Do you know these facts about Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band at the Stone Pony?

Like the Cavern Club to the Beatles and First Avenue to Prince, the Stone Pony in Asbury Park is forever connected to Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band.

The thing is, Springsteen didn't get his start at the Pony. He had released two major-label albums by the time he first walked in the Pony in 1974.

Still, Springsteen's numerous appearances at the club; the creative connections he and his E Street bandmates made there; and the setting of seeing one of the great rock 'n' roll performers of all time in a fairly small venue have made the Springsteen and E Street Band experience at the Stone Pony something special.

To help celebrate the Stone Pony's 50th anniversary — it opened on Feb. 8, 1974 — check out our five fun facts about Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band at the legendary venue.

Springsteen's first performance at the Pony

The Boss, Garry Tallent and Vini Lopez joined the Blackberry Booze Band, later to become Southside Johnny and the Asbury Jukes, on Sept. 8, 1974, for what is believed to be Springsteen's first appearance on stage at the Stone Pony, according to Brucebase.

More: Here's the untold story of the Stone Pony, celebrating its 50th anniversary in 2024

A lucky 13 in 1982

Springsteen made 13 appearances at the Stone Pony in the summer of 1982, all on Sunday nights with the house band Cats on a Smooth Surface.

The performances, all unannounced, became a sensation with media outlets across the country, who noted the spontaneous setting for such a big rock 'n' roll star.

'Born in the U.S.A.' at the Pony

The "Born in the U.S.A." album and tour put the Boss and the band into another orbit of stardom. The tour began at the Stone Pony in an unannounced show on June 8, 1984, four days after the "Born in the U.S.A." album was released.

The night featured the live debuts of "Born in the U.S.A.": "Glory Days," "My Hometown" and "Darlington County," and the debut of Nils Lofgren as a member of the E Street Band.

Job opening: E Street Band

In 2011, Bobby Bandiera, former Cats on a Smooth Surface member, was putting together a band to play a private benefit at the Stone Pony in Asbury Park. Percussionist and singer Everett Bradley wasn’t told who from headliner was, but he had an idea.

The Boss liked what he heard from Bradley's performance at the Pony so much that he asked him to join the band. Bradley made his debut with the expanded post-Clarence Clemons E Street Band in March 2012 at the Apollo Theater in Harlem.

He's now a touring member of Bon Jovi.

More: Nils Lofgren's connection to Asbury Park landmark featured on new album, 'Mountains'

Love and the E Street Band

Springsteen and the members of the E Street Band have been lucky in love at the Stone Pony.

Springsteen and wife Patti Scialfa forged their bond there, and Lofgren met his wife Amy Aiello Lofgren at the Pony in the early 1980s — but it wasn't until the mid '90s that they connected long term.

Mighty Max Weinberg also met his wife, Becky, at the Pony.

“I met my wife where the speaker is now,” said Weinberg from the stage of the Pony in 2019.

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Chris Jordan, a Jersey Shore native, covers entertainment and features for the USA Today Network New Jersey. Contact him at @chrisfhjordan; [email protected]

This article originally appeared on Asbury Park Press: Bruce Springsteen: Facts about the band playing at the Stone Pony