Station Casinos executive tracks Springsteen

Friday, May 26, 2000 | 8:50 a.m.

To 3,500 hotel employees, he's the boss.

But this boss says "The Boss" is boss.

"I don't like to call myself the boss," says Don Marrandino, president and general manager of Sunset Station, Boulder Station and the yet-to-open Green Valley Ranch hotel-casinos. "There's only one boss."

And that is Bruce.

After spending more than 25 years touring every major (and many minor) city across the globe, indestructible rocker Bruce Springsteen finally makes his first Las Vegas appearance Saturday at the MGM Grand Garden Arena. Surprising no one, tickets for the show at the 16,000-seat arena sold out in 90 minutes.

A typically fervent Springsteen devotee who has traversed the country to catch Springsteen concerts for more than 20 years, Marrandino says he can't fathom missing a show in his own back yard -- and won't. The native of Atlantic City, N .J., estimates that he's seen Springsteen "well over40 times," including 14 shows on Springsteen's current tour with the E Street Band.

Marrandino's travels over the past eight months have taken him to New Jersey (for the opening shows at the New Jersey Meadowlands), St. Louis, Phoenix, Los Angeles and Anaheim. He's planning on heading back for the closing show at Madison Square Garden in New York on July 1.

As it stands, the grand total of Marrandino-attended shows on the 1999-2000 Springsteen tour will be 16. That is, unless he tries to squeeze in a few additional dates, always a possibility.

"When you actually put it that way," Marrandino says with a laugh, "it sounds like a lot."

But Marrandino is hardly jumping on the E Street Band reunion bandwagon.

"The first time I saw them was in Philadelphia back in 1976, in the very last row of the Spectrum," the 40-year-old Marrandino says, relating his Springsteen experiences from his upstairs office at Sunset Station. "I was totally blown away."

Marrandino is something more than a mere fan, however. He enjoys an inside line to Springsteen through two members of the E Street Band, guitarist Nils Lofgren and saxophonist Clarence Clemens. After Marrandino (a Las Vegas hotel-casino executive for 12 years) helped open Sunset Station in 1997, he booked his two idols for the hotel's lid-lifting show.

"I had those guys open the hotel for us, June 13 and 14, days I'll never forget," Marrandino says. "Through that I became friends with them, got to know them on a really personal level and they're just terrific guys."

The friendship has led to fairly regular contact with the band. Marrandino is granted back-stage access at Springsteen shows and his collection of memorabilia includes a couple of set lists and a pair of Max Weinberg drum sticks, all from the current tour.

Marrandino has also encountered Springsteen briefly from time to time on tour, as part of the VIP throng.

"I've met him and been around him, but to say I know him would be an exaggeration," Marrandino says. "I've been around him on several occasions and what amazes me is how genuine he is off stage to people around him. Everyone respects him. ... He seems to be the guy who really wrote all those songs."

However, when Marrandino first became friendly with Clemens and Lofgren three years ago, the E Street Band was a piece of rock 'n' roll history.

"It didn't appear there would be an E Street Band again," Marrandino says. "But they were hopeful. They always looked back on those days as the best in their lives."

Marrandino understands completely. He can particularly relate to what he calls Springsteen's "East Coast" approach to his craft.

"His performances have always been motivational to me, due to his work ethic," Marrandino says. "When he goes out there he plays for four hours and he leaves it all on the (stage). He brings his 'A' game, so to speak, and he does that every night."

Anyone, even a casino executive, can draw inspiration from Springsteen's work ethic.

"It's the East Coast mentality," Marrandino says. "If you're going to do it you're going to have to be the best. You might not have the most talent but you keep working on it."

Marrandino regularly "Bruce-ifies" his day, using Springsteen music to either set or alter his mood.

"I have 12 CDs in my car and 10 of them are Springsteen," Marrandino says. "Whatever mood I'm in determines which one I'll dial into."

For example, a normal pick-me-up is "Darkness on the Edge of Town." But a blue Monday would require "The River."

"One of his most critically acclaimed albums, very introspective where he's talking about relationships," Marrandino says. "It's a great Monday song."

"Born in the U.S.A." and "Glory Days" are for more uplifting moments.

"I see them as more celebratory," Marrandino says. " 'Glory Days' rings true to me. ... I'm kind of a jock, and the line about the big baseball player back in high school is something I can relate to, looking back to the old days. Every one of his songs talks about a social issue.

"The music is true, and it goes right at you."

As Marrandino expounds on his favorite subject, he becomes less of an executive and more a rock 'n' roll fan.

"I'm a total workaholic, which you have to be in this business, and for me to take a week off is a big deal for me," Marrandino says. "But for this there was no question I was going to make time, it was automatic. I used a week's vacation and saw several shows in New Jersey and another week's vacation for five shows in Phoenix and L.A. Over the weekend I went Saturday morning and was back Tuesday morning, taking Monday off.

"Every time I'd look on the Internet and see a show added, I'd start working it out in my mind how I could see a show and remain gainfully employed."

During shows Marrandino is aware of the shared bond among Springsteen fans.

"It's like the Deadheads who would follow around the Grateful Dead," Marrandino says. "You travel from city to city. With Bruce, you don't see any fights. You see a CEO of a company hanging out with a janitor. ... When you're in the show, everyone is the same for 3 1/2 hours."

Becoming even more expansive, Marrandino says, "I'm a huge music fan, really. I enjoy a lot of other shows, but I'm not obsessive about anyone else. I don't get emotionally attached to anyone else."

Marrandino leans back and recalls one of his most cherished Springsteen moments.

"It was during the encore, and at one point Bruce will take his hands off the guitar and let the crowd up front touch it and play it a little," Marrandino says. "I've been in a position to do that, which is unbelievable to me."

It's a different universe than the back row of the Spectrum. But even after describing his unwavering allegiance to Springsteen and his music, Marrandino steps back, seeming slightly embarrassed.

"I sound like a groupie, huh?," he says, laughing. "I hope I don't sound like that. I don't, do I?"

Nah. Not at all.