Bruce Springsteen has revealed he “desperately yearned” to be British.
Despite being hailed as the voice of blue-collar Americans, Springsteen admitted he dreamed of being born in Britain as he became the latest Fellow of the Ivors Academy at the prestigious Ivor Novello Awards in London on Thursday night.
Recalling his first trip to the U.K. in 1975, the rock legend revealed he was in awe of trendsetting bands including the Beatles and the Rolling Stones.
“For a young New Jersey rocker, you came to Mecca,” he said in his acceptance speech. “We thought we had died and gone to heaven. Youth, loud, hipness, girls. And while I was stone-cold born in the USA, at 16 I desperately yearned to be British.”
Springsteen shared that he was so keen to fit in he even tried to hide his American twang.
“I had a pretty good fake British accent – that’s what the checkout girls at the local supermarket thought,” he smiled.
Springsteen became the first international songwriter to receive the Ivors Academy fellowship, following in the footsteps of big names including Elton John, Beatles legend Paul McCartney, Annie Lennox and Kate Bush.
McCartney was on hand to present Springsteen with the accolade, with the music icon using the opportunity to jokingly roast the Born in the USA musician before he introduced him to the stage.
McCartney quipped he “couldn’t think of a more fitting” recipient for the honour, before he listed Bob Dylan, Paul Simon, Billy Joel, Beyoncé and Taylor Swift as possible alternatives.
During his acceptance speech, Springsteen, 74, said, “I want to be at the top of my game. Thanks for the inspiration that I see from so many musicians and writers that hail from the U.K.
“To be the first international artist to be granted this Fellowship – especially as an American, who I always suspect the British to be suspicious of our strange ways – it makes today a meaningful experience to me.”
