Five Die-Hard Springsteen Fans Rate Jeremy Allen White’s Bruce Springsteen Style

The first promo pictures of The Bear star and everyone’s favorite flower market king Jeremy Allen White as Bruce Springsteen in the upcoming biopic Deliver Me From Nowhere dropped last week. The film, which tells the story of the making of Springsteen’s sixth album, Nebraska, is slated for a 2025 release; JAW will play a pre-Born in the USA Springsteen, raw and vulnerable, recording what many consider to be his most solemn and thoughtful album.

The musical biopic is a fine line to walk. Get it right and Oscar glory is in reach (see: Rami Malek as Freddie Mercury in Bohemian Rhapsody, and Reese Witherspoon as June Carter Cash in Walk the Line), but get it wrong and it’s the Twitter abyss and eternal TikTok mockery for you. The world is waiting with bated breath to see which side of the line Timothée Chalamet's Bob Dylan will land on.

Unlike many recent biopics, Deliver Me From Nowhere is being made in consultation with the Boss himself. And JAW is a strong enough actor to prove it all night from a performance standpoint. But, all that aside, how dialed-in is his look? GQ quizzed five tramps (editor’s note: the collective group nickname for Springsteen’s fans, not our personal judgement), including two tribute artists, to get their take.

What was your first impression of Jeremy Allen White’s Bruce?

The shirt and jacket are spot on (wish I had a wardrobe specialist to source such things for me). He is nailing the hair. My look—as a professional that has to be Bruce up close and personal with people who are some of his biggest fans here in Ireland—is based on Bruce at my age, mid to late 50s, so the hair is different. As a younger man doing a younger Bruce, I think his people have nailed it.

Any tricks he’s missed?

Clothes and hair are easy compared to what’s going on with the face. I think his look is missing the correct expression. Photos of Bruce at the time could be captioned with: “Uh huh, are you done yet?” White, in this photo, looks more like De Niro: “You talkin’ ta me?” All respect to the actor and his craft. It ain’t easy, I know. I think we’ll get better pics as he grows into the role.

What Bruce look would you like to see Jeremy Allen White wear?

I hope that whatever look they design for [White] in the movie is an authentic example of what he would wear at that time in his life. I’d like it to be a bit of a history lesson in that way. I want to know if the things he was wearing on stage and at photo shoots was what he was wearing on the street at that point in his life.

What would your advice be to Jeremy for playing Bruce?

His behavior on stage varies through the years. He can go from serene to frantic, seemingly out of control sometimes. My rule of thumb is to just be true to myself. Do what feels natural to me. I believe that Bruce follows that same rule. Self-confidence, inhibition and similar qualities seems to be something Bruce has cultivated, though from what Steven Van Zandt says in the recent Disney documentary Road Diaries, Bruce had to overcome his introverted nature. I can relate.

Bobby Bank

What was your first impression of Jeremy Allen White’s Bruce?

Facially it works, the bone structure, strong nose, hollow-(ish) cheekbones, similar framing of eyes although brown coloured lenses required and thickening of eyelashes. (Editor’s note: In later paparazzi photos from the set, White is seen wearing brown contacts—as requested.) The tousled hair with the leather jacket and the moody shot equals core Bruce.

Any tricks he’s missed?

He’s missing earrings!

What does he need to do to nail Bruce?

The singing…He needs to perfect the Bruce growl and match Bruce’s energy and charisma on stage. Off stage, he needs to catch his natural shyness and niceness. The single-mindedness to be great.

What Bruce look would you like to see Jeremy Allen White wear?

If he can smile like Bruce and look as lean in jeans and a grandad shirt, he will be 90 per cent of the way to nailing him.

What was your first impression of Jeremy Allen White’s Bruce?

JAW looks great in this press shot. What is going to be more important than clothes and hair is ‘attitude,’ and he certainly has that. I can already imagine him brooding and smoldering like Springsteen in his early 30s. Bruce has never gone for small talk—he is intense, serious and focussed. Springsteen, especially in this era, was immersed in making every detail, every word perfect. His lyrics are incisive, potent and also economic. Nothing is wasted.

Any tricks he’s missed?

They have done a great job with this look with JAW: the plaid shirt, the leather jacket both pretty much on point. If I was being super picky…for me, the shirt could be more red and less pink/purple and the jacket, although worn in, needs to be more ‘road worn.’ It’s a little too perfect. Remember, Bruce wasn’t dressing as someone. These were his clothes, he was himself.

You can also see in photographs that Bruce was not really sporting the big sideburns at this point. Otherwise, the hair is similar, although it appears less ‘messy/curly’ and a little blow-dried. It’s a somewhat Hollywood depiction of the real McCoy!

What Bruce look would you like to see Jeremy Allen White wear?

I think they’re heading in the right direction, but I’m a purist, so I would counsel them against anything that over glamorizes, polishes or sanitizes Springsteen’s ultimately raw look. I’m pretty sure Bruce was thinking about the music more than his wardrobe.

I love all of Springsteen’s looks over the years but my favourite is probably from around 1980 and The River Tour. Essentially, it’s workwear, and that’s because rock ’n’ roll is his job! Sleeves rolled up and wet with sweat!

What would your advice be to Jeremy for playing Bruce?

Stage presence is a tricky one and I’m tempted to say, “You’ve either got it or you haven’t” but I suppose it’s about being authentic, respectful and connecting with the audience on a human level. Ultimately, me, the band and the audience are all there for the same reason—to celebrate the genius of the legendary Broooooooce.

In essence, I think Springsteen is actually quite a reserved and unsure character, as he told Brian Hiatt in 2010: “I’m an alienated person by nature, always have been, still am to this day. It continues to be an issue in my life.” Jeremy Allen White will find his own take on Bruce’s character. For me personally, I would try to see past the rock star and find what’s underneath. But what do I know? I’m just a singer in a tribute band.

Bobby Bank

What was your first impression of Jeremy Allen White’s Bruce?

I think the styling is spot-on. The hair needs a bit more curl, but the brooding look is pretty good! I think it’s easier to see him as Springsteen if you’ve watched him in The Bear—apparently Bruce thinks he’s perfect for the part, and he’d know more than anyone!

Any tricks he’s missed?

Maybe a bit more wave in the hair. Although he won’t have done that himself.

What does he need to do to nail Bruce?

It really depends on the era, as his style has been through various stages. In the early years he was obviously really skinny. In the [Born in the USA] era he had a lot more muscle, and the bandanas were introduced. Much more classic ’80s, at that point.

What is the best Bruce Springsteen style era?

I think the ’70s skinny jeans and leather jacket and wild hair and beard and beanie was great—the Hammersmith Odeon 1975 show is a good representation of that, and pretty iconic as an early Bruce ‘look.’ I love ’80s looks generally—like the Born in the USA tour style.

Bobby Bank

What was your first impression of Jeremy Allen White’s Bruce?

When I saw Jeremy as Bruce it took me a while to see it, do I think he looks like Bruce? No. Do I think he has the spirit and grit to play those early years and the emotional range to chart his insane success? Yes.

Any tricks he’s missed?

The look is nailed. He might just need to lean out a bit.

What does he need to do to nail Bruce?

I’m definitely intrigued to see it and will be watching the film. Can Jeremy sing? He plays the maverick, exceptional loner really well in The Bear and Shameless and I’m assuming that’s why he’s been cast.

I think he will nail the growing-up elements, the family relationship, and the intricacies of the E Street Band. Bruce can really sing, though, so hopefully Jeremy is taking lessons.

What Bruce look would you like to see Jeremy Allen White wear?

We need to see him in the headband and waistcoat.

This story originally appeared in British GQ.