Bruce Springsteen

The final stretch of the New Jersey Turnpike toll road is opened to the public in New Jersey, USA. The turnpike will provide inspiration for a number of songs including Chuck Berry's 1956 classic You Can't Catch Me which features the lyrics "New Jersey Turnpike in the wee wee hours, I was rolling slowly 'cause of drizzlin' showers"; Bruce Springsteen's State Trooper which describes someone driving the Turnpike; Simon and Garfunkel's America which includes the lyric, "counting the cars on the New Jersey Turnpike", and Creeque Alley by The Mamas And Papas which makes reference to "standing on the turnpike, thumb out to hitch-hike, take me to New York right away."

Serial killer Charles Starkweather is executed in the electric chair at the Nebraska State Penitentiary in Lincoln, Nebraska, USA. Starkweather's crimes will become the subject matter of the song Nebraska by Bruce Springsteen.

UK soul/r'n'b band Cliff Bennett And The Rebel Rousers record Something You've Got at Abbey Road Studios, London, UK. Co-written by Allen Toussaint and Chris Kenner, Something You Got was first recorded in 1961 by Kenner, and subsequently covered by Wilson Pickett, Alvin Robinson, The Ramsey Lewis Trio, Chuck Jackson, Earl Grant, Maxine Brown, Bobby Womack, The Moody Blues, The American Breed, Fairport Convention, Bruce Springsteen and, of course, Cliff Bennett.

Racially motivated disturbances erupt in Freehold, New Jersey, USA. This so-called riot will provide subject matter for Bruce Springsteen's 1985 hit single My Hometown.

Steel Mill, a band featuring Bruce Springsteen on guitar and vocals, plays the first of two nights at The Center, Richmond, Virginia, USA.

Sha Na Na play the first of two nights at Hara Arena, Dayton, Ohio, supported by Bruce Springsteen.

Bruce Springsteen And The E Street Band play the last of four nights at Charlie's Place, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA, supported by Mighty Joe Young.

Bruce Springsteen records Hearts Of Stone at The Record Plant, New York City. On the same day, Linda Ronstadt sings the US national anthem at Dodgers Stadium, Los Angeles, California, to open the third game of the Baseball World Series.

Bruce Springsteen's The River tour opens at Crisler Arena, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA. During Born To Run, Springsteen forgets the lyrics. Later, Bob Seger joins Springsteen onstage.

Bruce Springsteen plays the first of two two nights at Maple Leaf Gardens, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.

Bruce Springsteen plays at The Civic Centre, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada.

Southside Johnny marries Jill Glasner in Asbury Park, New Jersey, USA. Entertainment at the reception is provided by Bruce Springsteen And The Asbury Dukes.

During a re-election campaign speech in Hammonton, New Jersey, USA, President Ronald Reagan praises Bruce Springsteen, stating, "America's future rests in a thousand dreams inside your hearts. It rests in the message of hope in songs so many young Americans admire: New Jersey's own Bruce Springsteen. And helping you make those dreams come true is what this job of mine is all about." Reagan has obiously failed to understand that Springsteen's song Born In The USA is heavily ironic. Springsteen makes it clear soon after that he does not endorse Reagan.

On his Born In The USA tour, Bruce Springsteen plays at The Stone Pony, Asbury Park, New Jersey, USA.

Bruce Springsteen plays the first of two nights at Charlotte Coliseum, Charlotte, North Carolina, USA.

At the MTV Video Awards event in Radio City Music Hall, New York City, USA, Don Henley's The Boys Of Summer scoops Video Of The Year plus three more awards. Best Male Video goes to Bruce Springsteen for I’m On Fire, and Best female Video to Tina Turner for What’s Love Got To Do With It.

The Amnesty International tour, featuring Bruce Springsteen, Sting and Peter Gabriel, plays in Nunez Stadium, Buenos Aires, Argentina, South America.

On his first All Starr Band tour, Ringo Starr plays the first of two nights at The Garden State Arts Center, Holmdel, New Jersey, USA. The band includes Billy Preston, Dr. John, Joe Walsh, Levon Helm, Jim Keltner, Nils Lofgren, Clarence Clemons and Rick Danko.

On his first All Starr Band tour, Ringo Starr plays the first of two nights at Jones Beach Theater, Wantagh, Long Island, New York State, USA. The band includes Billy Preston, Dr. John, Joe Walsh, Levon Helm, Jim Keltner, Nils Lofgren, Clarence Clemons and Rick Danko.

Ringo Starr comes to the end of his first All Starr Band tour with a show in Los Angeles, California, USA. The band includes Billy Preston, Dr. John, Joe Walsh, Levon Helm, Jim Keltner, Nils Lofgren, Clarence Clemons and Rick Danko.

Bruce Springsteen plays at The World Theater [later re-named The Tweeter Center, and then the First Midwest Bank Amphitheatre], Chicago, Illinois, USA.

Bruce Springsteen And The E Street Band play the first-ever music concert at The Staples Center, Los Angeles, California, USA.

Buddy Guy is inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame by Eric Clapton and B.B. King. At the same event, Bruce Springsteen inducts U2, Neil Young inducts The Pretenders, Justin Timberlake inducts The O'Jays, and Rod Stewart inducts Percy Sledge.

Bruce Springsteen plays at The Patriot Center, Fairfax, Virginia, USA.

On his Devils And Dust Tour, Bruce Springsteen plays at The Royal Albert Hall, London, England, UK.

Bruce Springsteen postpones this coming weekend's scheduled shows in Hamburg and Berlin, Germany, Europe, claiming that they conflict with other elements of his schedule.

Bruce Springsteen plays at The Air Canada Centre, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.

Bruce Springsteen plays at The United Center, Chicago, Illinois, USA.

Bruce Springsteen plays a solo concert in Sunrise, Florida, USA. The show had been scheduled for four days earlier but was delayed because of Hurricane Wilma.

Bruce Springsteen plays the first of two nights at The United Center, Chicago, Illinois, USA.

Bruce Springsteen's album Working On A Dream debuts at No1 in the European albums chart.

Bruce Springsteen And The E Street Band play at the HP Pavilion at San Jose, California, USA.

Bruce Springsteen And The E Street Band play at the HP Pavilion at San Jose, California, USA.

Bruce Springsteen And The E Street Band play at Hampden Park, Glasgow, Scotland.

Bruce Springsteen plays at The United Center, Chicago, Illinois, USA.

Pollstar reports that U2 was the most successful live act of 2009, raking in $123m from its stadium tours. The irish band is followed in the ratings by Bruce Springsteen and the duo of Elton John and Billy Joel.

When Josh Ritter plays at The Saint, New Jersey, USA, Bruce Springsteen turns up to see the show and spends thirty minutes in the band dressing room afterwards.

Bruce Springsteen And The E Street Band's play a low-key concert at the Carousel House on the Asbury Park boardwalk in New Jersey, USA, to showcase material from Springsteen's album The Promise.

The official playlist for US President Barack Obama's 2012 presidential campaign is released, including tracks by Noah And The Whale, Arcade Fire, Florence And The Machine, Bruce Springsteen, Al Green, Wilco, No Doubt and Aretha Franklin.

On their The River Tour, Bruce Springsteen And The E Street Band play at Madison Square Garden, New York City, USA.

On their The River Tour, Bruce Springsteen And The E Street Band play at Ricoh Arena, Coventry, England, Europe.

On their The River Tour, Bruce Springsteen And The E Street Band play at Telia Parken, Copenhagen, Denmark, Europe.

On their The River Tour, Bruce Springsteen And The E Street Band play at Werchter Festival, Werchter, Belgium, Europe.

On their The River Tour, Bruce Springsteen And The E Street Band play the second of two nights at The MetLife Stadium, East Rutherford, New Jersey, USA.