Springsteen book goes to Number One - ahead of release!

Land of Hope and Dreams Special Edition

Wow!

The new edition of 'Land of Hope and Dreams' is the number one Springsteen book on Amazon - three days before it is even released!

Many thanks to everyone has pre-ordered.

Land of Hope and Dreams - Special Edition

The new edition of Land of Hope and Dreams is now complete.
It is packed with more photos than we imagined we could get into an e-book.
Plus the new Wrecking Ball chapters feature almost 24,000 words, bringing the book to a barn-storming 112,000 words.
We've met so many people who have asked us to update the book. 
It feels great to have finally been able to do it.
It will be available on Amazon from May 16.

"Bruce Springsteen? Isn't he the American Shakin’ Stevens?"

There is a DJ on a small regional radio station in Wales who owes me thousands of pounds. And I owe him my undying gratitude.

Why? Because this man – I don’t even know his name – introduced me to the music of Bruce Springsteen.

And over the years I’ve bought every record Bruce has made, bought every magazine and newspaper he has appeared in, travelled to a couple of dozen concerts, even driven to Rotterdam to join a special get-together of Springsteen fans.

Hence, the DJ’s debt to me.

But following Springsteen, living through his songs, understanding the many messages of his music, and enjoying his companionship, has changed my life.

So, my debt to the DJ by far outweighs any material debt I may claim from him.

Every morning during my childhood this man played “The River”. And at just about the same time: ten minutes before I headed out to school.

The song mesmerised me. The tune was moving, mournful. But it was the lyrics that drew me in.

This wasn’t just a song. It was a short story. Even as a young teenager – living thousands of miles from Johnstown, wherever that may be – I got it. I identified immediately with the two lives at the heart of the story.

And wondered about the writer too. Who was this man who put words like “construction” and “economy” into a love song? This was unlike any love song I had heard. It was real.

These two people must exist somewhere.

A friend was also getting into Springsteen, through an older brother. I quizzed about him about Bruce.

So far, I’d read one bit of information – from a dubious source.

Smash Hits – yes, I know – had described Springsteen as a kind of “American Shakin’ Stevens”.

Sitting in the science lab at school, ignoring the physics teacher, I repeated this to my friend.

My friend’s face went red. The heat rose through his cheeks. I was afraid his rage would cause the Bunsen burner on the desk in front of us to ignite.

“They don’t know anything,” he shouted, almost falling off the uncomfortable wooden stool they sat us on to keep us awake.

I never bought Smash Hits again.

Born in the USA came out and I bought all the previous albums at the same time. I fell in love with them all, and with The Wild, The Innocent and the E Street Shuffle in particular. I still feel that if I were marooned on a desert island it is the album I would clutch to my chest.

Despite the massive media interest in Springsteen at the time, liking him wasn’t cool. I quickly became known as the Springsteen fan in my school year. The only one.

There was no internet then. No Bruce Buds. Springsteen’s life seemed a world away from mine. I got my gossip from Dan French’s fanzine, Point Blank.

It’s more than thirty years now since I first got into Bruce. He’s my oldest friend.

And every time I hear “The River” it is still as magical, still as affecting, still as powerful.

It’s wonderful how a song can make such a connection… down through the years… across thousands of miles… and into the hearts of so many.

Sittin' round here tryin' to write this book

Thanks to everyone who has sent us contributions for the upcoming e-book version of LAND OF HOPE AND DREAMS.

So sorry we haven't been able to reply to everybody.

There is still time to send us stories - until the end of March.

We are hoping to edit the new version during April and May for release towards the end of May - ahead of the June Slane +30 anniversary.

Get in touch - wherever you are, as long as it is somewhere in BossLand!

Telling us your story for updated Springsteen book

Quick update following previous post.
We've had lots of questions about the word count for submissions.
We want as many people to be included as we can, so we are looking at 1,000 words for an absolute maximum.
Please try not to write more than is necessary. Short stories of a few paragraphs will be just as welcome as ones of 400 or 500 words.
As always, we have to reserve the right to cut for editorial purposes. All stories will be professionally proofed, so don't worry if you are concerned about grammar, spelling, etc.
A reminder: here's the email address for stories springsteeninireland@googlemail.com
Thanks!

Join us for the new edition of our Springsteen book!

At last we're updating our Springsteen book 'Land of Hope and Dreams'.

There will be an e-edition coming for Slane+30 in June 2015.

We'll post more info along the way but here is the basic breakdown:

* The e-book will feature the stories of all of Bruce's shows in Ireland, bringing the text bang up to date.

* It will include the stories featured in the original book... plus...

* ...We need more!

So many people contacted us after the book was published to say they wished they were in it.

Email us your stories about shows - or simply your love of Bruce. We will do what we can to include them all.

springsteeninireland@googlemail

We'll need all the stories in by MARCH 31, 2015.

Please include your name and location in the email - as you would like to see it written in the book.

Any questions, thoughts, suggestions, please get in touch.

Email or join us on Twitter @springsteen_ire

The Battle for Slane Castle - in cuttings

Some classic cuttings from the Slane Castle show in 1985.

This is a backgrounder, introducing Bruce to a new audience.

Next, a story about some of the shenanigans behind the scenes during the planning for the show. 
It was quite a rocky road and, as we detailed in 'Land of Hope and Dreams', the show almost never went ahead at all.

 A newspaper advert for the show.

 Local people were asked what they thought of plans for the show.

Finally, Slane is ready for Bruce Springsteen. And he rocks!

BRUCE AND OUR BOOK - IN THE NEWS

Over the last few years we've been fortunate to have some great support - not only from fans but from journalists too.

Here are a few of the articles which have featured 'Land of Hope and Dreams'. Our thanks to Tom McCormack for his help compiling them.

Meath Chronicle

October 2010

Irish Sun

October 2009

Irish Times

October 2009

New York Irish Voice

April 2010

Sunday Life

April 2010

Irish Times

June 2010

SPRINGSTEEN BOOK ON SALE!

Christmas is coming! And LAND OF HOPE AND DREAMS is on special sale.

This fantastic book tells the story of 25 years of Springsteen live shows from the 'Born in the USA' tour to 'Working On A Dream'.

Here's FOUR reasons why this is the perfect Christmas present for the Springsteen fan in your life:

1) It features more than a hundred unpublished photographs of The Boss.

2) BRUCE HAS BOUGHT THE BOOK - WHY NOT GET YOURSELF ONE?

3) We make a donation to a children's hospice with every eBay sale.

4) This offer has 25% off the book's retail price of £15.99 or 20 euro in Ireland. 

Postage is FREE within the UK.

For the sale price buy the book now from here.