Celebrating the 50th Anniversary of Born to Run
May 28, 2025
This fall, the Bruce Springsteen Archives & Center for American Music (BSACAM) will present a multi-day 50th anniversary celebration of the release of Bruce Springsteen’s landmark album, Born to Run. Beginning on Thursday, September 4 and running through Sunday, September 7, these events will acknowledge the album’s place in American music history and shed new light on the making of the album and the role it played in Springsteen’s early career.
Events will be held across the campus of Monmouth University, BSACAM’s home.
“This celebration, which is much more expansive than earlier symposia that honored the 50th anniversary of Greetings from Asbury Park, N.J. and The Wild, the Innocent, and the E Street Shuffle—Springsteen’s first two albums—is one of our most ambitious public programs yet,” said Robert Santelli, BSACAM Executive Director. “Not only will it bring renewed attention to Springsteen’s masterpiece, it will also demonstrate the kinds of programs the public can expect from the BSACAM once our brand-new home opens next year.”
The weekend will include a major symposium, an academic conference, an exhibit celebrating the famous Born to Run album cover, and a special viewing of never-before-seen footage shot during the making of the album in 1975. Those participating in the conference include members of the E Street Band, music historians, industry legends, and special guests. Details regarding the events, including ticket sales, will be announced next month.
“Born to Run was THE pivotal album in Bruce’s career. By 1975, after disappointing album sales for his first two albums, Bruce Springsteen’s relationship with Columbia Records hung in the balance. It was 1975’s Born to Run, his landmark third album and its resulting tour, that cemented Springsteen as a star,” said Eileen Chapman, BSACAM Director. “Born to Run has been hailed as a masterpiece from start to finish, and many consider it to be a perfect album. Resulting legendary shows with the E Street Band at the Bottom Line in New York and the Roxy in Los Angeles and cover stories in both Time and Newsweek magazines during the same week, propelled Springsteen to new heights.”
About the Bruce Springsteen Archives & Center for American Music:
The Bruce Springsteen Archives & Center for American Music serves as the official repository for the musical legacy of Bruce Springsteen. The Archives includes photographs, periodicals, oral histories, rare recordings, historic footage, and artifacts related to Springsteen and the E Street Band. The Center for American Music produces museum exhibitions, seminars, concerts, and other public and educational programs that both explore and celebrate the nation’s rich music tradition. For further information, please contact Eileen Chapman, Director, at echapman@springsteenarchives.org, or 732-571-3512, or visit www.springsteenarchives.org
