In 2025, Bruce Springsteen needs no introduction. His story is on the big screen in Springsteen: Deliver Me From Nowhere.
Not so 51 years ago, when the Boss performed live in Burlington. On December 8, 1974, Springsteen played in front of 1,000 people at the now-defunct Memorial Auditorium. Tickets were $4.50.
“When you talk to people, everybody you know [was] there,” said Bill Reilly, who booked the concert. “And I go, ‘No, you weren’t.’”
At the time, Reilly was working at Jay Peak and, with a partner, had a company that booked shows on the side. They had an opening at Memorial on the night in question — and a $5,000 budget — so Reilly called an agent he knew, Barry Bell.
Bell told Reilly he had two acts available for that price, that night: Billy Joel and Springsteen. At the time, Joel was on his way to stardom; his song “Piano Man” was a big hit, according to Reilly. He asked Bell: Who’s this Springsteen guy?
“He’s a Jersey bar band,” Bell replied. “He’s huge in certain areas, but you’ll love him.”
So that was that. The label sent up promo records, which Reilly gave away at college campuses in Burlington, Castleton and Lyndon.
“It was like, ‘Bruce who?’” he said. But Reilly liked his music, particularly “Rosalita,” and made handbills and posters for the show, hoping to sell about 2,400 tickets.
Springsteen and his E Street Band played 15 songs across a two-and-a-half-hour set, including “Rosalita,” “4th of July, Asbury Park (Sandy)” and “The E Street Shuffle.” Recordings still exist online.
“It was a great show,” Reilly recalled. “He played a Bruce show.”
Afterward, Springsteen asked how it went. Reilly had to admit that they’d come up short on ticket sales. But Springsteen assured him that his next time through, they’d do much better.
Springsteen never played Memorial again. His Born to Run album came out the next summer, and in October 1975, Springsteen was on the covers of both Time and Newsweek magazines.
Reilly, who lives in Burlington, has since seen the Boss play many times. Never again, though, for the low price of $4.50.
The original print version of this article was headlined “Glory Days”
This article appears in Nov 19-25 2025.
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