by David Janofsky, Mt. Laurel, NJ

At the time I was going to college at Glassboro State in S. Jersey. Bruce was doing a 3 night stand @ The Spectrum the 6th, 8th and 9th. I had tickets to all three. The first show was typical Bruce great, but the next two were much more significant.

My friend dropped out of the 8th, leaving me to go to the show alone. Of course Bruce rocked the place and left us all happy and exhausted. Since I was at the show solo, I literally ran back to my car to beat the traffic out of the lot. I got into my car and turned on ‘MMR. I was a bit surprised at the Beatles being on the radio, instead of the normal Bruce recap kind of thing. As I neared the halfway part of the bridge, Micheal Tearson came on to tell us all of the passing of John Lennon. I was thankfully not around anyone and swerved at the news, by the time I made it over the bridge I had to pull over for at least a 1/2 hr as tears streamed down my face so hard, I couldn’t drive. I finally got back on the road and made it home.

The next day there was some doubt as to whether Bruce would play that night. I had thoughts of going to New York City if the show was off. It was mid-afternoon when Pierre announced that the show was on. That night had to be the one of the most intense rock shows that I had ever, or will ever see. There was an unsure approach to the show and before it started the crowd was subdued to say the least. Bruce came on and made an incredible speech. He spoke of his conversations with Miami Steve that day and that they came to the conclusion that John would have wanted them to go out there and play, what else could they do, and if it wasn’t for him, they wouldn’t be here in the first place. It was a spine tingling moment and then Bruce ripped into Born to Run. An incredible emotional moment.

Then after his usual 2 1/2 hour marathon (33 songs), when it seemed the show was pretty much over, Bruce waved the band back on for one last encore. Of course, it was Twist and Shout. That night The Spectrum rocked through the tears of our tragic loss and somehow at the end of the show Bruce made us all feel better.

Here’s the setlist:

BORN TO RUN / OUT IN THE STREET / TENTH AVENUE FREEZE-OUT / DARKNESS ON THE EDGE OF TOWN / THE PRICE YOU PAY / INDEPENDENCE DAY / TWO HEARTS / PROVE IT ALL NIGHT / THE PROMISED LAND / RACING IN THE STREET / THE RIVER / BADLANDS / THUNDER ROAD / CADILLAC RANCH / SHERRY DARLING / HUNGRY HEART / FIRE / CANDY’S ROOM / BECAUSE THE NIGHT / 4TH JULY ASBURY PARK (SANDY) / FOR YOU / STOLEN CAR / WRECK ON THE HIGHWAY / POINT BLANK / RENDEZVOUS / RAMROD / YOU CAN LOOK / DRIVE ALL NIGHT / ROSALITA / SANTA CLAUS IS COMING TO TOWN / JUNGLELAND / I’M A ROCKER / DETROIT MEDLEY / TWIST AND SHOUT