ROCK AND ROLL TOUR is both a great reference book and an evocative time capsule, tracing the glory days of the Asbury Park/Jersey Shore music scene past, present and (hopefully) future. Full disclosure: The book features two anecdotes penned by me - one about a chance 3 a.m. encounter in Asbury Park back in 1984, and the other about a confrontation with an angry and tired Clarence Clemons a year later, when I was a young reporter for The Asbury Park Press and subject to the stupid ideas and humiliating assignments thought up by senior editors.
More trivia and prizes later this week. Also, possibly, a small announcement about something people have been asking me about for awhile.
7 comments:
Boy, I miss the New Jersey beaches. We went to Ocean City as a kid, Atlantic City in the off season, Wildwood as a teenager, Asbury Park, after I met my husband in New Hope, Sandy Hook when I was just married and living in New Brunswick. The last beach we went to was in northern England, and let me tell you it ain't the same.
There's no place like Long Beach Island for myself. The salt water of the Mighty Atlantic! Fresh seafood. I actually did see one show at the Stone Pony in Asbury Park. The Bacon Brothers (as in Kevin). The place has many photos of famous people who visited. I noticed Pt. Pleasant's Diamond Dallas Page and Asbury Park's Bam Bam Bigelow. We should have a list of our favorite books that deal with the sea or salt water fishing. The Perfect Storm is one.
Who was the 1st encounter with?
Springsteen, two days after BORN IN THE USA came out. It's not a great story, and has no real payoff. It's just a little moment in time that will always stick with me for a variety of reasons.
Despite its ongoing renaissance, Asbury Park still has its share of issues. The much-ballyhooed Esperanza luxury condo complex on the beachfront went belly-up last year and remains a half-finished shell. And when I was on the boardwalk last weekend, all the pavilions, stores and shops there were closed for "renovations," with a rumored July completion date, which means the season will be half over before they even open their doors.
Asbury Park Press reminds me of the summer vacationing (or taking a day trip) down the Jersey shore where I would always pick up a copy. You can also find the Home News Tribune, Press of Atlantic City, Courier News and sometimes the Courier Post.
Nice piece on NJ shores in Travel and Leisure this month. Wildwood still offers a room for under $100 on the beach.
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