This one comes to you on Bruce Springsteen’s 75th birthday. Many thanks to Mark Hagen.
In 1995, Joe Strummer—the legendary frontman of The Clash and a voice that defined the punk movement—was asked by journalist Mark Hagen to contribute to a piece on Bruce Springsteen for Mojo magazine. Strummer’s enthusiastic, handwritten response soon arrived by fax, brimming with admiration for Springsteen’s work. Years later, in 2008, Springsteen returned the compliment during a performance in Anaheim, calling Strummer “one of the greatest rockers of all time” before launching into a rousing version of I Fought the Law.
ATTN: MARK HAGEN
Dear Mark – here’s my contribution
BRUCE IS GREAT… IF YOU DON’T AGREE WITH THAT YOU’RE A PRETENTIOUS MARTIAN FROM VENUS. BRUCE LOOKS GREAT… LIKE HE’S ABOUT TO CRAWL UNDERNEATH THE CHORDS WITH A SPANNER & SOCK THE STARTER MOTOR ONE TIME SO THAT A ENGINE STARTS UP – HUMMING & READY TO TAKE US ON A GOLDEN RIDE WAY OUT SOMEWHERE IN THE YONDER… BRUCE IS GREAT… BECAUSE HE’LL NEVER LAY DOWN & BE CONQUERED BY HIS PROBLEMS HE’S ALLWAYS READY TO BUST OUT the SHACK & HIT THE TRACK… HIS MUSIC IS GREAT ON A DARK & RAINY MORNING IN ENGLAND, JUST WHEN YOU NEED SOME SPIRIT & SOME PROOF THAT THE BIG WIDE WORLD EXISTS, THE D.J. PUTS ON “RACING IN THE STREETS” & LIFE SEEMS WORTH LIVING AGAIN… LIFE SEEMS TO BE IN CINEMASCOPE AGAIN. BRUCE IS NOT ON AN EGO TRIP… BRUCE IS ACTUALLY INTO THE MUSIC… WE NEED PEOPLE LIKE THIS… A LOT OF RECORDS TODAY ARE MADE BY PEOPLE JUST TO FEED THEIR FAME. BRUCE IS GREAT… THERE AINT NO WHINGING WHINING OR COMPLAINING.. THERE’S ONLY GREAT MUSIC, LYRICS & AN OCEAN OF TALENT. ME? I LOVE SPRINGSTEEN!!!
Joe Strummer
Support Letters of Note…
Oh for sure Bruce is great. A simple and earthy tribute to his musical talent and
Groundedness. . .
Wow. Now that's a tribute.