Chris Christie, embattled Governor of the great state of New Jersey and one of the Republican presidential hopefuls, is a tough-talking dude. He will talk tough about teachers, about pensions, about illegal immigrants.
But get Chris Christie going about Bruce Springsteen, and that tough talk melts into a gooey puddle of mush-mouthed love and admiration. Thanks to a deep dive of a 15-year-old email listserv, a series of emails from 1999 and 2000 when Christie was but a lowly lobbyist and former county freeholder were uncovered, showing Christie going full-throttle fanboy talking about Springsteen. The messages are signed “Chris,” “Chris C.,” and “Chris from Mendham, N.J.,” meaning that unless someone was really looking, they wouldn’t have shown up if searching for things with the Governor’s name in it.
These emails are timely and, frankly, kind of sad, given Christie’s recent break-up with Springsteen in favor of Bon Jovi. What would Chris from Mendham, N.J. have thought if you were to tell him that, 15 years down the road, in an attempt to be shrewdly political, he’d proclaim that Bon Jovi and not his beloved Bruce was his favorite singer? Based on the text and tone of some of these emails, I think it’s safe to say he would not handle it particularly well.
There’s Christie talking about a show in March of ’99:
I am writing the morning after last night’s spectacular show on the Boardwalk. Bruce and the band came on at 7:30 pm to a rousing rendition of “Promised Land.” They looked so excited and happy. The crowd was electric and the band looked like they were having more fun than anyone in the place.
And there’s Christie attempting to get hip to the whole bootlegging scene:
Could someone please let me know if there is a tree forming for the Asbury Park Concerts?
I would be interested in participating and since I do not yet have the requisite equipment, I would gladly trade with blanks?
If anyone is interested please e-mail me privately at
Thanks LTDer’s,
Chris C.
Hey, Governor Christie, would you say Bruce Springsteen and The E Street Band are a great rock ‘n roll party band or the greatest rock ‘n roll party band?
“…the greatest rock n roll party band ever.”
Okay, then.
And finally, there’s this captivating tale of Christie’s chance encounter with the man himself on a plane from Minnesota to New Jersey:
Date: Fri, 21 Jan 2000 12:32:22 EST
Subject: Brush with Bruce at 30,000 feet
I am mostly a lurker, but now that the holiday craze is over, I have time to sit down and impart my great experience from the last show in Minnesota. My wife and I saw the second Asbury Park rehearsal, 8 of the NJ shows and one in Philly. What a great year. We finished up with “The last show of the Century” entertaining 15 clients at the final show in Minnesota. The show was amazing and everyone had a great time. But for us, the best was about to happen the next day.
We board the 11 am Northwest flight back to NJ the day after the show. My wife and I are sitting in 1st row of 1st class and getting out our books out of our bags and putting the luggage away in the overheads. From behind me I hear a voice say,”I think I’m sitting right back here.” I knew immediately–it was Bruce!
He was by himself–no Patty, no bodyguards–just Bruce, a baseball cap, jeans jacket, NY Times and Minneapolis Star-Tribune. I immediately go off the deep end.
The plane is then delayed 30 minutes on the ground and we have our chance. We walked back to see Bruce, introduced ourselves and told him we had flown in for the show last night and were headed home. He said, “Me, too.” We thanked him for the great performance the night before (and for all the great nights). He was incredibly gracious, we chatted briefly about where we lived, etc., and then said good-bye and went back to our seats (he was in the last row of 1st class).
When we landed in Newark we walked off the plane with Bruce right next to us. I asked him if I could tell him a little story. I told him about the night he played Sandy at the Continental Arena. My 6 year old son Andrew and I were in the front row on tix we won in the KACF auction. Bruce had thrown him a pick earlier in the evening and acknowledged his energy at 11 PM during Land of Hope and Dreams. (He said, looking at my six year old son, “He’s still going?”) He then introduced Sandy by pointing to my son and saying “We’re gonna send you home with a little lullaby.” As I finished this story in the jetway, Bruce said, “That was your little guy?” I said yes and told him how much it meant to my son (he’ll still calls Sandy “his” song) and how much it meant to me. He said he remebered and called Andrew “crazy” with a big grin and chuckle. He told me to tell Andrew he was glad he had such a good time and to come back again. I then asked Bruce if he could sign an autograph to Andrew and his 3 year old sister Sarah Anne (who had also been to 2 shows–one in Philly and one in Jersey). He was happy to do it and signed to both of them. He shook my hand, told my wife to make sure the kids got the autograph and wished us a Merry Christmas. His ride was waiting at the gate and he walked away. What an incredible time for me, a Bruce fan since 1976.
He was everything I hoped he would be if I ever got a chance to meet him–gracious and incredibly normal in a truly extraordinary way. That was my Christmas gift.
Chris from Mendham, NJ
What a wonderful and touching story.
Now if only he could replace the following words: “Bruce,” “Sandy,” “Land of Hope and Dreams” with “Jon,” “Bed of Roses,” and “Wanted Dead or Alive,” we’d be in business.
(Via Politico New Jersey)