Burgers

MEETING BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN!!!

“If dreams came true, oh wouldn’t that be nice…” (Prove It All Night, 1978)
Since I started Burgers and Bruce the two questions I’m always asked are “have you met Bruce Springsteen” and  “do you know if he even likes burgers”.
It was always a sad “no” to both. I did some research on the second question, and accepted the fact that the first was extremely unlikely, at best.
But this weekend I got lucky. I’m a big believer in things happening for a reason. To realise Bruce Springsteen is staying at the same hotel as you…It’s exciting, but actually pretty terrifying.
I had to ask if I could have a quick picture…
He called me “kid” and said “sure why not”. I didn’t tell him I’m not a kid, because Bruce is The Boss – he can call me whatever he likes.
Smiles!
I’m just a little bit excited
I took this as my chance to ask him about burgers.
Me: “Bruce can I ask you a quick question?”
Bruce: “Depends how difficult it is to answer…” (He’s witty).
Me: “I just want to know where your favourite place to eat burgers is?”
He tells me it’s a tough one, and looks like he’s really thinking about it. Maybe there are too many to choose from? He ponders more and I ask him if he does actually like burgers.
Bruce: “Pfff, what do you think!”
I bloody KNEW he would. I tell him to have a think and let me know.
I was so happy. Bruce was friendly, he’d told me he loved burgers and I’d got some quick pictures. I went on my merry way, not sure I’d actually get the answer to my question, but over the moon anyway.
Later that evening I see him again. He points at me with a “Hey kid” and then a new name “Burger Girl” (can this be my new nickname please…)
I ask him nervously if he’d had a chance to think about his favourite burger spot yet.
He stands there. I’m sat down on a sofa looking up at him, getting redder by the second probably. He pulls up a seat and leans in….so I lean in….And then he just starts talking.
“I used to eat a lot more burgers you know, when I was younger. But my shirt, it was getting tight!” I nod enthusiastically at his joke, yes, I know how this feels.
He stops and asks me, “Why are you so into burgers anyway?”
I explain about Burgers and Bruce. How the idea came about before seeing him play in New York, while eating a burger. I tell him it’s about my travels around the world to his concerts, the experiences I have, the food I eat, the incredible ‘Bruce Buds’ I meet. I show him my blog. I can’t believe it, because I’m showing him a blog about him, and according to him “it’s very cool”.
My Bruce Springsteen blog is Bruce Springsteen endorsed. No I am not dreaming.
Then Bruce tells me about the burgers he likes. He chats away, and he smiles when he talks about them. He talks slowly and passionately and is effortlessly cool. He doesn’t like anything fancy…he loves them “very very simple”.
He knows a lot about burgers. He shares some of his wisdom with me: “A burger in 1950s America. It’s nothing like what you get now. A thin little patty, squirted with ketchup, and that’s the only type of burger there was. So I still have a fondness for a good diner burger”. He likes the soda syrup mixed properly and the right style fries. Apparently “Johnny Rockets does it pretty good”.
Bruce continues, “There’s an art to it, but it’s mostly lost. There’s only a few places that sell a really good diner burger”.
A fuss free, unassuming, old style diner burger. I’d hoped that might be the answer.
I then ask him if he’s tried a Shake Shack, one of my favourite burger places. He says that he hasn’t, but that he’ll have to “check it out”. I hope he does. Sounds like he’ll like them.
Of course, I forget to ask him if he’ll go for a burger with me. Maybe I knew the answer to that one already.
But I did tell him how my dad would rock me to sleep to his music. How we used to listen to Born To Run in the car, volume up, windows down.  I told him how that’s how it all started. So he writes a note to him.

So I wanted to share some of the conversation with fellow fans, because I hope it’s one you’ll enjoy.It’s not just about the burgers.  He was charming and relaxed, and most of all – he’s a dude! But I think this conversation is just one of the many examples of how Bruce Springsteen cares about his fans. And that’s why we do what we do.

I hope that when I met him I did a good job of I representing the majority of other Springsteen fans. He knows how far we travel, the money we spend, and he doesn’t take that for granted.
Forget the saying “you shouldn’t meet your heroes”.
I couldn’t have asked for anything more when I met mine.

 

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This post was written by Hannah BurgersAndBruce

  • Jennie

    I have never been more jealous of anyone in my life! Great story!

  • AMAZING! You must be on cloud 9!

  • Susan Dyer

    What an amazing encounter! And yes you should meet your heroes especially when they are as cool and down to earth as Bruce.

  • I have to be honest, this is the first time I've read your blog but what a story to start with. 😉 I can only hope for such a meeting with Bruce some day. Congrats on yours!

  • Brilliant Story. Love reading your blog,glad you met him! Would love to meet him someday (a girl can dream right!):)

  • Fi

    Cloud 99 even! I hope the bad dream stops now (and I'm glad he was as lovely as everyone says he is…and I'm obviously a wee bit envious. too)

  • Great read. I think in the first Dave Marsh bio he says something about how Bruce used to live on three meals of burgers a day.

  • Absolutely great! So happy for you! He seems really relaxed in the pics, love the message to your dad as well <3

  • A.

    This is one of the coolest Bruce-fan stories I've ever read! Amazing, and love the rest of your blog too. 😀 x

  • You lucky lucky girl. Well done.

  • You lucky lucky girl well done.

  • Very cool story. Glad you got a chance to meet him, and had a cool conversation.

    One of my favorite burgers? At the Circus Drive-In on Route 35 down the Jersey Shore, just down aways from Asbury Park. My little gal likes 'em too – http://jerseystylephotography.tumblr.com/image/54605758128

    ~ Mark

  • Very cool story. Glad you got a chance to meet him, and had a cool conversation to boot.

    My favorite burger is at the Circus Drive-In down on Route 35 in Wall Township, NJ, just down the road a few miles from Asbury Park. My little six-year-old daughter likes 'em too.–> http://jerseystylephotography.tumblr.com/image/54605758128

    ~ Mark

  • I hate you burger girl!

  • OMG, you are one fun girl!! I second Jennie's emotion. Cool stuff. SO HAPPY FOR YOU!!!!!

  • So So happy for you!

  • Anonymous

    Wow, what a great story! Good for you!

  • saxyburgerman62

    great story & ive been to see SPRINGSTEEN & I today. your pretty too & a redheaded woman.x

  • Thatz soooo cool that u got 2 meet and even have a nice chat with Mr. Springsteen as well as get a couple picz with him 🙂 Im sooo jealous LOL I hope 2 1ne day have my dream of meeting him and having a nice chat with him like u did someday comes true 🙂 Nice Blog btw 🙂

  • Not only a pair of envy-inducing experiences but a wonderful recounting. Your dad's going to be over the moon …

  • This is the greatest thing I've ever read

  • Thank you for sharing this lovely, great story. That completes my perfect mood after watching the Springsteen & I movie last night.

    Good luck to you, burger girl. And to your dad, of course. 😉

  • Bruce Springsteen has endorsed your blog burger girl – dreams really do come true! Burger sista xx

  • EllaM

    This is so beautifully written! So happy for you!
    x

  • I loved your story! Thank you for sharing. I met him back in 1995 and it was one of the best moments of my life. You will always have that to remember.

  • Anonymous

    Congratulations! What an experience.

  • Anonymous

    You are so lucky! You handled it very well. What hotel?

  • Anonymous

    Just to echo all of the above; gorgeous tale, beautifully recounted, bought a tear to my eye, well well done x

  • Anonymous

    What a wonderful story! I'm so happy for you and the pictures and the note are incredible. One of the many reasons I like Bruce Springsteen is the way he cares about his fans and the time he takes with them when he can do it. Good for you!

  • Anonymous

    Bruce and Burgers two of the best things in life, if you ever will be in Amsterdam try this place http://www.burgermeester.eu/menu

  • That's a helluva great story, Burger Girl. Thanks for posting…!

  • Will this go down in history as your most amazing moment? I would think so no matter how awesome your life is. Note to self: have something special to talk about with him should I ever have that luck.

  • Great story johnny rockets gets my vote.

  • Great story, Burgergirl. Guess Bruce is just like I could watch him in the movie Springsteen&I. Thanks for sharing.

  • Great story.Quite an adventure. Lucky, you!:-)

  • Great story, Burgergirl. Guess Bruce is just like I could watch him in the movie Springsteen&I. Thanks for sharing.

  • Bar

    Loved reading this, and you did a great job representing us all!!!!

  • So awesome that you got to meet Bruce and talk to him about your passion. I did hear that lately, he's been eating less meat so like as he said, he's not so much into burgers today. I mean, he's past 60, and he has to stand there night after night 3-4 hours a day. It would take a really fit dude to do what he does, and burgers just isn't the thing to keep him healthy you know? Anyway, I did read an interview once that after returning to the US from the "Born in the USA" world tour, he went and had a burger at McDonald's. 🙂

  • Wow Burger girl 🙂 I'm so incredibly jealous but in the best kind of way!After watching the Springsteen&I movie i felt like each and every person on the screen and i feel the same after reading your story! My Dad got me into Bruce too! I hope you're still buzzing from your encounter!
    Oh by the way, my husbands friends run an awesome Vegetarian burger restaurant in Paris called "Eastside Burgers" … if you're ever in the area, check em out.x

  • What an unforgettable experience this must have been burger girl, to say I'm envious wouldn't even begin to tell you lol. So pleased for you! Great read, great blog 🙂

  • What a fantastic experience, you both look really cool in the pictures and your smile says everything. You are a shining representative of all of us Bruce fans. He knows the passion we have for him and he reciprocates it every time he goes on stage. Great blog 🙂

  • Anonymous

    Wow ..you had me both crying and laughing hysterically…. it was Born to Run that awoke me as well to the man and the music that very truly raised me. I have been fortunate to witness Jungleland 4 times and each time my soul is transported to another place that seems very close to cruising in my 1973 Nova with the windows down wishing only to get a some good kisses out of the girl by my side and understanding even at 16 that it is worse for the poets to be "wounded and not even dead.."

  • Just a joy to read this. So happy for you that it was a great encounter. My encounter with the Boss, was great, but blurred by nerves. Looking forward to reading more of your blog.

  • Anonymous

    It's great that you got to meet Bruce and that he was just like you'd hope. I'm seeing Springsteen & I on Sunday – this is another reason why we do what we do to see the band. Thanks for sharing

  • Anonymous

    Amazing – you are the inspiration of all "…..burger eating… E street fans…"
    Good on you

  • Thanks for all the incredible comments and encouragement! glad you liked my story!! XX

  • Anonymous

    AMAZING. I am so happy for you.

  • Lisa

    What a wonderful artical. It was such a pleasure reading. Ive known one of his studio drummer’s, Gary Malibar, for several years and he has always spoken highly of Bruce and his wife, Patty.

  • Heather Harteson

    Great story & gives all of us Bruce fans hope that magic does happen & we too may run into the Boss anywhere at anytime and have a lifetime memory. I have seen him in concert 17 times, 5 on this last tour. He is STILL amazing at 67 years old…and THAT is why they call him THE BOSS.
    And MY favorite “chain burger?” Nope, not Shake Shack. ( But close.) Drum roll please….In-N-Out burger-Animal style! 🙂

  • twinpapa1

    I always enjoy reading “Bruce Encounter” stories, and I have to say this one is particularly great. As a father, I can only imagine the smile on your father’s face when he read that personal inscription from the man that is Bruce. Congratulations, this is amazing. Being able to show him your work and explain your vision personally. Well deserved. -Johnny in Jersey

  • Hannah McSwain

    This is totally awesome!
    Said another burger-eating hannah

  • goodvibe61

    Just happened to come across this.

    FANTASTIC.

    Cheers!