Barry Schneier Photography

BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN - MY DEPRESSION

I’ve had my faith shaken

But never hopeless

This is my confession

I need your heart

In this depression

There’s been a lot of words written about Bruce Springsteen. But perhaps the best piece to date is this week’s New Yorker profile by David Remnick. The piece profiles Bruce from his earliest days to the current Wrecking Ball tour. More is revealed in these seventeen pages then any bio to date. We learn about Bruce’s struggles as a teen, his struggles with the loss of Clarence, and yes, with his depression. For some reason the latter is what mainstream media is picking up on. So what? Who hasn’t dealt with depression themselves or known someone who has. I have on both accounts. But the real message in this piece, and in Bruce’s history, is that he is a work in progress, always determined to do his best. His best for his craft, his best for the band and his best for the audience. When he says he feels an obligation every night to deliver to each and every member of his audience a performance that will be invigorating, stimulating, resuscitating and incarnating, he means it. And he wants to make sure you get every dollar’s worth you paid for. Seriously.

When I first encountered Bruce in 1974 I discovered a young man hard at work. At what, I wasn’t sure. But I knew it was mastery in the making. Somewhat diminutive in size he pranced the stage and worked the room like a sorcerer conjuring up a spell. And he did. He laid down a spell on us, a spell that made us feel good. It was a Rock and Roll healing in all it’s glory.

This shot is from a series I did when he came over to the piano and did his solo version of “For You”. Another shot from this series has reached semi-iconic status having appeared in numerous exhibitions, galleries and publications. But a colector from New Jersey saw this shot in my collection and said “that’s the one”. Bruce, his eyes closed, lost in the moment, perhaps for a second feeling the healing himself.

In the New Yorker article Bruce says of the band and his role, “We’re repairmen - repairmen with a toolbox. If I repair a little of myself, I’ll repair a little of you. That’s the job”

That’s the job.

“Bruce Springsteen, Cambridge, MA May 1974, Piano Series #5”

Once in a while you revisit your work to see if you have missed anything, This one was a pleasant surprise.

“Bruce Springsteen, Piano Series #3, 1974”

Another one from the Cambridge, MA May 1974 show. With the E Street Band.

“Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band #62, Cambridge, MA 1974”

Check out David Sancious on the organ. He and Danny would often switch between keyboards throughout the night, (all night, all night, all night…)

“Bruce Springsteen, Cambridge, MA 1974”

This is one of my favorites. Caught him just as we was turning and the lighting created a silhouette.

Another one from the May 1974 show at the Harvard Square Theatre, Cambridge, MA

“I’ve seen the future of rock and roll and his name is Bruce Springsteen”

“David Sancious, Bruce Springsteen and E Street Band, Cambridge, MA 1974”

An incredible pianist and one of the original members of the E Street Band. I remember after sound check and warm ups, David continued at the piano, playing some incredible jazz improvisation. He was and still is a masterful musician.

“Ernest “Boom” Carter”

Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band, Cambridge, MA 1974

“Sound Check. Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band. Harvard Square Theatre, Cambridge, MA 1974”

“Danny Federici, 1974”

From Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band, Cambridge, MA 1974