Bruce Springsteen – A Review Of The 1979 “No Nukes” Concerts

Introduction

Along with Milburn’s Deli in Montclair, White Manna burgers in Hackensack, and the Pulaski Skyway Bridge that towers over the Passaic River, Bruce Springsteen is a genuine homegrown New Jersey institution. However, Springsteen’s legendary influence extends far beyond the reach of the Pine Barrens of the Garden State.

Over a five-decade career, Springsteen has won twenty Grammys. Additionally, he’s won an Oscar, two Golden Globes, and a Tony Award. Not to mention being honored by the Kennedy Center, and the American Music Awards. Additionally, he has collected numerous MTV Video Music Awards over the years. Indeed, that’s why, 45 years later, The Legendary 1979 No Nukes Concerts film is still essential viewing for anyone who calls themselves a Springsteen fan.

Background

Bruce Springsteen released Darkness on the Edge of Town in 1978. He subsequently took his “E Street Band” on the road, touring to promote his fourth studio album. With the tour wrapping up in early 1979, The Boss was taking some time off, working on material that would appear on his seminal follow-up album, The River, released to rave reviews in 1980.

In March 1979, a partial meltdown of the Three Mile Island nuclear reactor in Pennsylvania shocked and horrified the world. This incident remains, to this day, the most significant accident in U.S. commercial nuclear power plant history. The cleanup alone took 15 years and cost over $1 billion. As a result, the Three Mile Island disaster emboldened the credibility of anti-nuclear groups. For years, these groups predicted something like this would happen.

What was born of these tragic events in Pennsylvania, was the organization “Musicians United for Safe Energy,” or MUSE, which was formed in 1979. The activist group was founded by Jackson Browne, Bonnie Raitt, Graham Nash, Harvey Wasserman, and John Hall. Their sole purpose was to advocate against the use of nuclear energy via all-star concerts and huge rallies.

The No Nukes Concerts

The “No Nukes” concerts were put on to raise additional funding for the MUSE organization. The goal was also to further their well-intentioned cause. These concerts were all-star gatherings, featuring Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers, The Doobie Brothers, Crosby Stills & Nash, Bonnie Raitt, Jackson Browne, James Taylor, and many more. The concerts would take place at Madison Square Garden in New York City, on September 19-23, 1979.

Springsteen had performed at Madison Square Garden before. However, up to this point, the newly turned 30-year-old had never performed at any big, all-star concert events like this. The Three Mile Island disaster had been the inspiration for Springsteen’s Roulette. This was the first song he recorded during the sessions for The River. However, the song was never commercially released until 1988.

Up to the night of the shows, Bruce Springsteen and his E Street Band were avoiding the spotlight. Rather, they were focused on performing in front of a sold-out MSG crowd. A crowd that was filled with hometown fans of the Jersey rocker. Springsteen did attend the photoshoot that became the November 1979 Rolling Stone cover that promoted the concerts and their cause. The Boss did not attend press events or issue a statement.

Springsteen recently appeared at a screening of The Legendary 1979 No Nukes Concerts at the Basie Center Cinemas in Red Bank, New Jersey. On November 12, 2021, he reflected to those in attendance:

“The shows were kind of a big deal because we had never played on a bill with a lot of our peers so that was exciting. It was a rare show we would play on a break. Once we were recording and in the studio we rarely took gigs”

The Performance

Recorded on his 30th birthday, Springsteen, at one point in the show, is handed a cake. He quickly throws this back into the crowd, stating he doesn’t need it, and to “send me the laundry bill.” The Boss is locked in and performing at a high level. The result is jaw-dropping. The MSG crowd is enthralled.

The six-piece E Street Band performs here like a well-oiled machine, and Bruce Springsteen fronts them with a manic, infectious energy. He slides and jumps across the stage like a Broadway veteran, feeding on the crowd’s wild energy. Indeed, it’s a fantastic performance that has since become a “legendary” performance.

Springsteen opens with several songs from the Darkness on the Edge of Town album. This is followed by the live premiere of the haunting ballad The River, by far the concert’s most serene and quiet moment. The River is followed up with Sherry Darling, another new tune. This upbeat rocker provides a stark contrast to the previous ballad.

The upbeat tempo remains for the rest of the show as Thunder Road and Jungleland (both off of the Born To Run album) increase the energy and pacing of Springsteen’s performance. This is followed by a fantastic Rosalita and an even more incredible Born to Run. Moreover, Clarence Clemons on saxophone dominates the stage during these final numbers.

To close out the show, Springsteen invites Jackson Browne and Tom Petty to perform The Zodiac’s Stay. This was a song Browne rewrote into a medley. The E Street Band then ignites the stage with a 25-minute performance of Detroit Medley, Gary U.S. Bonds’ Quarter to Three, and Buddy Holly’s Rave On. The performance is electrifying, punctuated by Max Weinberg’s swing style of drum playing.

The Commercial Release

Both of Springsteen’s appearances at MSG in September 1979 were professionally filmed. The film crew used six cameras, which were strategically placed around the stage. Three cameras were located directly dead center, perfectly capturing Springsteen’s interactions with the audience. Two cameras were also positioned to the side, with an additional camera providing an overview of the MSG stage.

The Legendary 1979 No Nukes Concerts contains thirteen electrifying performances over two nights. Ten of the tracks had been previously unreleased commercially. The release has been newly remixed by Bob Clearmountain, who matched everything to the original 16-millimeter film footage. This was restored in HD by Thom Zimny. The result is fantastic. In addition, the colors in this release are rich and deep. Springsteen pops off the screen.

Also included in this box set is a 24-page booklet. This features rare photos, as well as other memorabilia. Further, additional bonus materials include an essay, and reproductions of an original ticket, envelope, and sticker. The aspect ratio in this production is 4:3, so there’s no widescreen option available. The audio is where this release shines. The uncompressed 5.1 audio is fantastic.

Conclusion

The Legendary 1979 No Nukes Concerts can be purchased as a 2-LP, 2-CD/Bluray, or 2-CD/DVD physical set. If you are a fan of The Boss and don’t own this magnificent collection, you are truly missing out on something special. This release stands as a high-water mark in Springsteen’s career. While the release may not have both complete shows, the tracks that are served up, are stunning. This is Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band at its peak and home, in their element, at Madison Square Garden – the world’s most famous arena.

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