Bruce Springsteen at the Stone Pony: His most memorable performances

It's unquestionably one of the most famous rock 'n' roll bars in the world. Asbury Park's Stone Pony is right up there with CBGB, the Cavern Club, Whiskey a Go Go, Maxwell's in Hoboken and other notable watering holes.

Next time you're in Asbury Park, no matter what time of year, notice how many people are taking and posing for photos outside of its front entrance. It's one of the top spots on any New Jersey rock 'n' roll or music tour.

"The club has already earned its place in history as one of rock 'n' roll's great venues," said historian Robert Santelli, executive director of the GRAMMY Museum in Los Angeles. "Most rock critics and historians that I come in contact with on a regular basis feel that the Stone Pony is one of greatest rock clubs of all time."

Of course, one of the main reasons the Stone Pony, which is celebrating its 40th anniversary this month, is so well known is its association with Bruce Springsteen. There have been a ton of great musicians who have graced the Pony's stage in those 40 years, but since this is a Bruce Springsteen blog, I am going to keep the focus on his many appearances at the club.

An ad for the opening of the Stone Pony, Feb. 14-16, 1974.

Although Bruce didn't get his start there as many believe (his Asbury Park music career began at the Upstage club on Cookman Avenue in 1969), he has played the Pony's stage more than any other venue, close to 100 times. Of those appearances, except for private benefits for his children's schools, Springsteen has never been billed to appear at the Pony.

According to the great website Brucebase, Springsteen's first performance at the Stone Pony was on Sept. 8, 1974 when he jammed with The Blackberry Booze band (headed by Steve Van Zandt and Southside Johnny). That band would later become Southside Johnny and the Asbury Jukes, who did get their start at the Pony.

So as the Stone Pony celebrates its 40th, let's take a look back at some of Springsteen's top appearances (in chronological order) at 913 Ocean Ave.:

May 30, 1976

The night that really put the Stone Pony and the Asbury Park music scene on the map.

It was Memorial Day weekend and Southside Johnny and the Asbury Jukes were marking the recent release of their debut album "I Don't Want to Go Home." The concert was hosted by Philadelphia radio station WMMR-FM and broadcast on syndicated stations throughout the northeastern United States, including WJLK in Asbury Park.

Springsteen performs on one song, the closing "Having a Party." The show gets a ton of publicity.

Five years away

It's interesting to note that from October 1977 until early 1982, Bruce did not jam at the Stone Pony. The rock scene in Asbury Park had shifted to the Fast Lane on Fourth Avenue and that's where fans (including myself) found Bruce many a night.

Sometimes he was just hanging out at the bar listening to that night's bands, or other nights jumping on stage to jam with Beaver Brown, Robert Gordon and even a young Jon Bon Jovi (with Atlantic City Expressway), among others. He also spent a lot of time at Clarence Clemons' club, Big Man's West, in Red Bank.

Another reason Springsteen stayed away was that he was upset with how Danny Federici was treated in the Pony one night. He alluded to this in his eulogy at Federici's funeral in 2008.

"Danny, the only member of the E Street Band to be physically thrown out of the Stone Pony. Considering all the money we made them, that wasn't easy to do," Springsteen said.

"One evening in late 1977 Danny Federici was in the Pony. He got a bit loud and boisterous and the bouncers asked him to quiet down. Danny came back with a 'don't you know who I am?' attitude," said Billy Smith, the former owner of the Asbury Park Rock 'n' Roll Museum and a local music historian .

"In those days the Pony had a lot of tough and impatient bouncers who didn't appreciate backtalk. They didn't know him, and they ejected him.

"Danny told Bruce and he was very upset, figuring he had brought the club a great deal of business and money, therefore the employees should know and respect his band members. He decided to stay out of the Pony, and he didn't go there for four full years."

Springsteen finally returned to the Stone Pony on Jan. 5, 1982, playing two songs with the Lord Gunner Group.

The main entrance of the Stone Pony. The club is celebrating its 40th anniversary this month.Photo by John O'Boyle/The Star-Ledger

Summer of 1982

In 1982, Springsteen was back at the Stone Pony for many performances including playing 14 Sunday nights with Cats on a Smooth Surface between May 2 and Oct 3.

Cats, who were the regular Sunday night band at the Pony, consisted of Bobby Bandiera on lead guitar/vocals, Harry Filkin on rhythm guitar/vocals, Peter Schulle on keyboards/vocals, Pete Gagen on drums, Ray Planet on saxophone and John Micco on bass/vocals.

According to Brucebase and friends who were there, Bruce would join Cats onstage after the last set at 2:30 a.m. (bars were opened until 3 a.m. then). Being a Sunday night, there would usually be 30 to 40 people in the audience.

After jamming a few times with Cats, word that he was making regular appearances Sundays at the Pony got out and the regular crowd grew to a capacity crowd of more than 800, and that was every week, whether he showed up or not.

"Generally, Bruce was left alone at the Pony," said my former Star-Ledger colleague and author Wallace Stroby. "None of us locals would consider intruding on his space or asking for an autograph. At most, a friendly nod or hello, or a few minutes of conversation, might pass. The Pony was a place where he felt comfortable."

Video of Bruce at the Pony wtih Cats on Aug. 15, 1982. He brings up his "Fan No. 1" Obie Dziedzic to do the twist on "Havin' A Party."

June 8, 1984

Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band begin the mega Born in the U.S.A. Tour with a rehearsal show on a Friday night at the Pony

The show featured 12 songs, including the live debuts of "Glory Days," "Darlington County," "My Hometown" and "Born in the U.S.A."

The mammoth success of “Born in the U.S.A.” brought worldwide fame to the Pony as well. Soon, fans from all over the world were making pilgrimages to the club.

Jan. 19, 1986

A benefit for the workers of the soon-to-be closed 3M plant in Freehold. Bruce is backed by E Street Band members Clarence Clemons, Danny Federici, Max Weinberg, Garry Tallent and Patti Scialfa (missing were Nils Lofgren and Roy Bittan). The opener of the seven-song set was "My Hometown" which was very powerful after this introduction from Bruce: "Before we play a little bit, I'd like to say a few things about why we're down here tonight. Mainly I'd like to say that I think that the marriage between a community and a company is a special thing, it involves a special trust and even 400 jobs is a lot of work lost in a small town.

"What do you do when after 10 years or 20 years, you wake up in the morning and you see your livelihood sailing away from you, leaving you standing on the beach? What happens when the jobs go away and the people remain? ... I'd like to say what goes unmeasured is the price that unemployment inflicts on people's families, on their marriages, on the single mothers out there trying to raise their kids on their own.

"Now, the 3M company, it's their money and it's their plant but it's the 3M workers' jobs. I'm here tonight to just say that I think that after 25 years of service from a community that there's a debt owed to the 3M workers and to my hometown."

March 2, 1986

Another performance by Bruce with almost the entire E Street Band (no Roy Bittan on this night).

The set features seven songs: "Stand On It," "Working on the Highway." "Darlington County," "The Promised Land," "Darkness on the Edge of Town," "I'm Goin' Down," "My Hometown," "Cadillac Ranch" and "Glory Days."

Before playing "Glory Days," Bruce said: "Thanks for being here at the E Street Band sneak attack and I'd like especially to thank the Cats for giving us the time to play tonight."

April 12, 1987

One of those magical nights at the Pony. Many members of the E Street Band are there with Bruce to jam with Cats on 12 songs, including the premiere of "Light of Day."

Even Jon Bon Jovi joins in for "Kansas City," the night's final song.

A clip of Bruce performing "Lucille" that night:

Aug. 2 and Aug. 9, 1987

Back-to-back Sunday nights feature Bruce with the entire E Street Band (except Nils Lofgren) on the Pony stage.

The Aug. 2 show features the cover "I'm Bad, I'm Nationwide," "Come On, Let's Go," "Gloria," "Ruby Ruby," "Sweet Little Sixteen," Proud Mary" and "Around and Around," among the 14 songs played.

The Aug. 9 show features 10 songs including covers of "Fortunate Son," "Stand By Me," "(I Don't Want to) Hang Up My Rock and Roll Shoes" and "Having a Party."

Aug. 21, 1987

Bruce joins Little Steven & the Disciples of Soul for two songs, "Native American," and "Sun City."

I mention this one as it was the first time I saw Bruce in the Stone Pony. For many reasons, including having a job at the time that I had to be awake at 6 a.m. for, I always missed Bruce at the Pony. I had seen him jam at the Fast Lane and at Big Man's West, but it wasn't until 1987 that I finally had my night.

The Pony was packed. Many felt a Bruce appearance would happen as he had been around earlier in the month. He was with his first wife, Julianne Phillips.

Little Steven brought him up for two songs, "Native American" and "Sun City," at the end. Bruce was holding the lyrics to "Native America" and had to read from them to sing along.

Here's is some great footage from that night:

Aug. 21, 1988

This was a personal highlight for me. It was a Sunday night and I was there with some friends, including Billy Smith and Debra L. Rothenberg (who has a great book out: Bruce Springsteen: In Focus 1980-2012 with many great photos from the Stone Pony). It was getting late, Cats was playing and around 12:45 a.m. we almost left, which would be breaking one of the golden rules: You always had to stay until the end because that's when Bruce would usually jam.

Bruce Springsteen performs at the Stone Pony on Aug. 21, 1988.Photo by Debra L. Rothenberg

The Pony was not that crowded, maybe 100 people there. At about 1 a.m., through the front door walks in Bruce Springsteen holding hands with Patti Scialfa. They had recently gone public with their romance. Ed Manion and Mark Pender were also with them.

Bruce had just finished the Tunnel of Love tour and was about to embark on the Amnesty International — Human Rights Now! tour. It was also Bruce's first time back in the Stone Pony in more than nine months.

Bruce joined Cats for two songs that night — "Stand By Me" and "Around and Around" &mdah; and Rothenberg took one of her iconic Springsteen photos that night.

June 9, 1989

Bruce made seven appearances at the Pony in 1989 and this one, guesting with Nils Lofgren, was one I will always remember.

I was working at the Asbury Park Press at the time and had gotten off work at 1 a.m. I immediately headed to the Stone Pony to catch the end of Nils' set. As I was outside of the Pony on Second Avenue I could hear the music pretty well and it was Bruce jamming with Nils on "Not Fade Away."

Sort of just mesmerized in the moment, a few others and myself were just taking it all in, not even trying to get into the Pony. I had assumed it was sold out, so why bother?

Butch Pielka, the then-owner, comes over to us and says, "Why are you all outside? Come on in and see Bruce, there's even no cover charge now." So in we went and got to see three more songs: "In the Midnight Hour," "Lean on Me" and "Glory Days."

Thank you Butch!

Sept. 26, 1991

This wasn't really a public performance. It was invitation-only filming of Southside Johnny and the Asbury Jukes playing in support of their new "Better Days" album. Springsteen, Jon Bon Jovi and Steve Van Zandt were both special guests.

Bruce, Van Zandt and Southside Johnny did several takes of "It's Been a Long Time" and Bruce also sang along on "Having a Party," "Talk to Me" and "I've Been Working Too Hard."

July 16, 1994

Springsteen's first appearance at the outdoor Stone Pony stage. Well, it was actually under a tent at the time and called the "Stone Pony Big Top" on the site of the then-recently-razed Mrs. Jay's Beer Garden. The show, featuring Southside Johnny and the Asbury Jukes, was part of the Stone Pony's 20th anniversary celebration.

Bruce along with Patti Scialfa, Jon Bon Jovi and Max Weinberg join Southside for seven songs including "Land of a Thousand Dances" and "Jersey Girl."

Oct. 17, 1995

Bruce starts a mini tour with Joe Grushecky and the Houserockers and the first of six shows is at the Stone Pony. Tickets sold out in minutes as it was pretty well known that Bruce would be joining the Houserockers.

The two-hour plus show featured Grushecky songs as well as "Murder Incorporated," and "Light of Day."

Nov. 3, 2000

Bruce's first appearance back at the Pony in more than five years. The club had gone through some rough stretches and was even renamed as Vinyl, a dance club. It was closed for almost two years before being bought and reopened to a lot of fanfare by Cuban native and Jersey City restaurateur Domenic Santana.

This was the first Light of Day show and Bruce had four months earlier finished his Reunion tour with the E Street Band. His appearance was a major event, putting Asbury Park and the Stone Pony back on the music map.

Bruce joined Grushecky and the Houserockers for a full set that lasted until 3:15 a.m., well after the Pony's 2 a.m. closing time. Patti Scialfa also joined in for a couple of songs.

Summer of 2001

Bruce appeared at the Stone Pony outdoor stage three times this summer.

The first was on May 27, the Sunday of Memorial Day weekend as he joined Southside Johnny and the Asbury Jukes for several songs. The Jukes were playing to celebrate the 25th anniversary of their 1976 radio broadcast from the Pony.

There were tornado warnings at the Jersey Shore that night and Southside said "I need help. If I'm going out tonight, he's going with me" before bringing Springsteen up on stage. They played together for about an hour. Graham Parker also joined in on a couple songs.

Bruce was back at the Pony on Saturday, Aug. 18, a day when he made three different appearances in Asbury Park.

The first was that afternoon when he played a surprise acoustic set of six songs at the Clearwater Festival in Bradley Park, across from Convention Hall.

That night, he joined Nils Lofgren for four songs at the Pony outdoor stage. About an hour later he jumped onstage indoors at the Pony to perform "Suspicious Minds" with John Eddie.

Bruce finished his outdoor summer trifecta at the Pony by playing with Clarence Clemons and the Temple of Soul on the Saturday of Labor Day weekend, Sept. 1. He joined The Big Man for four songs: "Pink Cadillac," "Raise Your Hand," "Mustang Sally" and "Glory Days."

Private benefits

Between 2002 and 2011, Bruce played 14 private benefits at the Stone Pony for schools his children were attending at the time: Rumson County Day School, Ranney School of Tinton Falls and Boston College.

Tickets, which were very expensive ($1,000 to $2,500), were made available only to parents of other students at the school, administrators, faculty members and, in the case of Boston College, significant donors.

Bruce was backed up by Bobby Bandiera and other local musicians, with Patti Scialfa and Southside Johnny also joining in.

Many fans would listen from the sidewalk outside the Pony but few ever got inside.

If you have the time, here's more than a half hour of footage from the Sept. 11, 2010 benefit for Boston College:

Nov. 1, 2003

A legendary night at the Pony. This was the fourth annual Light of Day benefit for Parkinson's disease research.

Bruce played two songs with Garland Jeffreys and then a full set with Joe Grushecky and the Houserockers. They were later joined by special guest Michael J. Fox for "Light of Day."

July 17, 2004

A surprising summer night when Springsteen, Patti Scialfa and Soozie Tyrell join Grushecky and the Houserockers for a full set. I say surprising because there are always Springsteen rumors whenever Grushecky plays in Asbury Park, and this night seemed to be very quiet in that regard. The Pony wasn't even that crowded.

Joining Bruce and Patti this night was Sean Penn, who didn't get up onstage but hung out at the back bar of the Pony for the evening.

May 17, 2008

This night most expected Bruce to show up and play with Mike Ness (of Social Distortion) and they were right. He performed four songs. The following week Bruce started the European leg of the Magic Tour in Dublin.

July 23, 2010

The last time Bruce has guested at the Pony. He joined Alejandro Escovedo for three songs: "Always a Friend," "Faith" and "Beast of Burden."

Here's footage from that night:

Who he has jammed with:

The list of acts (in no particular order) Springsteen has joined onstage at the Stone Pony:

1. Blackberry Booze Band; 2, Southside Johnny and the Asbury Jukes; 3. Levon Helm; 4. Cats on a Smooth Surface; 5. Bobby Bandiera; 6. Joe Grushecky; 7. Michael Ness; 8. Soozie Tyrell; 9. Alejandro Escovedo; 10. The Shakes; 11. The Shots; 12. Lord Gunner Group; 13. The Diamonds; 14. John Eddie; 15. La Bamba and the Hubcaps; 16. Marshall Crenshaw; 17. Little Steven; 18, Killer Joe; 19. Nils Lofgren; 20. Jimmy Cliff and 21. Clarence Clemons

And hopefully the continuing history of the Stone Pony will have a few more Bruce Springsteen appearances.

Have I missed one of your favorite Bruce Stone Pony nights? Got a Springsteen Pony story you want to share? Please do so in the comments below.