Podcast Summary: The 500 with Josh Adam Meyers

Episode 133 - Bruce Springsteen: The Wild, the Innocent & the E-Street Shuffle
Guest: Eric Roberts
Date: November 19, 2025

Overview

In this episode, host Josh Adam Meyers is joined by prolific actor Eric Roberts to explore Bruce Springsteen’s 1973 album The Wild, the Innocent & the E-Street Shuffle—number 133 on Rolling Stone’s 2012 list of the 500 greatest albums of all time. The pair dig into the record’s youthful energy, musical legacy, and personal resonances, while reflecting on their own formative years and artistic journeys. The conversation is laid-back, filled with nostalgia, music geekery, career wisdom, and memorable anecdotes.

Key Discussion Points and Insights

Bruce Springsteen’s Appeal: Live & Recorded

• Springsteen as a Live Performer

  • Eric emphasizes the transformative power of Bruce’s live shows:

    “You love his music, okay? But then you go to one of his shows and it's a whole other experience…Who's the headline name? You know, Bruce Springsteen…The first time I saw him, he slid on stage on his knees under the bass player, and the guy leaned down and kissed him. And it was just like—what just happened?” (09:34)

  • Josh adds perspective from seeing Bruce as a teen:

    “You're literally watching a man give everything for three, sometimes three and a half hours. And he's still doing it at 70-whatever…Arguably top five live performances ever.” (11:32)

• Not Just Hit Singles: Album Appreciation

  • They agree Springsteen’s albums often require multiple listens, with “The Wild, the Innocent…” feeling immediately accessible and energetic.
  • Josh:

    “This is the first record by Bruce Springsteen that I put on, and the second I put it on, I loved every morsel of this record because you can feel the energy, you can feel the excitement. You can feel that something big is about to happen with this guy.” (22:17)

Musical & Personal Nostalgia

• “Fourth of July, Asbury Park (Sandy)” & Boardwalk Memories
  • Josh connects Springsteen’s boardwalk tales to his own experiences in Ocean City, Maryland:

    “Beach week, whether we were in 11th grade, our senior year, it was the adventure of our lives…there was some adventure and this magical feeling…that's what I got from this song.” (51:05)

  • Eric shares his Atlanta haunt equivalents—The Driftwood and Moe’s and Joe’s—describing the feeling as:

    “…when you hear those kind of songs, they remind you nostalgically of that feeling of when you first, before you were a man, before you were on your own, when you're making that transition. That’s what they remind you of.” (57:38)

Eric Roberts’ Life & Career Reflections

• Breakout Roles and Luck

  • Eric reflects on his acting trajectory, likening his early break to Springsteen's pre-fame phase:

    “I started out as introducing Eric Roberts—a strong role in a major motion picture with five other stars…King of the Gypsies made me a movie star…Star 80 made me a respected actor, a respected artist…So I was very lucky. I didn't have to work my way up.” (29:26–36:24)

• Advice to Fellow Family Actors

  • Eric played a direct part in launching Julia Roberts’ acting career by getting her a SAG card and credits her for building her own success:

    “I said, you need a Screen Actors Guild card…So I put her in her first movie to get her [one]…then moved to Hollywood and did all the rest herself…And that performance in Pretty Woman is charmingly, lovably perfect.” (65:54)

• Perspective on Longevity and Luck

  • On working steadily for decades:

    “I'm not humble. I am my biggest fan, but I do believe I'm extraordinarily lucky. And I'm so happy to be alive.” (64:38)

The Magic of “Rosalita” and Bruce’s Storytelling

• The Power of “Rosalita” as a Concert Staple

  • Both agree on its place as an iconic Springsteen closer:

    “Rosalita, hands down, is the quintessential concert closer for Bruce Springsteen. If he doesn't play this every show, I don’t know what the hell he's doing with his goddamn…” (72:10)

  • Josh describes it as an “exuberant party song,” while Eric shares that it’s his wife’s favorite, too, calling the album a “no skip record.” (84:30–86:24)

• Storytelling and Cinematic Songs

  • Discussion of “Incident on 57th Street” reflects on Bruce’s move into cinematic storytelling:

    “This is one of those tracks…This is the bridge in between the first record…And then this is what takes you to [Nebraska]. This is a song like this is that bridge…” (68:51)

Influences & Inspirations

• Artist Comparisons

  • Both place Springsteen alongside the Stones and McCartney as top live performers. Josh:

    “There’s no Bruce without Mick and without the Rolling Stones and all the Motown and all that other...” (15:45)

• Other Notable Interactions

  • Chris Walken as a friend and influential peer (“He is the best cook…The only thing about his cooking that might bother some people...he eats garlic in/on everything.” (19:37))

Music Video, Acting, and Family Connections

• Music, Acting, and Family
  • Eric discusses his son Keaton Simons (musician), who is influenced by Bruce, and they sample some of Keaton’s music at episode’s end.
  • Fun fact: Eric’s wife appeared in the Springsteen music video for “Tougher Than the Rest.” (88:58–90:49)
  • Eric also tells the story of almost passing on appearing in The Killers’ “Mr. Brightside” video until his kids intervened:

    “I turned them down. I don't make music videos. I'm an actor. Sorry. My kids all call me. They said, what are you talking about? You have to call them back, have to beg to be back in their video.” (77:03)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Bruce’s aura:

  “Bruce just has that aura of stardom…that presence of 'I am somebody, get out of the way or join me.'” —Eric Roberts (18:11)

• On nostalgia and youth:

  “If you want to feel young, if you want to feel decent, this is the album.” —Eric Roberts, on why listeners should try the record (91:44)

• Instant coffee of life:

  “My life and work is such instant coffee of life…has to be quick and has to be good, and that’s to be fair…and then it’s done.” —Eric Roberts (43:24)

• Luck in career:

  “So many good actors don't have the good fortune I do…it's not because of me, it's because of my circumstances. So I do, I, I'm not humble. I am my biggest fan, but I do, I do believe I'm extraordinarily lucky.” —Eric Roberts (64:38)

• On music as autobiography:

  “[Springsteen] described this song as his musical autobiography, which I think is beautiful, because it really is.” —Josh, on “Rosalita” (80:53)

Timestamps for Important Segments

• 07:06 — Start of conversation: Eric joins, playful musical intros
• 09:34 — Eric describes first Springsteen concert and Bruce’s live magic
• 13:17–17:06 — How Eric discovered Bruce (via Sheila Jaffe), first concert, and NYC scene
• 22:17–23:30 — Josh & Eric’s takes on “The Wild, the Innocent…” as an album
• 29:26–36:24 — Eric’s acting origin, break-in movie, and impact of “Star 80”
• 39:41–43:56 — Reflections on youth, nostalgia, and the passage of time
• 51:05–52:42 — “Fourth of July, Asbury Park (Sandy)” and boardwalk reminiscence
• 65:54–66:51 — Behind the scenes: helping Julia Roberts start her career
• 68:46–69:51 — “Incident on 57th Street” and Springsteen’s narrative depth
• 72:10–73:14 — “Rosalita” and Bruce’s setlists, concert closers
• 77:03–77:49 — Story behind Eric’s cameo in The Killers’ “Mr. Brightside” video
• 84:30–86:24 — Favorite song on the album and verdict: “no skip record”

Episode Flow Notes

• The episode keeps a welcoming tone, mixing humor, music appreciation, and career stories.
• Josh’s style is enthusiastic, self-effacing, and geared toward drawing out personal anecdotes from Eric.
• Eric is candid, humble, witty, and full of admiration for Bruce and other creative talents.

Final Thoughts: Why Listen to This Record?

Eric Roberts’ elevator pitch:

“You want to feel young, you want to feel decent. This is the album.” (91:44)

Josh’s summary:
If you want a record that’s immediately rewarding, effervescent, and full of that restless, pre-fame excitement, this is the Springsteen to start with.

Featured New Music

• “Where I Go” by Keaton Simons (Eric’s son) — [94:58]

For the essence of youth, artistry, and the evocative power of memory—listen to Bruce Springsteen’s The Wild, the Innocent & the E-Street Shuffle and dig into this episode for both musical insight and a masterclass in creative longevity.