'I was 300 miles away, then Bruce Springsteen was in my kitchen'
The owner of a tiny Stockport music studio has told how he raced 300 miles back home from holiday - after getting a call telling him veteran rocker Bruce Springsteen wanted to book himself a recording session.
Martin King, who runs a modest outfit tucked away in the borough's suburbs, had been enjoying a break in Hampshire, and admitted his first thought was: 'Is this for real?'
But, in spite of his reservations, he told the Manchester Evening News he had no choice but to make the mammoth journey back to Greater Manchester to meet The Boss.
READ MORE: The seaside town near Greater Manchester with a beach bar and amazing sunsets
READ MORE: Bruce Springsteen pops in to see the Lads just minutes before sell-out Co-op Live show
'I didn't know for sure he was going to show but just the possibility was worth the trip back," he said, adding it was even more 'surreal' when Bruce and his team walked into the kitchen.
Springsteen has been hitting headlines during a three-night residency at the 23,500 capacity Co-op Live venue, the first of his 16-date Land of Hope & Dreams Tour.
On the first night of his stay in the city, the 75-year-old took aim at President Donald Trump with a fiery barb describing 'dangerous times' currently being faced in the USA.
But the Boss, known for hits like Born to Run and 'Dancing in the Dark, was in a slightly less confrontational mood as he wandered around the Stockport studio, snapping photos and had a great sense of humour.
Martin said: 'What made me laugh is I asked him if I could take some photos with him and I just haven't got the technology skills to take a selfie, I couldn't get it to work, and he said to me with a smile on his face, 'Let me do it, I'm good at these''.
Speaking about why he thinks Bruce liked his studio, Martin said perhaps it reminded the global artist, in some way of the kind of place he recorded in when he was starting out.
He continued: 'It's pretty down to earth here and has a comfortable vibe so hopefully he felt relaxed.'
Reflecting on the finest moment of recording the septuagenarian rocker Martin said it was when Bruce listened back.
'He was listening so intently, it was about the music for him, and it felt for me at that moment that it doesn't matter if you're famous or if you're a young musician starting out, ultimately the commonality in it all is the music.'
He said the star, who will play his last show at Manchester's Co-op live last night (May 20) has an 'amazing personal aura'.
He added: 'He inspires a respectful reverence in everyone around him. It's not surprising given decades of success in the music industry built on genuine artistic and personal integrity still so evident in his live shows.'
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