A new documentary on the iconic Born in the USA? Fans of The Boss would love to see it.
He may be front and centre, but Bruce Springsteen never forgets the people behind him. For over 40 years, the E Street Band have been an integral part of Springsteen’s career and without the heart-stopping, pants-dropping, love-making, earth-quaking, Viagra-taking group, The Boss wouldn’t be where he is.
Another person integral to Springsteen’s career is the director Thom Zimny.
Having directed countless music videos, Springsteen on Broadway and various Bruce-centric documentaries (The Promise: The Making of Darkness on the Edge of Town, The Ties That Bind, and High Hopes), Zimny is now taking their collaboration to the big screen, co-directing Western Stars with The Boss – you can read our review of the film here.
With the film receiving a re-release in Irish cinemas due to incredible demand, it’s clear that the appetite for Springsteen is still huge.
Ahead of its release, JOE had the chance to sit down and chat with Zimny about the film and he had to know if Springsteen was interested in making another documentary about one of his other albums.
It turns out that Zimny thinks there’s “still a lot to explore” in the era which saw the release of Springsteen’s iconic album, Born in the USA.
“I think that with this film, he’s exploring the new music,” Zimny said.
“Working with Bruce, we’ve looked back on various albums – Darkness On The Edge of Town, The River, Born To Run – I think there are periods when he reflects on the creative process. At the same time, he’s very busy with current projects and he has so much in the present day to examine and work with. I’m not sure that he’ll be returning to this form with other records.
“I think as a fan, you keep all your wishes. Like, the idea of Bruce discussing Nebraska or Born in the USA. It’s really healthy to be a fan of the music and have those fan dreams. It’s great to have those dreams and also be in the moment where I get to work with him directly. I find the Born in The USA era is very interesting, there’s still a lot to explore there. I’m always surprised at what’s next.”
Released in 1984, Born in the USA is one of Springsteen’s most commercially successful albums and one of the highest-selling records ever; it’s also frequently cited by critics as one of the greatest albums of all time.
The album had seven top-10 singles, it was certified as a three-times platinum record within a year of its release and has sold over 30 million copies just since 2012.
Thematically, the album simmers with anger and rage towards everyday life in Reagan-era America. By inventing characters and the stories in his lyrics, Springsteen took aim at the treatment of Vietnam veterans, mass unemployment, nostalgia for old school Americana, economic anxiety and staying true to oneself in the face of adversity.
Christ, there’s enough drama, heartbreak, and lyrical-complexity in the song ‘Born In The USA’ alone to make a documentary.
Western Stars is still available to see in Irish cinemas.
Take a look at what’s in store.
Clip via Warner Bros. Pictures
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