On July 2, 1981, Bruce Springsteen christened the brand-new Brendan Byrne Arena in the Meadowlands of East Rutherford, New Jersey, with "Trapped," a little-known song by reggae giant Jimmy “The Harder They Come” Cliff, discovered by Bruce on a cassette in a European airport record store while on the second leg of The River tour earlier in ’81. It’s not hard to see why Bruce would be drawn to this particular and quite esoteric (good luck finding it!) reggae song enough to cover it, because its themes of political, and personal, struggle for freedom from a controlling power-be it an oppressive government or a stifling partner-must have resonated with the man who had already written about such things in songs like “Streets of Fire” (the personal) and “Roulette” (the political). Live, and transformed into “Bruce Springsteen music," with Clarence blasting one of his most thunderous, Heavens-shaking solos in a canon full of them, the song took on a glorious, larger-than-life presence (I was there), each successive defiant-triumphant “Trapped!” chorus chant increasing it to mammoth proportions, aptly filling the cavernous arena that became known, and rightfully so, as “The House That Bruce Built.”
A friend of mine (and several of his friends) tailgated for several hours after a 1985 Giants Stadium Born in the USA show, and having gotten pretty tanked up decided to stop in at the 'Tick Tock Diner' down the road from Giants Stadium on Route 3. One of them got up to use the bathroom in the diner and got the shock of his life walking to the bathrom seeing Springsteen sitting by himself with a coffee and sandwich just chilling , looking utterly exhausted. The guy was like "No way -it can't be' but sure enough it was. The guys stopped by his booth and asked for autographs - he was very accomodating but they could tell he wanted to be left alone. I would imagine that would be a drain on yourself, coming down from playing a 4 hour show in front of 60K people
The old meadowlands was the absolute best place to tailgate - spent many a night tailgating in the lot after concerts and Giants/Devils games. It was as great as the current Metlife Stadium is utterly terrible - an overpriced piece of DogShit
![CHILE vs. BRASIL [1-2] | RESUMEN | ELIMINATORIAS SUDAMERICANAS | FECHA 9](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/5ObJt_71AYc/mqdefault.jpg)
what a beautiful arena that was......
It was an epic night I will never forget it. The House that Bruce built. Can't believe they are shutting those doors. Thanks for sharing!
WOW, this is awesome! i remember this place. its sad to see it close. but hopefully one day,it would open once or full time.
On July 2, 1981, Bruce Springsteen christened the brand-new Brendan Byrne Arena in the Meadowlands of East Rutherford, New Jersey, with "Trapped," a little-known song by reggae giant Jimmy “The Harder They Come” Cliff, discovered by Bruce on a cassette in a European airport record store while on the second leg of The River tour earlier in ’81.
It’s not hard to see why Bruce would be drawn to this particular and quite esoteric (good luck finding it!) reggae song enough to cover it, because its themes of political, and personal, struggle for freedom from a controlling power-be it an oppressive government or a stifling partner-must have resonated with the man who had already written about such things in songs like “Streets of Fire” (the personal) and “Roulette” (the political).
Live, and transformed into “Bruce Springsteen music," with Clarence blasting one of his most thunderous, Heavens-shaking solos in a canon full of them, the song took on a glorious, larger-than-life presence (I was there), each successive defiant-triumphant “Trapped!” chorus chant increasing it to mammoth proportions, aptly filling the cavernous arena that became known, and rightfully so, as “The House That Bruce Built.”
I was there. I paid $100 for second row center. Will never forget the thrill
A friend of mine (and several of his friends) tailgated for several hours after a 1985 Giants Stadium Born in the USA show, and having gotten pretty tanked up decided to stop in at the 'Tick Tock Diner' down the road from Giants Stadium on Route 3. One of them got up to use the bathroom in the diner and got the shock of his life walking to the bathrom seeing Springsteen sitting by himself with a coffee and sandwich just chilling , looking utterly exhausted. The guy was like "No way -it can't be' but sure enough it was. The guys stopped by his booth and asked for autographs - he was very accomodating but they could tell he wanted to be left alone.
I would imagine that would be a drain on yourself, coming down from playing a 4 hour show in front of 60K people
Holy crap, look at Ernie Anastos's hair!!
I was there 🤠
Glad to share this clip ... Tom from NJ . Will Mr. Marsh still be pissed off at me ?
I was there, great night.
Good old Bruce Springstin...
$10.50 and $12.50!!! Hard to believe but I guess that is what I paid too!
My dad was there for the second night sitting in the last row of the balcony.
He doesn't remember who he went with...
The truth is, he could have sold out every night for 30 days.......I saw four shows that summer, ALWAYS Incredible and complete blow out......
I know it was 1980 but damn, could Pat Celi sound anymore depressed that he's in the f'n FRONT ROW of a Springsteen concert?
I was there!
2:49 North Rutherford ? that's East Rutherford
I need a time machine...
Neat.
This arena should still be open. No reason nets and Devils should of left. Now it just sits there empty
I was 12
The old meadowlands was the absolute best place to tailgate - spent many a night tailgating in the lot after concerts and Giants/Devils games. It was as great as the current Metlife Stadium is utterly terrible - an overpriced piece of DogShit
Could not agree more!!!