A Week in New York with Bruce and Bob, July 1973

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BBC Radio 4 - A Week in New York with Bruce and Bob, July 1973

Lee Jaffe recalls a week in New York City with Bruce Springsteen and Bob Marley.

Lee Jaffe recalls the week he spent with Bob Marley and Bruce Springsteen in July 1973 as the two future music superstars shared the stage at legendary nightclub Max's Kansas City.

Lee Jaffe is an artist, photographer, filmmaker, musician and producer who, in July 1973, booked an unknown act from Jamaica to support an exciting new talent from New Jersey for a week long residency at New York's legendary Max's Kansas City. It kick started both performers on their paths to become cultural titans. 

Lee recalls the week 50 years ago when each act alternated opening and closing slots for the 40 people who showed up each night, the two legends playing 14 gigs each across the week. Marley was making his first visit to America in support of the Catch a Fire album, while Bruce was promoting his first album. The two bands hung out - while also going to see The New York Dolls at Kenny's Castaways nightclub around the corner and Led Zeppelin at Madison Square Garden. 

Lee tells the behind the scenes tales of this slice of rock history, joined by several contributors who were there - including Bruce Springsteen, Island Records founder Chris Blackwell,  E Street band pianist David Sancious, photographer Bob Gruen, publicist Cherry Vanilla, manager Toby Mamis, Geoff MacCormack who went with David Bowie to see Bruce Springsteen, and Warhol acolyte Tony Zanetta who was a regular in the legendary back room at Max's.

This snapshot of a week in the life of one of New York's most acclaimed nightclubs of the 70s, where Andy Warhol held court every night with a stunning array of the art world's alternative elite, recalls the years when decadence was de rigueur among the hedonists who lived and breathed sex, drugs and rock 'n' roll. 

The club's owner, Mickey Ruskin, prided himself on booking new bands who he believed had something different to offer - which is why Bob Marley and Bruce Springsteen were on the same bill that week in the summer of '73.

A Zinc Media production for BBC Radio 4

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