by Ned McFadden, Sewell, NJ

The Ripley Music Hall was one of the great small venues in the city in the early eighties, basically a bar with a stage at one end of the room.At 6th & South, in the spot that later housed Tower Records, some incredible performances took place. My new wife and I saw Clarence Clemons a couple of times at the Ripley during this period; with the Red Bank Rockers, Gary (US) Bonds and the like. Always great shows. One night while waiting for the doors to open, a cab pulled up, the back door flew open and out popped Clarence, who was very gracious and friendly and stopped to say hello.

But on another night that Clarence was performing, the energy of the crowd was at a whole different level. Rumors of a special guest spread throughout. Then after about an hour into the show, the doors (leading to the upstairs bar) on both sides of the stage closed on cue. Clarence wrapped up his version of “Woman’s Got the Power” and then a familiar, head banned, bulked up shadow emerged from backstage. The spotlight hit Bruce in the face and the crowd ERUPTED. This was just before Born in the USA was released. Bruce treated the frenzied crowed to “Rockin’ All Over the World” (which he often played as an oncore during the Born in the USA tour), and two or three other rockers. We were litterally ten feet from the stage; an amazing experience & a night that I will never forget.