Bruce Springsteen brings out Eric Burdon for surprise duet of ‘We Gotta Get Out of This Place’ — a thunderous tribute to rock rebellion in Cardiff
On the evening of July 23, 2013, the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff, Wales, became the backdrop for an extraordinary moment in rock history. Bruce Springsteen, mid-tour and full of surprises, welcomed none other than Eric Burdon—the iconic frontman of The Animals—to share the stage. Together, they launched into a powerful rendition of “We Gotta Get Out of This Place,” igniting the crowd with raw emotion and electricity.
This marked Burdon’s first guest appearance on Springsteen’s tour, adding an extra layer of significance to the night. Springsteen reminisced that the song was among the very first he had learned on guitar, shaping his early artistic vision. As Burdon’s unmistakable voice echoed through the stadium, the atmosphere turned electric, resonating deeply with the thousands in attendance.
Penned by songwriting legends Barry Mann and Cynthia Weil and released in 1965, “We Gotta Get Out of This Place” quickly resonated with the working-class ethos and became a cultural touchstone. Springsteen has praised it as one of the first tracks he encountered that spoke directly to social struggle and class identity. Its impact was later recognized with a spot on Rolling Stone’s list of the “500 Greatest Songs of All Time,” where it holds position 233.
The duet was more than just a performance—it was a poignant homage to The Animals’ legacy and the timeless relevance of their music. For Springsteen, sharing this moment with Burdon after decades was a full-circle tribute. For the audience, it was an unforgettable night of nostalgia, reverence, and the enduring power of rock ’n’ roll.
