An article revisits Bruce Springsteen's lifelong reverence for his musical influences, arguing that despite critics often likening him to Bob Dylan, his true formative inspiration was Buddy Holly. Rather than imitating his heroes, Springsteen absorbed rhythms and songwriting approaches from artists such as Little Richard, Bo Diddley and Chuck Berry, forging his own distinct storytelling style rooted in his New Jersey upbringing while still honouring the musicians who shaped him.

The piece highlights Springsteen's particular affection for Holly, whom he found endearingly unglamorous and relatable, famously recalling him as "that guy with the bow tie on the album cover". Once his own career had taken off with albums like Born to Run, Springsteen made a point of performing Holly's songs onstage, including a cover of 'Rave On', and the E Street Band regularly worked cover songs into live sets, reflecting his broader belief that every song forms part of a continuous musical tradition.