The forgotten band Bruce Springsteen viewed as “gods”
The music industry isn’t a meritocracy, and talent doesn’t always rise to the top. Despite most artists starting from the same position at the bottom of the ladder, only a select few will sell millions of records and perform in stadiums like Bruce Springsteen.
It can often be a cruel business, with many bands never getting the opportunity to fulfil their potential. It has become more democratised in recent years due to acts being able to cultivate their own fanbases online, sidestepping traditional industry mechanisms. However, that option unfortunately didn’t exist for Springsteen’s favourite group as a teenager.
Although ‘The Boss’ grew up idolising internationally renowned stars like The Beatles and Elvis Presley, they always seemed out-of-reach for a kid from New Jersey. As much as he was significantly inspired by their records, which led to him wanting to be a musician, they seemed otherworldly and existed at an unachievable level of fame. On the contrary, The Motifs grew up on the same streets as Springsteen and inspired him from an early age.
Unlike his other childhood favourites, The Motifs never managed to connect with a mainstream audience, but that didn’t matter to Springsteen. The band were led by brothers Walter and Raymond Cichon, who mentored Springsteen at a pivotal age by taking him under their wing. While they likely worked a regular job outside of their heroic exploits on stages in New Jersey on an evening.
While they weren’t getting chased in the street like The Beatles or The Rolling Stones, Springsteen thought they were the coolest cats he’d ever met. He meticulously studied their performances to pick up tricks and tips, which helped him immensely in his pursuit of his dream.
Admittedly, The Motifs barely made a mark outside their hometown, but they made Springsteen the artist he is today, which is the most significant part of their legacy. Whenever the opportunity arises, Springsteen has paid homage to the band, including a section of his Broadway show dedicated to the Cichons.
As he talked fans through his life, Bruce paused and reflected on two of the most important figures on his journey, explaining, “They were gods”. He then individually praised each brother, starting with Walter, “On stage, he was deadly, and he was aloof and raw and sexual and dangerous.”
Meanwhile, on Raymond, Bruce added: “Raymond was my guitar hero.”
Springsteen only named a handful of people during his Broadway show, which speaks volumes about his respect for the Cichon brothers and their inclusion. In his mind, The Motifs were “a head above everybody else” in the New Jersey music scene. The Boss continued: “Raw, sexy and rebellious, they were the heroes you aspired to be. But these were heroes you could touch, speak to, and go to with your musical inquiries”.
“Cool, but always accessible, they were an inspiration to me and many young working musicians in 1960s central New Jersey. . .[Cichon] was the first person I ever stood in the presence of who was filled with the mystique of the true rock star,” he added.
Sadly, The Motifs’ story is drenched in tragedy. Walter was drafted to serve in the Vietnam War and lost his life in 1968 while defending his country. “He still performs somewhat regularly in my mind, the way he stood, dressed, held the tambourine, the casual cool, the freeness. The man who, by his attitude, his walk, said, ‘You can defy all this, all of what’s here, all of what you’ve been taught, taught to fear, to love, and you’ll still be alright.’ His was a terrible loss to us, his loved ones and the local music scene. I still miss him.”
The band may never have secured a record deal or lived long in many memories, but Springsteen will remember the impact of The Motifs for as long as he’s still breathing. They didn’t need to go out of their way to help Springsteen when he was a rookie, and little did they know how their advice would shape a global megastar. He was their number one fan as a teenager and remains so to this day.
