June 21, 2024
From his first E Street Band gigs with the launch of the Born in the U.S.A. Tour (and the filming of the "Dancing in the Dark" music-video) forty years ago this month to the current tour - with many more stellar concerts, recordings, and other projects in between, of course - the "new guy on the guitar" never loses heart and keeps rockin' all night.
Best wishes for a happy birthday and many, many more to the Godfather of the Guitar, the Minister of Heart and Spirit: the great, great Nils Lofgren! With both his 73rd birthday and the 40th anniversary of his joining the E Street Band occurring this month, we recently asked Nils if he'd like to share any special thoughts with our readers. Here's a special message from the "birthday boy" himself, written in the wee hours of this morning, as he relaxed and reflected in Barcelona, Spain, after performing the first of two scheduled 2024 Bruce Springsteen & the E Street Band concerts there:
I can’t really describe adequately how grateful I am to celebrate 40 years in the amazing E Street Band, with Bruce as our leader.
I’ve never seen anyone work harder at sharing such formidable music gifts as Bruce, and it remains a great honor to be on the road currently, with these dear friends and great musicians, after 55 years on the road.
Turning 73 today, I just played a three-hour concert in Barcelona with Bruce and E Street. I got a gift for music I didn’t ask for, and I’m eternally grateful.
Only thing missing is my wonderful wife, Amy, our son Dylan, and our beautiful dogs. Glad they’re all safe at home, as I work my way back to them.
So bless all you wonderful listeners who keep coming to hear me play music at my own shows, with E Street, Crazy Horse, and all the great bands I’ve been blessed to work with.
See you all soon, I hope.
Love and Thanks, All…
Nils
Much love and thanks rightbackatcha, Nils! Happy birthday and many, many more to you, good sir. Long may you run!
Official 2024 tour photography by Rob DeMartin; used with permission
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