So here's the story about Fade Away and my never ending quest to get it played. Back in 2005, due to Bruce acknowledging my request outside the hotel in Gothenburg, it was played for the first time in 24 yrs. A fantastic, soulful version with an inspired Bruce on the Devils & Dust-tour.

Now, great as that was, I still hadn't heard the song in a band version. As a matter of fact, very few people have, since it's not been played with the E Street Band since 1981.

Now last week, I got the opportunity to interview Little Steven (an interview which i posted here.
After the interview we discussed Steven's favourite Bruce songs, and he told me they were Restless Nights, Held up without a gun and ... Fade Away. I told him Fade Away was my favourite aswell and that they really should play it during one of the three Stockholm gigs. Then he said "I don't think we've ever played that song". Knowing that's not true, I had to remind him about the version they played on the River tour with the instrumental intro. He nodded his head and said "Yes, your're right, I know someone played that version for me sometime". Pretty funny.

So I told him again he had to convince Bruce to play it, he said he'd do his best. Before he left the radio studio, I urged him once more. He laughed, but said I had great taste.

Come the rainiest gig I've ever been to on the 4th. They didn't play it.

Come a rainfree but cold gig on the 5th. They didn't play it.

So as I got to the line outside the stadium on the 7th, my hopes were slim, but I still made a big sign for Fade Away. On the back I put Tougher, which I can't believe they're not playing more often. I thought the chances of getting Fade Away played were so small, I had to put something on the back of the sign with a greater possibility of being picked.

Then, five hours later came the holy shit moment of the day. The soundchecked started at about 4.30 and I hear Bruce singing "Well now you say you've found another man who does things to you that I can't" and my jaw fell to the ground. I showed my sign to the people standing in line with me and they started cheering. I was absolutely shocked, but happy. I now knew there was a chance.

So the show starts, and before The River, Little Steven sees my sign, notices me and starts rolling with his eyes towards Bruce, implying (as I interpreted it anyway) that "it's cool, I've talked to him".

Then during the sign collecting, Bruce didn't see my sign at all. It sucked. But after Mony Mony, Steve saw my sign again, and poked Bruce to get him to see it. Bruce saw it, laughed and said something to Steve and washed out his arms. Then they started Trapped. As soon as that song was over, Steve looked down at me, gesturing with his arms to quickly get my sign up in the air again. He once more poked Bruce in the side, and now finally Bruce gave in.

So Bruce runs down, collects my sign specifically, and starts telling a story about how this is Steve's favourite song and all, and that we should thank him for getting Bruce to play it. And so they start the song.

And I can now die happily.

Very cool, I thought you might have had someting to do with it being played!
A very special version with the long talking intro and they performed it flawlessly, can´t see anything cooler being played in sweden for the last 20 years, together with Lost in the Flood and Drive all Night.
Steve looked so happy when Bruce decide to have a go at it, like a child at Christmas.

Nice one

Great story! Here is my clip of this very beutiful song from yesterday, not that good though so hopefully better ones will appear.
Fade Away

I like your story .... and if not mentioned before your interview as well !

Great story ... now if we could go only get Restless Nights played

Had to look this up:

01/11/1980 USA,Los Angeles,CA,Sports Arena
15/11/1980 USA,Houston,TX,The Summit
24/11/1980 USA,Largo,MD,Capital Center
28/11/1980 USA,New York,NY,Madison Square Garden
01/12/1980 USA,Pittsburgh,PA,Civic Arena
12/12/1980 USA,Hartford,CT,Veterans Memorial Coliseum
19/12/1980 USA,New York,NY,Madison Square Garden
31/12/1980 USA,Uniondale,NY,Nassau Coliseum
21/01/1981 Canada,Toronto,Maple Leaf Gardens
28/01/1981 USA,Saint Louis,MO,Checkerdome
13/02/1981 USA,Starkville,MS,Mississippi State University
16/02/1981 USA,Lakeland,FL,Civic Center
18/02/1981 USA,Jacksonville,FL,Memorial Coliseum
20/02/1981 USA,Miami,FL,Sportatorium
23/02/1981 USA,Atlanta,GA,The Omni
05/03/1981 USA,Indianapolis,IN,Market Square Arena
23/06/2005 Sweden,Goteborg,Scandinavium
04/11/2005 USA,Tampa,FL,St. Petersburg Times Forum
08/11/2005 USA,Philadelphia,PA,Wachovia Center
13/11/2005 USA,Atlantic City,NJ,Boardwalk Hall
19/11/2005 USA,St.Petersburg,FL,Seminole rock live arena
21/11/2005 USA,Trenton,NJ,Sovereign Bank Arena

Loved the story and everything else...but the song just isn't the same without the sincerity. Damn that Patti for making him happy! And for ruining Rendezvous every time she opens her mouth.

That is a great story
One of my favorite bruce songs off the album as well.
He should play it more.

Brilliant. Thanks for convincing Steve to convince his Boss

One of my Wife's fav songs. It was a big hit in Atlanta. We heard it played on the D&D tour when he came to Atlanta.

Great story. Well done.

A better video has surfaced: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gr0ZE3e3N3U

nicely done all around: izzy, bruce and the band, and the sing-along crowd.

Son of Izzy, great story, well done. So happy to have heard this one, thank YOU.

In fact it is too early to dy, you still have to ask for "Stolen car" in Glasgow (in combo with Racing the Street)
:-)

I had a sign for it, as I'd read the original interview.

Both Nils and Steve saw and pointed to it in a 'yes, that's a good one' way, but that Springsteen did not take it.

Opps. Got that wrong. I heard it in Atlantic City and NOT Atlanta in 2005.

ha, I had to look that up myself.

One of the best moments of the tour so far...

Best video so far, shot by my friend SpaceTrucker501 standing right next to me in the pit. You'll see me smiling my ass off about 2 minutes or so into the video... I'm surprised I didn't faint.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T3gpm_DHblU&e