Springsteen Makes Surprise Appearance in Asbury Park

By JOE BRESCIA
Published: November 7, 2004

Bruce Springsteen made a surprise appearance at the Stone Pony nightclub in Asbury Park on Saturday night, taking part in a benefit concert for the Parkinson's Disease Foundation and the Muscular Dystrophy Organization. It marked his first performance since President Bush's election victory.

Mr. Springsteen had campaigned for John Kerry and teamed up with other performers for an all-star Vote for Change concert tour of swing states.

When approached for an interview, he politely declined.

"I'm just here to play music tonight," he said.

One of three weekend shows at the club, the performances were billed as the "Light of Day" concerts. The schedule of performers included Boccigalupe and The Bad Boys, Jo Bonanno, Joe D'Urso, Jeffrey Gaines and Willie Nile. Mr. Springsteen spent time in a V.I.P. lounge set up in Jimi's, a bar next door to the Stone Pony. He would periodically sneak into the soundboard box in the club to watch the other acts.

During Joe Grushecky and the Houserockers set, Mr. Springsteen hopped onstage at about 1 a.m. with a blond electric guitar. His hair was combed back, he was sporting a soul patch (a small goatee) and he was wearing an unbuttoned denim shirt with jeans. He joined in on "Idiots Delight," one of Mr. Grushecky's songs.

He stayed onstage with the band until 2:30 a.m., performing several songs, including "Johnny 99," "Code of Silence," "Murder Incorporated," and "This Hard Land."

Mr. Springsteen made some light stage banter and thanked everyone for coming, but he made no anti-Bush comments as he did on his tour.

Some members of the audience called out "four more years" during the performance, but they were countered by others chanting "no more years."

The only political reference on stage was made by Bob Benjamin, the concert organizer, who manages musicians, including Mr. Grushecky. He's a former Billboard staffer who was diagnosed with Parkinson's disease in 1996.

"My birthday was on Nov. 3," Mr. Benjamin said before the encore. "I woke up disappointed for what happened the day before with the election." A cheer rang through the crowd as Mr. Springsteen smiled as he stood to the left of Mr. Benjamin.

"I want to thank Bruce for putting himself on the line out there."

Mr. Springsteen approached the microphone with a big grin.

"That's the least I can do for the city of Asbury Park," Mr. Springsteen said as the crowd gave him an ovation.

With the musician smiling at his side, Mr. Benjamin continued: "Our work's not done. We have to roll up our sleeves and be relentless. We have to let our representatives know that we have to hold President's Bush's feet to the fire on stem cell research and the War in Iraq. We've got to do it."

Mr. Springsteen refused to leave the stage before the inevitable encore.

"It's too hot to walk offstage," he said before playing "Great Balls of Fire" and "Shout" and leading the crowd in a sing-a-long during the refrains.