{"id":2660,"date":"2010-04-02T10:12:19","date_gmt":"2010-04-02T14:12:19","guid":{"rendered":""},"modified":"2012-11-01T15:07:12","modified_gmt":"2012-11-01T19:07:12","slug":"stations-of-the-boss-6-courteney-wipes-the-face-of-the-boss","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.rocktownhall.com\/blogs\/stations-of-the-boss-6-courteney-wipes-the-face-of-the-boss\/","title":{"rendered":"Stations of The Boss, 6: Courteney Wipes the Face of The Boss"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n
Sweat jacket.<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

In our sixth Station of The Boss<\/strong>, artist Hans Wheeler asked us to look at The Boss in a new light. “Perspiration was increasingly becoming an issue for The Boss and His E Street Band in the early ’80s.” explains Wheeler. By 1983, concerts typically ran for 4 hours or more, testing the band’s improved cardiovascular fitness. Wheeler says the band was up to the challenge, and decided to emphasize their newly crafted “guns.” <\/p>\n

“The scrawny, hairy, sweaty, bearded, wool cap-wearing Boss was a thing of the past,” said Wheeler, as we sipped soy vanilla lattes on the roof deck of his Dayton, Ohio condominium. “He liked the way the sweat ran down His sculpted physique, and He wanted to make sure this Look worked within His show.” The problem, Wheeler explained, was how to keep all that sweat from gumming up the works of the band’s equipment.<\/p>\n

“In the old days,” Wheeler continued, “the hats, beards, vests, and jackets sopped up enough sweat to keep the gear dry enough to play through the night.” Now The Boss and His band were often down to one layer of clothing, with their sleeves rolled up high and tight over that finely honed artillery. Eventually something had to give, and the band introduced a new article of clothing into its ranks:
\n<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n
Sweat band.<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

“The Boss was reluctant to go the bandana route,” recalls Wheeler, “but He had little choice if He was going to continue in His aesthetic journey.” The original back cover shot for his new album, Born in the U.S.A.<\/em>, initially featured a bandana in His back pocket, but a baseball cap was airbrushed in at the last minute. “Bruce and His handlers weren’t sure if the bandana had the right connotations,” said Wheeler, “they thought it might be too ‘biker.'”<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n
Original back cover shot for Born in the U.S.A.<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

Wheeler picks up the story and introduces his new work in our Stations of The Boss series…after the jump!<\/em>
\n
\nThe effort to recast the sweaty, muscular Boss to His public continued with the video shoot for the album’s shocking first single, “Dancing in the Dark.”<\/p>\n

“Something’s a little different,” explained Wheeler, getting us back into the mindset of His fans circa 1984. “The music is pumping. The Boss is pumping…Heck, he’s pumped!” laughs Wheeler, before pausing and continuing in a more sober tone.<\/p>\n

“The Boss is hot, tired, and sweating. His hair is becoming tangled, and he is without extra layers of clothing to absorb the sweat and cover his tangled mop. Suddenly, a woman pushes her way out of the crowd and stands in front of Him.” Wheeler stops the video at the well-known moment when a young Courteney Cox takes the stage. <\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n
“Courteney Wipes the Face of The Boss,” Hans Wheeler, 2010.<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

“Here’s where I take some creative liberty,” he explains while introducing his latest work in this series. “In my depiction of this scene, the young woman offers a clean bandana to gently wipes His face.” As I gaze over Wheeler’s painting, I tell him I see the 1980s in a new light. The artist is not surprised.<\/p>\n

“This act, which I believe is implied by the video, softens the image of the bandana and enables Bruce and His band to keep dry while rocking out for hours on end AND promoting the physical fitness trend that continues to this day! It’s revolutionary,” he concludes, “and nothing less than what we’d expect from Him.”<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n
The Artist at rest.<\/div>\n<\/div>\n