Editing Openai/67bf2631-0338-800a-827e-4ba18dbb4e0c (section)

==== Collaboration with Robbin Thompson (VCU Student Musician) ====

A key figure linking Springsteen to VCU was Robbin Thompson, a Richmond singer who was literally part of the VCU community. Thompson moved to Richmond to attend VCU (he earned his B.S. in Mass Communications in 1971)archive.vcu.edu<ref>{{cite web|title=archive.vcu.edu|url=https://archive.vcu.edu/175/#:~:text=175th%20Anniversary%20,based%20company%20that|publisher=archive.vcu.edu|access-date=2025-11-17}}</ref> and formed a local band called Mercy Flight while a studenten.wikipedia.org<ref>{{cite web|title=en.wikipedia.org|url=https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robbin_Thompson#:~:text=band%20even%20released%20a%20couple,8|publisher=en.wikipedia.org|access-date=2025-11-17}}</ref>. Mercy Flight frequently gigged around campus and opened for Springsteen’s band on numerous occasions. In fact, on Nov. 11, 1969, Mercy Flight opened for Steel Mill at a VCU concert – which is how Springsteen first encountered Thompson’s talentsen.wikipedia.org<ref>{{cite web|title=en.wikipedia.org|url=https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robbin_Thompson#:~:text=|publisher=en.wikipedia.org|access-date=2025-11-17}}</ref>. Impressed by Thompson’s vocals, Springsteen decided in 1970 to expand Steel Mill by adding a second singer. He recruited Robbin Thompson to join the band, effectively forging a collaboration between the New Jersey rockers and the Richmond music sceneen.wikipedia.org<ref>{{cite web|title=en.wikipedia.org|url=https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robbin_Thompson#:~:text=On%20November%2011%2C%201969%2C%20Mercy,Music%20Festival%2C%20sponsored%20by%20WMAC|publisher=en.wikipedia.org|access-date=2025-11-17}}</ref>.

Steel Mill Era (1970): Once Thompson came on board (his debut with Steel Mill was Aug. 29, 1970)en.wikipedia.org<ref>{{cite web|title=en.wikipedia.org|url=https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robbin_Thompson#:~:text=concert%20at%20VCU.,Festival%2C%20sponsored%20by%20%2070|publisher=en.wikipedia.org|access-date=2025-11-17}}</ref>, Springsteen’s Richmond connection grew even stronger. The revamped lineup – now featuring a VCU student on co-lead vocals – performed both in Richmond and beyond. They opened for major acts like Ike & Tina Turner in Richmond on October 11, 1970theshockoeexaminer.blogspot.com<ref>{{cite web|title=theshockoeexaminer.blogspot.com|url=https://theshockoeexaminer.blogspot.com/2024/12/when-bruce-springsteens-band-steel-mill.html#:~:text=town%20of%20Woodland%20Falls%20that,and%C2%A0Robbin%20Thompson%C2%A0alternating%20the%20lead%20vocal|publisher=theshockoeexaminer.blogspot.com|access-date=2025-11-17}}</ref>. (At that Mosque concert, Springsteen and Thompson alternated lead vocals on songs like “Goin’ Back to Georgia,” giving Richmond fans a dynamic Jersey-meets-Richmond stage showtheshockoeexaminer.blogspot.com<ref>{{cite web|title=theshockoeexaminer.blogspot.com|url=https://theshockoeexaminer.blogspot.com/2024/12/when-bruce-springsteens-band-steel-mill.html#:~:text=is%20polite%20but%20indifferent%2C%20an,and%C2%A0Robbin%20Thompson%C2%A0alternating%20the%20lead%20vocal|publisher=theshockoeexaminer.blogspot.com|access-date=2025-11-17}}</ref>.) They also shared songwriting duties in small ways; for example, Steel Mill’s setlist included “Train Ride,” a song Thompson co-wrote and originally sang in Mercy Flight. Springsteen’s band put their own spin on it, and as Yolton jokes, “I can always say that Bruce Springsteen actually covered one of my songs”newjerseystage.com<ref>{{cite web|title=newjerseystage.com|url=https://www.newjerseystage.com/articles/getarticle.php?titlelink=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.newjerseystage.com%2Farchives%2Fgetarticle.php%3Ftitlelink%3Da-look-at-mercy-flight#:~:text=everybody%20just%20went%2C%20%E2%80%9CWoh%2C%20wait,Who%E2%80%99s%20this%20guy%3F%E2%80%9D|publisher=newjerseystage.com|access-date=2025-11-17}}</ref>.

Lasting Friendship: Thompson performed with Steel Mill through the end of 1970 (the band’s final shows as Springsteen prepared to form a new group). While Springsteen headed back north to eventually launch the E Street Band, Robbin Thompson stayed in Richmond and went on to a successful career of his own. The two remained linked by this early chapter: they had literally shared the stage at VCU and around Richmond, and Thompson’s Richmond roots had helped Springsteen gain a foothold with local audiences. Years later, their paths would cross on stage again – for instance, Thompson joined Springsteen as a guest at a 2003 concert – reflecting the camaraderie formed in those college-days collaborationsen.wikipedia.org<ref>{{cite web|title=en.wikipedia.org|url=https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robbin_Thompson#:~:text=recorded%20several%20albums%20which%20included,3|publisher=en.wikipedia.org|access-date=2025-11-17}}</ref>en.wikipedia.org<ref>{{cite web|title=en.wikipedia.org|url=https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robbin_Thompson#:~:text=Ellen%20McIlwaine%20%2C%20among%20others,Festival%20and%20in%201980%20had|publisher=en.wikipedia.org|access-date=2025-11-17}}</ref>. (Notably, Thompson’s Richmond legacy endured – he co-wrote “Sweet Virginia Breeze,” now an official state song of Virginiaen.wikipedia.org<ref>{{cite web|title=en.wikipedia.org|url=https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robbin_Thompson#:~:text=a%20minor%20national%20hit%20with,5|publisher=en.wikipedia.org|access-date=2025-11-17}}</ref>.) In summary, Springsteen’s relationship with Robbin Thompson – forged through VCU connections and shared gigs – was a crucial bridge that brought Springsteen’s music to Richmond and integrated him into the VCU arts community.