Springsteen marries in the dark

Press, 15 May 1985, Page 19

Springsteen marries in the dark

NZPA-AP Portland Bruce Springsteen, the rock superstar who made "Born to Run” his anthem, was married in a clandestine ceremony early yeaster in the darkened hometown church of his 25-year-old bride. Springsteen, 35, eluded fans, reporters and photographers who had staked out his in-laws’ house and church in a Portland suburb. Only about 50 relatives and friends witnessed the 30min ceremony in which Springsteen married actress and model Miss Julianne Phillips, her relatives said. The ceremony, which had been planned for later this week, began instead at 12.15 a.m. yesterday, 15mins after their marriage licence became effective, said the bride’s mother, Mrs Anne Phillips. “Bruce and his entourage got a little nervous about what might happen and he was worried about Julie,” said one of her brothers, Mr David Phillips. “They decided we better just get this thing going as soon as possible and we’re going to have to do it at a weird hour.

“The church was totally dark. We all used the back door. Everything was locked up. We pulled in the lot and everyone turned off their lights. We all felt like C.I.A. agents. “Bruce was just something. He just had his big grin on his face through the whole thing,” Mr Phillips added. It was the first marriage for Springsteen and his bride, who has appeared in three television movies since 1983.