Episode 187: Bruce Springsteen ‘Nebraska’ Special with Warren Zanes

Since his first book twenty years ago, musician/author (and all-around music appreciator) Warren Zanes has deftly chronicled what it means to be a rock star without a road map. His acclaimed 2015 authorized biography on Tom Petty -- released just two years prior to his death -- gave readers an engrossing glimpse into the mind of one of rock's great everymen, and this year, Zanes has released a more granular look into arguably the darkest hour of perhaps rock's greatest everyman. 'Deliver Me From Nowhere: The Making of Bruce Springsteen's Nebraska' is a jaw-dropping read front-to-back, taking readers into the modest bedroom where the Boss recorded his most mysterious and talked-about work. From exclusive interviews with Springsteen, Steve Earle, Rosanne Cash and more, Zanes proves that what makes Nebraska so intriguing is not just the complete left-turn that it is musically, but how it's sandwiched between two career highs: His first number one album with The River in 1980, and the superstardom that Born in the U.S.A. would bring him in 1984.

 

On this week's episode, Zanes tackles Springsteen and Petty’s similarities and differences, the hurdle of getting Springsteen's humble Nebraska demo tape transferred for vinyl and CD duplication, and the album’s lasting impact over the last four decades. Visit warren-zanes.com for socials and other info. Plus, this episode features covers of Nebraska songs by Aoife O'Donovan. Click here to purchase them as a Bandcamp download.