Jon Bon Jovi recently took a moment to reflect on the deep friendship he shares with Bruce Springsteen. Growing up just 18 miles apart in New Jersey, the two musicians have had a bond that goes back many years. On November 25, Bon Jovi, 62, hosted SiriusXM’s E Street Radio, a station dedicated to Springsteen’s music, where he reminisced about the early days of their friendship.
Bon Jovi recalled the first time he saw The E Street Band perform live at the Philadelphia Spectrum. “It was their first time in an arena, and I was there to watch,” he shared. “I remember when they played ‘Spirits in the Night,’ Clarence Clemons blew that horn, and during the solo, Bruce ended up in the third tier of the arena.
Jon Bon Jovi remembers his awe at seeing Bruce Springsteen live for the first time
It was such a cool moment that I adopted that move myself later on.” He went on to explain how growing up in New Jersey, The E Street Band was considered the local equivalent of The Beatles. “As a young musician, I’d drive down to Asbury Park to play in bars. If you were lucky, you’d catch a glimpse of the Asbury Dukes or The E Street Band members hanging out.”
Bon Jovi also remembered a special moment in 1978 when, while performing with his first cover band, he had a surprise encounter with Springsteen. “We were playing ‘Promised Land’ in a bar, and when I turned around, there was Bruce, singing along with me,” he recalled. “At the time, I was still in high school, and that felt like a Beatles moment for me.”
In a more recent memory, Bon Jovi reflected on Springsteen joining him on stage at the Grammy MusiCares gala in February, where Bon Jovi was honored as Person of the Year. “Bruce came on stage with us, and it felt like a full-circle moment,” he said. “It was as if it were 1979 again, but now he was up there with me and my band 40 years later.”
Bon Jovi also spoke about the emotional importance of Springsteen’s support, noting that the singer came to the event just days after the passing of Bon Jovi’s mother. “I understood if he couldn’t make it, but Bruce insisted on being there for me, and I’m incredibly grateful for that,” Bon Jovi said.
Reflecting on their strong connection, Bon Jovi told PEOPLE in April that his relationship with Springsteen goes beyond the music. “We can talk about life, love, and loss in a way that few people can,” he said. “He’s more than a friend—he’s like a big brother to me.” He also praised Springsteen and his band’s incredible talent, saying, “They were able to make the impossible seem possible.”
