We know this may come as a surprise to many, but now it's official. According to himself, Bruce is no "saintly man of the people". In his second letter to the editor in New York Times in the last year (the first one was regarding the Vote For Change Tour), he personally states that fact. The letter reads:

Greetings From Rumson, N.J.
To the Editor:
Regarding "The Boss Bibliography" (July 3), by A. O. Scott:

The merits of my music and performances over the last 30 years I gladly leave to the fans, critics and writers. On the subject of "image," however, I thought I might be able to provide some simple clarification.

The "saintly, man of the people" thing I occasionally see attached to my name is bull ? ? ? ?. It was perhaps invented, like myself, by Jon Landau . . . or maybe by that high school kid somewhere who supposedly wrote "Blowin' in the Wind." Life, art and identity are, of course, much more complicated. How do I know? I heard it in a Bruce Springsteen song.

BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN Rumson, N.J.

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