I've been a follower of Southside since the late 70's. I was a teenage Springsteen fan from Ontario, Canada. My buddy and I painted up his Volkswagen beetle with Born to Run, Asbury Park 1980, etc. and we drove it from St. Catherine's, Ontario to Asbury Park for the 4th of July.  We pulled into Asbury Park at 7 a.m. on July 4, and I guess we didn't know what to expect - it wasn't quite what we had imagined.  We thought we would try to make the best of it. You must admit it wasn't looking too good down there around that time. We hung around on the boardwalk all day and we really felt the magic. The Allman Bros. were playing on the boardwalk and the tickets were being sold by none other than Vini Mad Dog Lopez.  We got to meet him and he gave us a tip that Southside was playing out at the Freehold Racetrack. I was familiar with Southside prior to that. I have been a 25 year-long fan of Springsteen's - but it's been almost as long now for Southside - and my passion for Southside's passion has led to a lot of my friends being hooked over the last 20 years. It all had to do with that chance meeting by a couple of Canadian teenagers with Vini Lopez - a day that has stuck in my mind as one of the greatest of my life - 4th of July 1980 - and Southside Johnny - 

Thanks for the memory Johnny ---- you are the best!

Dave MacDonald