During a recent performance at the Sea.Hear.Now Festival in Asbury Park, New Jersey, The Killers played a rendition of Bruce Springsteen‘s “I’m on Fire.” Brandon Flowers, frontman of The Killers, told the audience in Bruce’s hometown, “We had to!” “I’m on Fire” was originally featured on Springsteen’s blockbuster 1984 album, Born in the U.S.A.
Videos by American Songwriter
The Killer unveiled their cover during the band’s headlining performance at the festival on September 16 at North Beach Asbury Park in New Jersey. Later that night, Flowers performed a version of another Springsteen classic, “The Promised Land,” at the beloved, iconic Stone Pony club in Asbury Park. During that performance, Flowers was accompanied by the Tangiers Blues Band.
[RELATED: Listen: The Killers Return With New Single “Your Side of Town”]
Flowers has been greatly influenced by Springsteen, as he’s mentioned over the years, with the Killers even collaborating with The Boss on their 2021 track “Dustland.” According to Brooklyn Vegan, Flowers penned a letter discussing his admiration for Springsteen around the time of the release of the collaborative track.
“That’s where Bruce comes in. Before I really became a fan of his, I was in the business of stadium-size everything,” Flowers wrote. “Larger than life EVERYTHING. Certainly larger than the lives of Jeannie and Terry Flowers,” he said, mentioning his parents.
“But Bruce has written a lot about people like my parents and found a whole lot of beauty in otherwise invisible people’s hopes and dreams,” Flowers continued. “Their struggles, and their losses. I’m grateful to him for opening this door for me.”
While Springsteen did not appear on stage at the Sea.Hear.Now festival, he did play three songs with The Killers at their Madison Square Garden concert last year. Springsteen is currently recovering after showing symptoms of peptic ulcer disease that caused him and his E Street Band to postpone eight upcoming concerts on their 2023 tour.
While discussing his 1982 album Nebraska with CBS News earlier this year, Springsteen mentioned how he realized what was actually important in his life. “I think in your twenties, a lot of things work for you,” Springsteen said. “Your thirties is where you start to become an adult.”
“Suddenly I looked around and said, ‘Where is everything? Where is my home? Where is my partner?” Springsteen continued. “Where are the sons or daughters that I thought I might have someday?’ … I realized none of these things are there. … So I said, ‘OK, the first thing I’ve gotta do as soon as I get home is remind myself of who I am and where I came from.'”
Other notable bands that performed sets at the Sea.Hear.Now festival include Weezer, the Breeders, and Foo Fighters. The two-day festival concluded on September 17.
Photo by Chris Phelps / Courtesy The Oriel
