When has this ever happened before? Someone releases a bootleg and dedicates an entire web site to it. The site even has its own domain: www.beforethefame.com so it has to be someone with a rather thick wallet who's behind it. The bootleg itself is nothing spectacular. On the contrary. The material on Before the Fame, demos and studio outtakes from the early Seventies, has been released numerous times before. The first time it slipped out to the public was in connection with Dare International's attempt in 1994 to release it as an official album which would have been called Prodigal Son. However, Bruce's lawyers worked out a compromize with the company and thus prevented the release. Or rather, the official release. The material leaked to bootleggers, and before the matter was even settled, there were two different titles containing these songs. Since then there have been at least two or three more titles with all or some of the stuff. So while this new version, Before the Fame, doesn't offer anything new under the sun contents-wise, it can at least brag with being probably the first bootleg with its own web-domain. Read more

   

Rumor has it that a promotion show similar to the 1995 "Sony Show" is in the cards for July. Like its predecessor this show would also feature the E Street band. Exactly what Bruce is going to promote with a possible new Sony show is the big mystery, and perhaps this is the strongest indication that this is just another E Street Band rumor like the hundreds that have come and gone before. On the other hand, stranger things have happened. Just think about the summer of 1995 when Bruce went all the way to Berlin to record a video for a 15 year old song, "Hungry Heart". Some have speculated that this could be a forerunner for the box set, but it would seem rather odd to start promoting something three or four months in advance. So unless Bruce has secretly been recording a brand new album with the E Street Band ready to be released in July, we wouldn't bet on this thing happening at all, but it would be a welcome surprise if it did. Read more

   

As scheduled Bruce did two songs for the 30th Anniversary TV show for Rolling Stone magazine. "The Ghost of Tom Joad" and "Across the Border" were both played with an unknown band of which only Danny Federici has been verified. Read more

   

Bruce Springsteen's father, Douglas Springsteen, has passed away. He was known to most Springsteen fans through his son's songs. The two had a tempestuous realationship during Bruce's youth, but in recent years they seem to have made peace with their past. Our condolences go to the family. Read more

   

Set your VCR's! No, not for MTV Unplugged.That has been postponed indefintely for unknown reasons. Perhaps because the two parties couldn't agree on a date. Instead, Bruce is scheduled to appear in a TV special to celebrate the 30th anniversary of Rolling Stone magazine. He will allegedly perform "The Ghost of Tom Joad" and "Across the Border" with "a band" (no word on exactly what band). The show will air on ABC on May 21, so prepare yourself. Read more

   

The MTV Unplugged has been postponed till an indefinite future. Apparently the two parties couldn't agree on a date. But it should be pretty certain that the show will take place at some point. Read more

   

Almost six years after his MTV Plugged show, Bruce is now ready to fulfill his promise to do a real Unplugged. The show will most likely be recorded sometime in May, but it's uncertain when it will be aired. Speculations are swirling of whether Bruce will be solo or be supported by a band and if the show will be Tom Joad style or more like a Greatest Hits. While there are bound to be songs reused from the acoustic tour, it wouldn't make much sense to do a show in support of a 2? year old album, so expect something a little more loose. Read more

   

As annoucned Bruce performed last night at the Elaine Steinbeck tribute. He sang two songs: "Oh What a Beautiful Morning" and "The Ghost of Tom Joad". Read more

   

Here we go again! Rumors of an impending box set of outtakes are yet again starting to circulate. The rumors that such a project is in the works are said to have emerged from different unrelated sources, which adds to the credibility. Another thing that makes this perhaps more credible than earlier rumors of the same kind is that Bruce is likely to be inducted into the Rock'n'roll Hall of Fame in 1999. And what better way to celebrate his 25th anniversary as a recording artist than with a career retrospective box of unreleased material. The upcoming box set, if a reality, will most likely be released during the fall in time for the Christmas rush. What's more certain than a box set is that an official book of Springsteen lyrics is also set for release by the end of the year. The book will most likely include comments from Bruce himself on his songwriting. Read more

   

The Pete Seeger tribute album Where Have All the Flowers Gone, featuring Bruce's new recording of Seeger's "We Shall Overcome", is now available in both America and Europe. Bruce's contribution is, despite an 11 piece band, a very relaxed and intimate version of the song. The cozy atmosphere is so thick you can almost smell the camp fire. But really, the song was recorded on November 2, 1997, at Bruce's home studio Thrill Hill. Read more