Says Bruce Springsteen played in 1975 at Seton Hall University in South Orange at Walsh gym.
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Chris Christie says his first Bruce Springsteen concert was at Seton Hall University in 1975
It was December 1975 when Bruce Springsteen took his "Born to Run" tour to Walsh gym at Seton Hall University, kicking off the set with "Thunder Road" and "Tenth Avenue Freeze-Out."
And in the audience was the future governor of New Jersey, seeing the Boss for the first of what would ultimately reach 130 concerts.
Gov. Chris Christie pointed to that show as his first Springsteen concert during an interview Wednesday on "Late Night with Jimmy Fallon." The Republican governor would have been 13 years old at the time of the concert.
His first show was "at Seton Hall University in South Orange at Walsh gym" in 1975, Christie told Fallon, before the two performed part of "Thunder Road" together.
Taking a break from politics, PolitiFact New Jersey confirmed that Christie knows his Springsteen concert history.
Springsteen performed at the Walsh gym at Seton Hall University on Dec. 11, 1975, according to various websites containing information on the set list as well as images of a concert ticket, an advertisement in a student newspaper; and CD covers.
The concert was scheduled to start at 8:30 p.m. on a Thursday night, with tickets costing $6.50 in advance and $7.50 at the door, according to the advertisement posted here.
Springsteen performed the following 21 songs that night, according to various websites:
1) Thunder Road
2) Tenth Avenue Freeze-Out
3) Spirit in the Night
4) Lost in the Flood
5) She's the One
6) Born to Run
7) Pretty Flamingo
8) Growin' Up
9) It's Hard to Be a Saint in the City
10) Backstreets
11) Kitty's Back
12) Jungleland
13) Rosalita (Come Out Tonight)
14) 4th of July, Asbury Park (Sandy)
15) Santa Claus Is Coming to Town
16) Detroit Medley
17) For You
18) Party Lights
19) Quarter to Three
20) Wear My Ring Around Your Neck
21) Twist and Shout
A person who attended the concert posted a photo of Springsteen and the band here.
Christie's spokespeople did not return a request for comment.
Featured Fact-check
Our ruling
Before performing part of "Thunder Road" with Fallon, Christie told the late-night host that his first Springsteen concert was "at Seton Hall University in South Orange at Walsh gym" in 1975.
The governor’s Springsteen concert history is correct. As part of Springsteen’s "Born to Run" tour, the Boss performed 21 songs on Dec. 11, 1975 at Walsh gym at Seton Hall University.
We rate the statement True.
To comment on this story, go to NJ.com.
Our Sources
Governor Christie & Jimmy Fallon Duet: "Thunder Road", a video posted on YouTube on Sept. 5, 2012
Setlist.fm, Bruce Springsteen Setlist at Walsh Auditorium, South Orange, NJ, USA, accessed Sept. 5, 2012
BruceBase, Advertisement and ticket for Dec. 11, 1975 concert, accessed Sept. 5, 2012
Springsteenliveinconcert.com, Concert CD, accessed Sept. 5, 2012
Brucespringsteen.altervista.org, Concert CD, accessed Sept. 5, 2012
ShiveArchive, Photo of Springsteen concert, accessed Sept. 5, 2012
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Chris Christie says his first Bruce Springsteen concert was at Seton Hall University in 1975
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