Every legendary musician starts somewhere. Even the greatest rock stars once sat in their bedrooms trying to copy the sounds of their heroes. For Bruce Springsteen—one of the most iconic rock musicians in history—that moment began with a song by The Rolling Stones.
Long before he became known as “The Boss,” Springsteen was just a young kid with big dreams of rock and roll. His early love for music, especially British rock bands of the 1960s, helped shape the musician he would eventually become.
Childhood Dreams and Rock Influences
Growing up in New Jersey in the early 1960s, Springsteen was deeply fascinated by the energy and attitude of British rock bands. Among them, The Rolling Stones stood out as one of his biggest inspirations.
Springsteen admired the band so much that he even tried to copy their style. One of his biggest idols was Stones guitarist Brian Jones. Jones was known for his straight “pageboy” hairstyle, which was very different from Springsteen’s naturally curly hair. To imitate the look, the young Springsteen would pin down his hair with his mother’s hair clips before going to sleep, hoping it would look straighter the next day.
It might sound funny now, but this kind of dedication shows just how much the band meant to him.
Springsteen also admired the band’s charismatic frontman Mick Jagger and guitarist Keith Richards. In fact, Springsteen often imagined himself performing with the band.
In his 2016 memoir Born to Run, he wrote about a fantasy he used to have as a teenager. In the dream, The Rolling Stones had a show in Asbury Park, but Mick Jagger suddenly got sick. A young local kid—Springsteen himself—would step in to replace him, impress the band, and send the crowd into a frenzy.
These dreams may have been imaginary, but they reveal how deeply rock music had already taken hold of his life.
A Setback That Sparked Motivation
Springsteen’s journey as a guitarist didn’t begin smoothly. Early in his career, he joined a local band. But things didn’t work out, and he was eventually thrown out of the group.
For many young musicians, this kind of rejection could have been discouraging. Instead, it motivated him.
Feeling frustrated and determined to improve, Springsteen went home and made a decision: he was going to become a lead guitar player.
That night, he picked up a record by The Rolling Stones—specifically the song It’s All Over Now.
The First Guitar Solo He Ever Learned
Originally written by Bobby Womack and Shirley Womack and first recorded by The Valentinos, “It’s All Over Now” became a huge hit after The Rolling Stones recorded their version in 1964. It even reached
The First Guitar Solo Bruce Springsteen Ever Learned Came From a Rolling Stones Hit
Every famous musician starts somewhere. Even the biggest rock stars once spent hours practicing in their rooms, trying to play the songs of their favorite artists. For Bruce Springsteen, one of the most important moments in his early music journey came from a song by The Rolling Stones.
Long before he became known around the world as “The Boss,” Springsteen was a young boy in New Jersey who loved rock and roll. Like many teenagers in the 1960s, he was fascinated by the new wave of British rock bands. Among them, The Rolling Stones had a huge influence on him.
Childhood Inspiration
As a teenager, Springsteen admired the members of The Rolling Stones. He especially liked guitarist Brian Jones and guitarist Keith Richards. He even tried to copy their style.
Brian Jones had a famous straight hairstyle called a “pageboy,” but Springsteen’s hair was naturally curly. Still, he wanted to look like his hero. So he would use his mother’s hair clips to pin his hair down while sleeping, hoping it would become straighter like Brian Jones’ hair.
Springsteen also dreamed about being on stage like the Stones’ frontman Mick Jagger. In his imagination, he would replace Jagger during a concert and perform with the band. In his mind, the crowd would go wild and the band would be impressed by the young local musician.
These dreams may sound simple, but they show how strongly music inspired him when he was young.
Learning Guitar and Facing Challenges
When Springsteen started learning guitar, things were not always easy. At one point, he was kicked out of his first band. That moment made him feel frustrated and angry, but it also pushed him to work harder.
Instead of giving up, he decided that he wanted to become a better guitar player. That night, he went home and started practicing a song by The Rolling Stones.
The song was It’s All Over Now.
The First Guitar Solo He Learned
“It’s All Over Now” was originally written by Bobby Womack and Shirley Womack and first recorded by their band The Valentinos. However, The Rolling Stones released their own version of the song in 1964.
The song became a major success and was the band’s first number-one hit in the United Kingdom. For young Springsteen, it became something even more important: the first guitar solo he ever learned.
Springsteen later explained that he spent hours listening to the record and trying to copy the guitar solo played by Keith Richards. He would play the song again and again, carefully listening to every note.
Eventually, after practicing for a long time, he managed to play a version of the solo himself. It might not have been perfect, but it was a big moment for him.
A Small Moment That Started a Legendary Career
Learning that first guitar solo may seem like a small moment, but it was very important in Springsteen’s journey as a musician. It showed him that with practice and determination, he could play the music he loved.
The influence of The Rolling Stones helped shape his early musical style and inspired him to keep improving. Years later, that same young boy who practiced guitar all night would grow up to become one of the most famous rock artists in the world.
Today, Bruce Springsteen is known for his powerful performances, meaningful lyrics, and legendary career. But like many great musicians, his story began with inspiration, hard work, and one simple guitar solo.