Jim Marchese
Bruce Springsteen: The River tour
In 1981, Jim Marchese took a call from Germany. It was Bruce Springsteen’s road manager—whom Jim had known for a long time, but hadn’t seen for a few years. He asked Jim if he could get on a plane the next day to Europe, because he told him, “You’re the only photographer I know who can keep up with Bruce.” This was the European leg of The River tour, where Jim captured the hidden elements that create the magic of a Springsteen show.
Jim recalls “I bought a ton of film and boarded a plane. It was my first time overseas and exploring each city with Bruce made it all the more incredible. When I met Bruce for the first time, he was friendly and down-to-earth. I was brought out on stage just after sound check to meet him, and he shook my hand and said they had already gotten over jet lag, and why don’t I just watch the show and get a feel for everything and start shooting next show. But as the show started that night, of course I had to shoot – it was too incredible. The response to Bruce’s shows was overwhelming everywhere we went, and magical to witness. As we walked around many of the towns he played, fans couldn’t believe they were meeting him on the street – and he was happy to stop and speak with all of them.”
Jim Marchese’s signed photographs are available to purchase in a range of physical sizes. Scroll down the page to view the collection. By clicking on the green button under each image you will see price and size options.
We have also created a virtual space where you can view a selection of Jim’s photographs framed and hanging on the walls in a room setting. You will find a link to this virtual gallery further below as you explore this page.
Please get in touch with us if you have any questions.
The limited editions
Golden bus, Zurich, April 1981
Jim Marchese remembers: “There were a few of us walking around Zurich seeing the sights toward twilight, and the light was becoming golden – It looked amazing! After we boarded the tour bus, I positioned myself toward the back of the bus, and I asked Bruce to turn around. He sensed how excited I was about the light, and turned around for me.”
Visit the virtual viewing room
Click on the green button below to view our beautiful virtual viewing room featuring some of our favourite Jim Marchese images, framed and on display.
This isn’t a replica of our physical gallery space—far from it. It is a room that we have designed from scratch and that only exists in the virtual world. You can navigate around the space easily, and click on individual artworks to view price and size information. It will give you a sense of how they might look on your wall. I hope you enjoy experiencing the virtual collection.
Jim Marchese
With a degree in photography from Fashion Institute of Technology, New York born Jim Marchese’s images were initially inspired by the French impressionists, both in their soft light and poetic feel. New York Magazine hired Jim to do a portrait, which led to many other projects, including work for Saks Fifth Avenue, Life, Fortune, Discover, Scientific American and Rolling Stone, and advertising projects for American Express, Federal Express, Kodak, Lenox China, Nikon, and a multi-award winning campaign for The Wall Street Journal.
In 1981, Jim bought an old ’60s Telecaster, then coincidentally got a call a short time later from Bruce Springsteen’s road manager, who asked him to get on a plane the next day to Europe, because he told Jim, “You’re the only photographer I know who can keep up with Bruce.” This was the European leg of The River tour, where Jim captured the hidden elements that create the magic of a Springsteen show.
Besides the The Ties That Bind: The River Collection box set, Jim’s images have appeared in many Bruce projects including the albums Tracks and Bruce Springsteen & the E Street Band – Live 1975-85, and books Bruce Springsteen-Songs, Robert Santelli’s Greetings from E Street, and Dave Marsh’s Bruce Springsteen on Tour 1968-2005.
Jim has photographed such diverse subjects as Liberace, President Ford, Gov. Pataki, Gov. Mario Cuomo, Neil Armstrong, Donald Trump, Steve Van Zandt (including being Steve & Maureen’s wedding photographer, with Rev. Little Richard presiding, and Bruce as Best Man), Gary U.S. Bonds, John Mellencamp, dobro player extraordinaire Jerry Douglas, and many others.
A proficient guitarist/harmonica player, Jim enjoys writing and performing with his wife Mary Lamont’s band, who has the distinction of being the first American country act to tour Mainland China.
