"Tramps Like Us" (1979)

"Tramps Like Us" (1979) Gary Hullet’s hour long documentary on the fanaticism of Springsteen fans back in the 70’s. Today Bruce Springsteen is considered one of the true icons of Rock & Roll and his place in the history of music is well established. However, back in the 70’s, the world was not yet aware of Bruce & the E Street Band, and were considered an East Coast phenomenon. In those days his followers were not merely admirers, they were fanatics. Where many music fans are satisfied with seeing one performance of their favorite artists, his fans would attend multiple concerts, night after night. The reason for this devotion had to do with the band’s performances, four hour long demonstrations of pure Rock & Roll frenzy, the involvement between the artist and audience, and the feeling of when it was over that one had just gone through a religious experience which left you feeling emotionally high for days after. Hullet reportedly got the idea for this film, after a friend of his came up to him in 1978 and asked, "What’s this thing about Bruce Springsteen that makes everyone so CRAZY?". Not much actual footage of the band here, as the focus is on the fans who attended these shows and who in those early days seemed to be in on the best known secret of Rock & Roll.. (60 mins.) B&W