In 1963, Bruce Springsteen fell in love with The Beatles. Decades later, one song made him pick up the guitar

Bruce Springsteen has said The Beatles’ version of “Twist and Shout” was the first record that prompted him to pick up his guitar and learn a song. The memory highlights the British band’s influence on his early musical development, particularly John Lennon’s raw, forceful singing.

Springsteen also drew inspiration from The Animals, Bob Dylan and the Rolling Stones, whose records helped shape his interest in rock and roll and its themes of escape. The Isley Brothers had recorded “Twist and Shout” before The Beatles, but Springsteen recalled being moved by the Beatles’ performance and Lennon’s strained vocals, a quality he later echoed in songs such as “Adam Raised A Cain”.