set my brother and I up... big time!

 

[newell138]

I was two rows in front of Steve Young at one of the shows I attended in Oakland. The best seats I had on the tour. A friend of ours within the Springsteen camp set my brother and I up... big time!

My mom knew I wanted to go and had gotten shut out of tickets so she made the call to her brother who was the AD at Georgetown at the time, he made a call and boom we had incredible seats. Hence why my 70+ parents were with us. She said I got you tickets but on the condition we go with you as we are very curious what his show is all about. Luckily the ushers had earplugs for them

 

[Kbee3]

I was lucky enough to be in the right place at the right time and scored tickets for the 1978 show at the Capital Theater in Passaic. The set list was unbelievable. The show itself was on a level above anything I'd seen before...or since.
Every tune was awesome. The band was superb as well.
And the Boss was....the Boss. Superbly, uniquely talented.
Trust me, he's way better in a theater or smaller venue than an Arena or Stadium.
Better than anything I've ever seen.

 

[Scarlet1984]

I was lucky enough to be in the right place at the right time and scored tickets for the 1978 show at the Capital Theater in Passaic. The set list was unbelievable. The show itself was on a level above anything I'd seen before...or since.
Every tune was awesome. The band was superb as well.
And the Boss was....the Boss. Superbly, uniquely talented.
Trust me, he's was better in a theater or smaller venue than an Arena or Stadium.
Better than anything I've ever seen.

Agreed. Saw him at the Palladium a few days earlier than that.

I think the shows were announced on WNEW midday and then someone had to run to Ticketmaster back then. In our case it was at the back of Sears where you picked up catalog purchases, as I recall. (I’m pretty sure I didn’t dream this 😊). So, you needed someone who could run to Ticketmaster in the middle of the day and wait in line.

I must have had someone with me because I ended up getting like 10 tickets.

 

[AreYouNUTS]

Didn't attend my 1st 2 shows until the 2004 (?) tour, IIRC, and was amazed at what incredible shows they put on inside of GS those 2 nights. One show on the floor with friends, the next show 2nd row from the top of the stadium - under the old lights at about midfield - with our dads.

 

[Knight Shift]

Didn't attend my 1st 2 shows until the 2004 (?) tour, IIRC, and was amazed at what incredible shows they put on inside of GS those 2 nights. One show on the floor with friends, the next show 2nd row from the top of the stadium - under the old lights at about midfield - with our dads.

I was skeptical about seeing a rock concert in a football stadium. I had floor seats for one of the Giants Stadium shows. We had a blast. Few bands can deliver a great show in a stadium. Metallica does it well too.

 

[AreYouNUTS]

I was skeptical about seeing a rock concert in a football stadium. I had floor seats for one of the Giants Stadium shows. We had a blast. Few bands can deliver a great show in a stadium. Metallica does it well too.

Giants Stadium was PERFECT for outdoor shows (unlike Veterans, where I probably saw 10 shows of various artists over the years) IMHO. More of a "rectangular" shape and 100% "enclosed" on all 4 sides. I actually saw the same exact show from Genesis 1 year, at both GS and The Vet, and was stunned at how much better the sound/light effects, et al, were at GS.

 

[Kbee3]

Agreed. Saw him at the Palladium a few days earlier than that.

I think the shows were announced on WNEW midday and then someone had to run to Ticketmaster back then. In our case it was at the back of Sears where you picked up catalog purchases, as I recall. (I’m pretty sure I didn’t dream this 😊). So, you needed someone who could run to Ticketmaster in the middle of the day and wait in line.

I must have had someone with me because I ended up getting like 10 tickets.

That's correct. I was just leaving work when they made the announcement of the Capital shows and that tickets would go on sale shortly. I had plenty of cash on me and was a short drive from the Flagship on Rt. 22, whch was one of the places you could buy tickets. I hustled there and watched as an incredibly long line formed behind me in the Flagship parking lot. I got as many tickets for as many shows as they allowed.
Needless to say I had many friends who wanted some of those tickets.
One of the best purchases I've ever made.

 

[Knight Shift]

Giants Stadium was PERFECT for outdoor shows (unlike Veterans, where I probably saw 10 shows of various artists over the years) IMHO. More of a "rectangular" shape and 100% "enclosed" on all 4 sides. I actually saw the same exact show from Genesis 1 year, at both GS and The Vet, and was stunned at how much better the sound/light effects, et al, were at GS.

Chase Field in Phoenix, AZ- saw Billy Joel and Stevie Nicks last December. Fantastic venue, sight lines and sound.

 

[CJ1987]

I'd throw in the 10 night stand at the then Byrne Arena that started on August 5, 1984, concluding with the epic August 20, 1984 closing show--33 songs, the Miami Horns, appearance by Miami Steve, IIRC, clocked in at over 4 hours.

I was at the August 12th show on that stop, can't believe my ticket was $16.00, my how times have changed

 

[zebnatto]

I’ve been to many great Springsteen shows over many years, including several from the 78 darkness tour. But in terms of one that sticks out in my mind, or actually, it’s two, are the 1975 shows at the Bottom Line.

 

[RUGuitarMan]

Apparently the journey has been very rewarding for Bruce, I just saw a report that Forbes has classified him as an official “billionaire”. I wonder what his blue collar pops would have thought of that? Sometimes it’s good to rebel.

 

[fg7321]

My wife (then girlfriend) on our first real date saw Bruce in 1978 at the Utica Memorial Auditorium. 39 years later Bruce is still rockin' and so are my wife and I!

 

[Kbee3]

Apparently the journey has been very rewarding for Bruce, I just saw a report that Forbes has classified him as an official “billionaire”. I wonder what his blue collar pops would have thought of that? Sometimes it’s good to rebel.

If there ever was someone who earned the title "billionaire" it's Bruce.