BBC announce new Bruce Springsteen documentary
BBC has announced a new documentary, When Bruce Springsteen Came To Britain, which will focus on the story of the first time Springsteen played in the UK.
The film, which will be aired as part of a night of programming celebrating the concert’s 50th anniversary, tells the story of the singer’s relationship with the UK, which began with the European debut of his Born to Run tour at the Hammersmith Odeon in 1975.
Springsteen, who was only 26 at the time of the performance, has gone on to forge a special relationship with his UK audience, despite the fact that he was initially disappointed with his debut showing, which he claims in new interviews that he couldn’t watch back for nearly 30 years due to his embarrassment.
The New Jersey native said: “I went to a party that was supposed to celebrate my triumph, but I felt I’d been terrible and so I was embarrassed to even go in… I went in for a few minutes, couldn’t stand myself being there, went out, ran back to the hotel, sat in my lonely room under a big black cloud, ate whatever I had and went to bed….I had PTSD from the first Hammersmith show!”
He would redeem himself with a second show at the same venue a week later but didn’t return to the country for another six years, during which time he toured in support of his album, The River, and played in various cities across the country, including Edinburgh, Birmingham, Brighton, and Newcastle.
The documentary will also feature interviews with other members of his E Street Band such as guitarist Stevie Van Zandt, as well as contemporaries and music business icons such as Sting, Peter Gabriel, and Harvey Goldsmith.
No broadcast date has been announced for the night of celebration, which will also air several archival concert films and television appearances from Springsteen in the UK and at the BBC.
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