Bruce Springsteen’s six favourite bands
All you need to do is watch five minutes of a Bruce Springsteen gig to get an understanding of how dedicated his fanbase is and how unwavering he is in his talent. Realistically, the American rock icon could never say a word or perform a concert again, and there is enough credit on his name that people would hold him up as being one of the greatest writers and musicians for decades to come. Springsteen doesn’t act like that, though; he has a love for music at the forefront of his being, and as such, while enjoying his position on the podium, he has no problem acknowledging the other artists who are there with him.
Music is more to Bruce Springsteen than just something that we listen to. From an early age, he found music’s power and how it could be a gateway to developing a better understanding of the world. He thanks Bob Dylan for that, as he has previously referred to the bard as the “Father of my country” because of his ability to talk about America that was as unrelenting as it was beautiful.
His love for music and what it is capable of has persisted ever since that moment. It not only spurs him on to continue creating and performing but also creeps its way into his lyrics. In ‘No Surrender’, a track he frequently opens his gigs with, he gives the crowd a glimpse into why he persistently performs. “We busted out of class / Had to get away from those fools / We learned more from a three-minute record, baby / Than we ever learned in school.”
Due to this unwavering devotion to music, all it takes is a word and Springsteen is happy to talk about the bands he enjoys listening to the most. In a recent interview, when asked about some of his favourite acts, three came up that won’t be a particular surprise to anyone. “It’s Beatles, Stones, Animals, that’s how my playlist goes, you know,” he said before continuing, “But any Dave Clark 5 fans?” He went on to justify his mention of DC5 by saying that they had “great records.”
Punk bands have also had a profound impact on Bruce throughout his career. The band Suicide has often been cited as the inspiration behind The Boss’ album Nebraska, and his adoration of Joe Strummer and The Clash isn’t much of a secret. Both Bruce and Strummer had a strong affiliation with one another, with Strummer saying in an interview, “Bruce is great. If you don’t agree with that you’re a pretentious Martian from Venus.”
Bruce recalled meeting Strummer in the ‘90s, “I ran into Joe in a bar in LA in 1990. What a guy. We were from very different backgrounds. But singing I think from the same hymn-sheet… Like Johnny Cash, he went out on a high. I really miss having Joe around.” Springsteen also wrote in 2022 on what would have been Strummer’s 70th birthday, “Joe Strummer, my great, great departed friend and brother that I never had. You have been my inspiration for the past 40 years. Happy birthday, brother. God bless you.”
The Boss was also a big fan of Wings, no doubt because they acted as a reminder of the power of music. Despite Bruce writing frequently about memories and politics, some of the songs from Wings, in later life, showed Bruce just how much music could effectively convey love. McCartney commented on this, remembering a night that he and Bruce discussed the track, ‘Silly Love Songs’.
“He said, ‘I didn’t get it, but I really get it now, man,’” said McCartney, “And it’s something that happens. He’s fallen in love, he’s had kids, and he’s more able to accept that thought, which bothered a lot of people at the time.”
Bruce Springsteen’s favourite bands:
- The Beatles
- The Rolling Stones
- Wings
- Dave Clark 5
- The Clash
- The Animals
