Already producing several albums, in 1984, Bruce Springsteen watched his stardom hit new heights when he released Born in the U.S.A. The album dominated the airwaves as seven songs including, “Dancing in the Dark” and “Glory Days” landed in the Top 10 on the charts. It also sold over 30 million copies worldwide. Considered one of Springsteen’s best albums, the singer took a moment to honor his friend Joe DePugh who sadly passed away. While sharing fond memories with each other, it was DePugh who inspired Springsteen to write his hit song “Glory Days.”
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Taking a moment to honor DePugh, who passed away from cancer, Springsteen posted a statement on Instagram, reading, “Just a moment to mark the passing of Freehold native and ballplayer Joe DePugh. He was a good friend when I needed one. “He could throw that speedball by you, make you look like a fool”….Glory Days my friend.”
How Joe DePugh Inspired Bruce Springsteen To Write “Glory Days”
Growing up in Freehold, New Jersey, DePugh knew Springsteen before the spotlight hit him. They apparently even played in the same youth league together. While both grew up, the two friends linked up in 1973 at a bar in New Jersey. Remembering their time as a child, the two joked that Springsteen wasn’t that great of a baseball player.
That single conversation helped Springsteen write “Glory Days.” Hearing the song for the first time, DePugh said, “When I first heard the song, I thought the song said ‘and all we kept talking about was glory days.’And years later, I finally saw the lyrics and saw ‘all he kept talking about was glory days.’ And I thought, ‘Huh, (he) took a little shot at me!’”
Not taking the jab personally, DePugh loved being the center of the song. “I was tickled pink I would even get into the song. I certainly wasn’t going to complain about what he decided to write about. It’s about living in the past and letting go, especially for jocks, to get out of that and live in the present. That certainly wasn’t the first time I was accused of that.”
While Springsteen became a legendary singer in the music industry, DePugh always saw him as his fellow teammate. “Whenever we’re together, it’s the same dynamic: I’m the star and he’s the guy at the end of the bench. That’s who he has always been to me, my right fielder.”
(Photo by Taylor Hill/Getty Images)
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