--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: My only general rule was to steer away…" description: "\"My only general rule was to steer away from things I played with the band over the past couple of tours. I was interested in re-shaping the Rising mate..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/162/bruce-springsteen-546_band_my-only-general-rule-was-to-steer-away-f_3194510.jpg" --- # My only general rule was to steer away from things I… ![“My only general rule was to steer away from things I played with the band over the past couple of tours. I was interested in re-shaping the Rising material for live shows, so people could hear the bare bones of that.” quote by Bruce Springsteen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/162/bruce-springsteen-546_band_my-only-general-rule-was-to-steer-away-f_3194510.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/162/bruce-springsteen-546_band_my-only-general-rule-was-to-steer-away-f_3194510.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/162/bruce-springsteen-546_band_my-only-general-rule-was-to-steer-away-f_3194510.jpg) > “My only general rule was to steer away from things I played with the band over the past couple of tours. I was interested in re-shaping the Rising material for live shows, so people could hear the bare bones of that.” [Bruce Springsteen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-springsteen/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. He prefers to simplify live performances by stripping songs to their core, avoiding over‑produced versions from past tours. **In simple terms:** Simplify songs for live shows. Key Takeaway Focus on essential elements. Themes music performance authenticity Mood reflective nostalgic Type artistic strategic When to use this quote - concert planning - band rehearsals - songwriting - tour setlists Key Concepts minimalism arrangement live dynamics Questions to Reflect On - How does stripping down affect audience connection? - What elements are essential to preserve a song’s identity? A Different Perspective Risk losing audience expectations for familiar arrangements. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Band](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/band/) [Band Past](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/band-past-5906033/) [Bones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bones/) [Couple](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/couple/) [Hear Bare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hear-bare-4822323/) [Music making](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/music-making/) [Past](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/past/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Played Band](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/played-band-692217/) [Rising](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rising/) [Shows](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/shows/) [Steer Away](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/steer-away-304462/) ## Related quotes > [The music industry is a world of smoke and mirrors: they tell you exactly what they think you want to hear. And they are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelis/the-music-industry-is-a-world-of-smoke-and-mirrors-they-tell-you/) [Kelis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelis/) > [Social media, Facebook, Instagram, Twitter - I steer away from them. They're alienating us socially as well as bringing us together.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-hillcoat/social-media-facebook-instagram-twitter-i-steer-away-from-them-they/) [John Hillcoat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-hillcoat/) > [I try to steer away from doing something that's just commercial instead of sticking to a good script.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/haley-joel-osment/i-try-to-steer-away-from-doing-something-that-s-just-commercial/) [Haley Joel Osment](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/haley-joel-osment/) > [“Sometimes your talent can steer you away from your passion.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fawn-weaver/sometimes-your-talent-can-steer-you-away-from-your-passion/) [Fawn Weaver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fawn-weaver/) > [If I had a son, I would steer him away from wrestling. It was fun for me, but for most it's not healthy in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-funk/if-i-had-a-son-i-would-steer-him-away-from-wrestling-it-was-fun-for/) [Terry Funk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-funk/) > [I steer away from episodic TV; it burns you out.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-weller/i-steer-away-from-episodic-tv-it-burns-you-out/) [Peter Weller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-weller/) > [I've learned to steer away from the wrong kind of woman for me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-kinnaman/i-ve-learned-to-steer-away-from-the-wrong-kind-of-woman-for-me/) [Joel Kinnaman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-kinnaman/) > [You can’t keep yourself from falling in love, but you can steer yourself away from the wrong people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jodi-picoult/you-can-t-keep-yourself-from-falling-in-love-but-you-can-steer/) [Jodi Picoult](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jodi-picoult/) > [One of the things that would steer me away from a franchise is that I'm playing the same character all the time and I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/saoirse-ronan/one-of-the-things-that-would-steer-me-away-from-a-franchise-is-that-i/) [Saoirse Ronan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/saoirse-ronan/) > [“Beware of those who steer you away from your heart’s true happiness. It would make them happy to see you steer yourself right next…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suzy-kassem/beware-of-those-who-steer-you-away-from-your-heart-s-true-happiness/) [Suzy Kassem](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suzy-kassem/) > [I worked as an artist, played in a band, met Andy Warhol, Christo, Lou Reed, and David Byrne. I had fun.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-lou-jepsen/i-worked-as-an-artist-played-in-a-band-met-andy-warhol-christo-lou/) [Mary Lou Jepsen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-lou-jepsen/) > [I played with a band in Austin when I was doing 'Friday Night Lights.' It was a blast.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jesse-plemons/i-played-with-a-band-in-austin-when-i-was-doing-friday-night-lights/) [Jesse Plemons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jesse-plemons/) > [“Grateful Dead performances were by design not consciously planned, often reaching their artistic peak when the collective stumbled upon something stunning, when "the music…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-gimbel/grateful-dead-performances-were-by-design-not-consciously-planned/) [Steven Gimbel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-gimbel/) > [I mean, I think I liked every band I ever played in because each band was different, each band had a different concept, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/buddy-rich/i-mean-i-think-i-liked-every-band-i-ever-played-in-because-each-band/) [Buddy Rich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/buddy-rich/) > [There was a band very early on in our class, and I played in that band and as a teenager, I continued. It was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/agnes-obel/there-was-a-band-very-early-on-in-our-class-and-i-played-in-that-band/) [Agnes Obel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/agnes-obel/) ## More by Bruce Springsteen > [I understand that it's the music that keeps me alive... That's my lifeblood. And to give that up for, like, the TV, the cars,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-springsteen/i-understand-that-it-s-the-music-that-keeps-me-alive-that-s-my/) [Bruce Springsteen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-springsteen/) > [When I die throw my body in the back and drive me to the junk yard in my Cadillac.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-springsteen/when-i-die-throw-my-body-in-the-back-and-drive-me-to-the-junk-yard-in/) [Bruce Springsteen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-springsteen/) > [When you start talking about elections being rigged, you're pushing people beyond democratic governance. And it's a very, very dangerous thing to do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-springsteen/when-you-start-talking-about-elections-being-rigged-you-re-pushing/) [Bruce Springsteen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-springsteen/) > [I got Mary pregnant and man that's all she wrote. And for my 19th birthday, I got a union card and a factory coat.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-springsteen/i-got-mary-pregnant-and-man-that-s-all-she-wrote-and-for-my-19th/) [Bruce Springsteen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-springsteen/) > [ I don't know if I know anyone, with the exception of the early inventors of rock music \[who wasn't influenced by something\]. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-springsteen/i-don-t-know-if-i-know-anyone-with-the-exception-of-the-early/) [Bruce Springsteen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-springsteen/) > [People see you onstage and, yeah, I'd want to be that guy.I want to be that guy myself very often.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-springsteen/people-see-you-onstage-and-yeah-i-d-want-to-be-that-guy-i-want-to-be/) [Bruce Springsteen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-springsteen/) > [You know, my music utilizes things from the past, because that's what the past is for. It's to learn from. It's not to limit…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-springsteen/you-know-my-music-utilizes-things-from-the-past-because-that-s-what/) [Bruce Springsteen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-springsteen/) > [From the town of Lincoln Nebraska with a sawed off .410 on my lap, through the Badlands of Wyoming I killed everything in my path.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-springsteen/from-the-town-of-lincoln-nebraska-with-a-sawed-off-410-on-my-lap/) [Bruce Springsteen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-springsteen/) > [I want a thousand guitars . . .](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-springsteen/i-want-a-thousand-guitars/) [Bruce Springsteen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-springsteen/) > [In America everything's about who's number one today.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-springsteen/in-america-everything-s-about-who-s-number-one-today/) [Bruce Springsteen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-springsteen/) > [A pop song is a condensed version of a life in three minutes, whereas, when you go to write your prose, you have to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-springsteen/a-pop-song-is-a-condensed-version-of-a-life-in-three-minutes-whereas/) [Bruce Springsteen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-springsteen/) > [I walked a thousand miles just to slip this skin.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-springsteen/i-walked-a-thousand-miles-just-to-slip-this-skin/) [Bruce Springsteen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-springsteen/) > [The moment you begin to depend on audience reaction, you're doing the wrong thing. You're doin' it wrong, it's a mistake, it's not right.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-springsteen/the-moment-you-begin-to-depend-on-audience-reaction-you-re-doing-the/) [Bruce Springsteen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-springsteen/) > [The name 'Boss' started with people that worked for me... It was not meant like Boss, capital B, it was meant like 'Boss, where's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-springsteen/the-name-boss-started-with-people-that-worked-for-me-it-was-not-meant/) [Bruce Springsteen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-springsteen/) > [The country we carry in our hearts is waiting.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-springsteen/the-country-we-carry-in-our-hearts-is-waiting/) [Bruce Springsteen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-springsteen/) [Explore all 484 Bruce Springsteen quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-springsteen/) ## More Band quotes > [The reason I was drawn to the Band Perry was because they have a knack for doing rollicking country music that can sound a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phoebe-robinson/the-reason-i-was-drawn-to-the-band-perry-was-because-they-have-a/) [Phoebe Robinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phoebe-robinson/) > [It was an important period for us, because even though we weren't a "punk band", and what became a model for a punk band,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-mallinder/it-was-an-important-period-for-us-because-even-though-we-weren-t-a/) [Stephen Mallinder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-mallinder/) > [There is something to be said though when you have 4 or 5 guys playing with no net, there is a sense of urgency,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marco-mendoza/there-is-something-to-be-said-though-when-you-have-4-or-5-guys/) [Marco Mendoza](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marco-mendoza/) > [My Nirvana experience was much different than the other three guys. For me, it was really new and exciting. I was just a guy…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pat-smear/my-nirvana-experience-was-much-different-than-the-other-three-guys/) [Pat Smear](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pat-smear/) > [I think my music has always been a mixture, depending on whom I'm working with - what band, what musicians, what producer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matisyahu/i-think-my-music-has-always-been-a-mixture-depending-on-whom-i-m/) [Matisyahu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matisyahu/) > [As you'll never hear the thing again, my boy, why not throw in a couple of brass bands?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-beecham/as-you-ll-never-hear-the-thing-again-my-boy-why-not-throw-in-a-couple/) [Thomas Beecham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-beecham/) > [I've always made sure that I tour with bands that people aren't expecting me to tour with.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mayer-hawthorne/i-ve-always-made-sure-that-i-tour-with-bands-that-people-aren-t/) [Mayer Hawthorne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mayer-hawthorne/) > [There is more to me than just having been in the Runaways. And even though I'm really, really proud of what the band accomplished,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jackie-fuchs/there-is-more-to-me-than-just-having-been-in-the-runaways-and-even/) [Jackie Fuchs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jackie-fuchs/) > [I like the bad-boy types. Generally the guy I'm attracted to is the guy in the club with all the tattoos and nail polish.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/megan-fox/i-like-the-bad-boy-types-generally-the-guy-i-m-attracted-to-is-the/) [Megan Fox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/megan-fox/) > [Bass guitar is the engine of the band.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suzi-quatro/bass-guitar-is-the-engine-of-the-band/) [Suzi Quatro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suzi-quatro/) > [I just became accustomed to being all the members of the band. That was something that was really exciting to me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacob-collier/i-just-became-accustomed-to-being-all-the-members-of-the-band-that/) [Jacob Collier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacob-collier/) > [I guess because we're essentially a two-man band, we're attracting Wham's crowd. But Wham! are more of a businessman's band.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/curt-smith/i-guess-because-we-re-essentially-a-two-man-band-we-re-attracting/) [Curt Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/curt-smith/) > [I'm about as privileged as you can get. I'm a white, male, heterosexual front man of a rock band.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-reynolds/i-m-about-as-privileged-as-you-can-get-i-m-a-white-male-heterosexual/) [Dan Reynolds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-reynolds/) > [I'd been playing in bands for something like seven years at this point. And we were always trying to get ahead, trying to rehearse…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aerosmith/i-d-been-playing-in-bands-for-something-like-seven-years-at-this/) [Aerosmith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aerosmith/) > [Metallica's the only band i've ever been in. I'm not sure that when it ends in five, ten years, I'm going to put an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lars-ulrich/metallica-s-the-only-band-i-ve-ever-been-in-i-m-not-sure-that-when-it/) [Lars Ulrich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lars-ulrich/) [Browse all 6,497 Band quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/band/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "My only general rule was to steer away from things I played with the band over the past couple of tours. 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