Live Performance History
"Glory Days" became a mainstay of the first set on the 1984-1985 Born in the U.S.A. Tour (prefaced by remarks in which Springsteen declared, "I hated high school!"), then went into the encores for the 1988 Tunnel of Love Express and 1992-1993 "Other Band" Tour, in the latter case serving as the "band introductions" song. It was given a rest for the 1999-2000 Reunion Tour, but then came back to appear in about half the shows on the 2002-2003 Rising Tour. Furthermore Springsteen often plays it in informal bar appearances, since it is one of his simpler songs for other musicians to pick up and play to.
In almost all instances, performances of "Glory Days" are accompanied by considerable Springsteen/E Street Band stage shtick, vamping on the outro, continuing the song on with false endings, everyone but the drummer and keyboard players coming out to stage front in a line, and so forth. A good example of the elongated concert "Glory Days" was on a highly-promoted July 30, 2002 appearance on The Today Show broadcasting from Asbury Park, New Jersey. Later in The Rising Tour, the song would become further extended by incorporating a long boogie-woogie organ solo from Danny Federici. Steven Van Zandt makes his vocals shine on this song, most recently on the Springsteen's Magic Tour.
Springsteen made a surprise appearance on Late Night with David Letterman on June 25, 1993 and played "Glory Days". Springsteen was the final guest on Letterman's last "Late Night" show on NBC. In his introduction to Springsteen's appearance, Letterman noted how Springsteen was the one performer he wished he had booked as a guest during his "Late Night" run, and that he was thankful that he was able to finally have Springsteen perform on that final show.
Glory Days was played during Michael J. Fox's farewell scene during the season finale of the fourth season of Spin City, as well as during a montage scene with Chase Utley and Ryan Howard in an episode of It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia.
Glory Days was performed at the 2009 Super Bowl half-time show with minor lyric changes appropriate to the occasion (football player instead of baseball player, "Hail Mary" instead of "speedball".) During the song, Springsteen told Steve Van Zandt that they were going over their allotted 12 minutes, and Van Zandt responded that they should keep playing anyway.
Glory days was performed on June 14, 2009 at the Bonnaroo Music Festival with Phish.
Glory Days is played after every New Jersey Devils win at the Prudential Center in Newark, NJ. The song also played when the Devils won at their former arena, Continental Airlines Arena in East Rutherford, NJ.
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