10 Most Influential American Acts On British Rock
9. Bruce Springsteen
You don't get much more American than the Boss. Bruce Springsteen is the artist of the everyday person. No other musician has given us much credence to the struggles of working class America as this guy. With his breakthrough record, Born to Run (1975), Springsteen perfected the album format, as a means to build and expand on characters and themes. His lyrics often retained to personal experiences and emotions, rooted in the everyday, giving his songs a universally relatable appeal.
Over the years, all manor of acts have tried to emulate not only Springsteen's writing style, but the passion with which he performs his material. And it's not surprising, his charisma and on stage presence, is nothing short of inspiring. If you're going to borrow from someone, borrow from the Boss... , it seemed to work for U2.
Even now, Springsteen's presence is apparent in British rock. The current saving grace of the UK, Sam Fender, has made no secret about being a devotee of his. His lyrical style is much the same as Springsteen's, exploring his working class background - substituting New Jersey, for North Shields. And, even the sound of Fender's backing group draws from the E-Street Band. Who can blame him though...