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QUESTION OF THE DAY: WHAT WAS BRUCE’S NICKNAME BEFORE THEY BEGAN TO CALL HIM ‘THE BOSS’?
ANSWER: Bruce had more than one nickname. The nicknames I know of are:
1. “SPRINGY”
Bruce was called ‘Springy’ at the time he went to dance-evenings at the Catholic Youth Organization (CYO) where he did the moves from dances like the Monkey, the Twist, the Swim, the Jerk and the Mashed Potatoes
that he had practiced in his bedroom.
2. “RICKETS”
“My cousin's ex-girlfriend is Bruce's age and used to hang out with his group of friends at the Shore. She said they called him "Rickets" because he was so skinny. Sounds about right.” - thanks to Twyla Meding.
3. “THE DOCTOR”
As far as I know this nickname had something to do with him drafted for the US Army to serve his country in the Vietnam War.
Bruce was called for the draft when he was 19, Bruce failed the physical examination and avoided service in the Vietnam War. He had suffered a concussion in a motorcycle accident when he was 17, and this, together with his "crazy" behavior at induction, made him unacceptable for service.“
4. “DR. ZOOM”
In 1971 during the short period that he had created a band called Dr. Zoom & The Sonic Boom. The band was formed to get a gig, opening for The Allman Brothers.
DR. ZOOM AND THE SONIC BOOM on 1971-05-14 at The Sunshine In, Asbury Park, NJ.
Photo @ Sherle Tallent
5. “BRUCIE”
Here’s a special note from “Fifi” Killian about Bruce’s eating habbits in 1971. He lived at a house with her and her husband Lewis Longo in Highlands, NJ at the time:
“When Bruce lived at Lewie’s he ate Skippy peanut butter, Ritz crackers, and drank Pepsi in the cans. If one of those three items wasn’t there, his girlfriend Pammie (Pamela J. Bracken; Note: she had a dorm mate from Akron named Chrissie Hynde!!) would ride out and bring in some of it for him. She also made him white bread sandwiches of Velveta cheese, iceberg lettuce, mayo. So now all of you can have replica Brucie picnics, and eate what he ate? Always with Pepsi, never Coke. I think Bruce, who was called “BRUCIE” at this time, rationed his “Ritzies” so he wouldn’t run out until he got payed again for doing music. He is a year older so he was a good big brother for me.” See the pictures @ Lewis Longo.
6. “GUT BOMB KING”
According to Peter Carling as he wrote in his book “Bruce”, Bruce gave himself the name because, according to this account, the band and other people used to play these high-stakes games of Monopoly in Asbury Park each week. It was a monopoly game that had the added dimension of alliances, bribes, negotiations and settlements between turns. And there was a lot of bribing with candy and Ring Dings - Gut Bombs. Bruce was good at this game, they started calling him ‘Gut Bomb King’.
Photo: “Dr. Zoom” at the monopoly table.
Photo@ Sherle Tallent
7. “(BAD) SCOOTER”
In the opening line of “Tenth Avenue Freeze Out”: “Teardrops on the city Bad Scooter searching for his groove" refers to himself as Bad Scooter. Note the initials are the same. In my opinion not a real nickname.
8. “THE BARON”:
In the documentary ‘Glory Days’ Dutch singer/songwriter Guus Meeuwis travels with his best friend, actor Frank Lammers, through Bruce Springsteen's America. The goal of their journey: to understand the music, lyrics and influences of the rock singer.
In one episode they talked with Vini ‘Mad Dog’ Lopez. He told that in the early 70’s Bruce was called “THE BARON”. See the screenshot with Vini. The subtitles are in Dutch. They say: “He was The Baron” - Vini. “ Nice that The Boss was The Baron” - Frank Lammers.
that he had practiced in his bedroom.