Bruce Springsteen with Benjamin Fisher on stage
It would have been a proud moment for any father but for superfan Allan Fisher it was one neither he nor his son will ever forget.
For Allan, who has seen Bruce Springsteen perform 42 times, got to watch his seven-year-old son Benjamin sing with The Boss himself.
Benjamin, from Bridgend, was picked out of the crowd by Bruce to sing Waitin’ On A Sunny Day
The little boy is now a YouTube sensation after sharing the stage with the rock legend at his Cardiff gig on Tuesday night.
Just a few hours before the concert, Benjamin had told the Echo how he “loves Bruce Springsteen” and how he wanted to get on stage with him.
The little boy’s dream came true when he sat on the singer’s shoulder and sang his heart out to the crowd of thousands.
Allan, 42, said: “I was just in tears, I couldn’t help it. It was a very special moment that he’ll cherish more as he gets older.”
Allan said it was the best show of the 42 he has seen and said Benjamin going on stage was “the icing on the cake”.
Allan said: “When we walked back to the car everyone was stopping us to talk to Benjamin. It took us about half an hour to get back to the car.”
Allan, his wife Sharron and Benjamin, had been queuing for a space in the Millennium Stadium’s pit since Saturday.
They joined a group of die-hard fans and were allocated numbers seven, eight and nine in the queue.
The line up, which had reached more than 120 people by Sunday night, had regular roll calls in the days leading up to the show.
Luckily, Allan said they were able to get Benjamin to the queue ten minutes before each roll call and said he was back home with relatives in Cardiff a few minutes later.
Allan said: “I would never subject him to what I did. But because it was in Cardiff, and we have a base in Cardiff, we were able to do it. In between the roll calls, he was going swimming and to the park and just enjoying the summer holidays.”
He said: “If he [Springsteen] goes on tour next year, I won’t be able to take Benjamin. We’ve been able to have this week off and manage Benjamin thorough the process because it has been in Cardiff. Its been like three or four days of fun for him.”
As the first 100 people were allowed in to the pit by security at about 4.30pm on Tuesday, Allan said he and his family positioned themselves near the central podium which Springsteen graced many times during the show.
Wearing ear protectors throughout, the seven-year-old had a fold up stall to sit and stand on as well as plenty of food and drink.
Allan said they were able to top Benjamin up with a jam sandwich, drinks and a few sweets when he started flagging.
Benjamin Fisher pictured before the Bruce Springsteen concert
But Allan said most of the time Benjamin was jumping up and down with the rest of the fans in the pit.
Allan, who said Benjamin has grown up listening to a lot of The Boss’ songs, said: “I first saw him in 1985 when I was taken to a concert by my next door neighbour. I was 15. I’ve always wanted to take my family.”
It was also an unforgettable night for 19-year-old Rachel Meredith from Cardiff who danced on stage with the E Street Band towards the end of the show.
Rachel, who lives in Tremorfa, said: “It was the best night of my life.”
Tuesday night was Rachel’s sixth show after being introduced to The Boss’ playlist by her dad.
She got off a plane from Springsteen’s gig in Belfast on Saturday and made her way directly to the queue at the Millennium Stadium on Sunday.
Her dedication paid off when her sign “Can I dance with Miami?” was seen by Springsteen in Cardiff and she was picked out to dance on stage.
Rachel was seen dancing her socks off with Steven Van Zandt before giving Bruce a big hug.
She said: “Whatever concert I go to next, it will never live up to that.”
