
I Don't Want to Go Home
The Oral History of the Stone Pony
Failed to add items
Add to Cart failed.
Add to Wish List failed.
Remove from wishlist failed.
Adding to library failed
Follow podcast failed
Unfollow podcast failed
$0.99/mo for the first 3 months

Buy for $25.19
No default payment method selected.
We are sorry. We are not allowed to sell this product with the selected payment method
-
Narrated by:
-
Nicol Zanzarella
-
Jim Meskimen
-
By:
-
Nick Corasaniti
About this listen
A captivating oral history of the iconic music venue the Stone Pony and of the rise, fall, and rebirth of Asbury Park, New Jersey—featuring interviews with Bruce Springsteen, Steve Van Zandt, Southside Johnny, members of the E Street Band and Asbury Jukes, the Ramones, the Jonas Brothers, Jack Antonoff, and other legendary musicians.
In 1970, Asbury Park, New Jersey, was ripped apart by race riots that left the once-proud beach town an hour away from Manhattan smoldering, suffering and left for dead.
Four years later, a few miles down the coast in Seaside Heights, two bouncers, Jack Roig and Butch Pielka, tired of the daily grind, dreamt of owning their own place. Under-prepared and minimally funded, the two bought the first bar they considered, in a city where no one wanted to be, without setting one foot in the place. They named it the Stone Pony, and turned it into a rock club that Bruce Springsteen would soon call home and a dying town would call its beating heart.
But the bar had to fight to survive. Despite its success in launching and attracting rockers like Stevie Van Zandt, “Southside” Johnny Lyon, and Springsteen, the Stone Pony—like everything in Asbury Park for the past half century—could only weather the drags of a depressed city for so long.
How did the Stone Pony beat the odds to survive? How did it become an international rock pilgrimage site, not just for fans of Springsteen, but for punk rockers, jam bands, pop, indie, alternative and many other musicians as well? And how did it continue to inspire and influence a hall-of-fame list of New Jersey and national rock stars? The story of the Stone Pony—thrillingly charted in this detailed oral history—is the chronicle of a proud and unique cultural mecca blooming in a down-but-not-yet-out tough town. As Nick Corasaniti reveals, the stories of Asbury Park and the Stone Pony are that of modern America itself—a place of battered hopes, big dreams, and dogged resilience.
Supplemental enhancement PDF accompanies the audiobook.
PLEASE NOTE: When you purchase this title, the accompanying PDF will be available in your Audible Library along with the audio.
©2024 NIcholas Corasaniti (P)2024 HarperCollins PublishersListeners also enjoyed...
-
Life in the Fast Lane
- The Eagles’ Reckless Ride Down the Rock & Roll Highway
- By: Mick Wall
- Narrated by: Al Kessel
- Length: 10 hrs and 45 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
"Surely make you lose your mind . . ." So the Eagles warn us about the outrageous and ruthless lifestyle of the ambitious rock-n-roller. In fact, Don Henley could barely listen to the track "Life in the Fast Lane" when they were recording it. He was so high that it made him sick. The band that embodied the American dream with globe-straddling success, impossibly luxurious lives, and almost supernatural talent also descended into nightmare with betrayal, hate-filled hubris, the skeletons of perceived enemies, brutally discarded lovers and former band mates left unburied in the road behind them.
-
-
Welcome Overview
- By Stephen on 11-09-23
By: Mick Wall
-
The Fixer
- Moguls, Mobsters, Movie Stars, and Marilyn
- By: Josh Young, Manfred Westphal
- Narrated by: Jefferson Mays, Manfred Westphal
- Length: 9 hrs and 3 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
During the height of Hollywood’s golden age, one man lorded over the city’s lurid underbelly of forbidden sin and celebrity scandal like no other: Fred Otash. An ex-Marine turned L.A.P.D. vice cop, Otash became the most sought-after private detective and fixer to the stars by specializing in the dark arts that would soon dominate the entertainment industry. The Fixer delves into the extraordinary life of Hollywood’s most infamous private detective and “fixer” to the stars, revealing newly discovered shocking revelations from his never-before-seen investigative files.
-
-
For Hollywood gossip lovers!
- By Janna Wong Healy on 06-01-24
By: Josh Young, and others
-
Drums & Demons
- The Tragic Journey of Jim Gordon
- By: Joel Selvin
- Narrated by: David Bendena
- Length: 7 hrs and 37 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
With full cooperation from the late Gordon's family and based on his trademark extensive, detailed research, Joel Selvin’s account is at once an epic journey through an artist’s monumental musical contributions, a rollicking history of rock drumming, and a terrifying downward spiral into the unimaginable madness that Gordon fought a valiant but losing battle against. One of the great untold stories of rock is finally being told.
-
-
Detailed look into the tortured soul of Jim Gordon
- By vintageone on 04-10-24
By: Joel Selvin
-
All the Worst Humans
- How I Made News for Dictators, Tycoons, and Politicians
- By: Phil Elwood
- Narrated by: Holter Graham
- Length: 6 hrs and 42 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
After nearly two decades in the Washington PR business, Elwood wants to come clean, by exposing the dark underbelly of the very industry that’s made him so successful. The first step is revealing exactly what he’s been up to for the past twenty years—and it isn’t pretty. Elwood has worked for a murderer’s row of questionable clients, including Gaddafi, Assad, and the government of Qatar. In All the Worst Humans, Elwood unveils how the PR business works, and how the truth gets made, spun, and sold to the public—not shying away from the gritty details of his unlikely career.
-
-
Wow, what a story!
- By DHaston on 07-05-24
By: Phil Elwood
-
Lorne
- The Man Who Invented Saturday Night Live
- By: Susan Morrison
- Narrated by: Kristen DiMercurio, Susan Morrison
- Length: 22 hrs and 50 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Over the fifty years that Lorne Michaels has been at the helm of Saturday Night Live, he has become a revered and inimitable presence in the entertainment world. He’s a tastemaker, a mogul, a withholding father figure, a genius spotter of talent, a shrewd businessman, a name-dropper, a raconteur, the inspiration for Dr. Evil, the winner of more than a hundred Emmys—and, essentially, a mystery. Generations of writers and performers have spent their lives trying to figure him out, by turns demonizing and lionizing him.
-
-
Great read but several weird mispronunciations
- By Larry Carlat on 02-20-25
By: Susan Morrison
-
You're Lucky You're Funny
- How Life Becomes a Sitcom
- By: Phil Rosenthal
- Narrated by: Phil Rosenthal
- Length: 6 hrs and 52 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
This laugh-out-loud memoir takes listeners backstage and inside the writers’ room of one of America’s best-loved shows. With more than 17 million viewers and more than 70 Emmy nominations—including two wins for best comedy—Everybody Loves Raymond reigned supreme in television comedy for almost a decade.
-
-
For Raymond Lovers
- By Margaret C. on 11-05-06
By: Phil Rosenthal
-
Life in the Fast Lane
- The Eagles’ Reckless Ride Down the Rock & Roll Highway
- By: Mick Wall
- Narrated by: Al Kessel
- Length: 10 hrs and 45 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
"Surely make you lose your mind . . ." So the Eagles warn us about the outrageous and ruthless lifestyle of the ambitious rock-n-roller. In fact, Don Henley could barely listen to the track "Life in the Fast Lane" when they were recording it. He was so high that it made him sick. The band that embodied the American dream with globe-straddling success, impossibly luxurious lives, and almost supernatural talent also descended into nightmare with betrayal, hate-filled hubris, the skeletons of perceived enemies, brutally discarded lovers and former band mates left unburied in the road behind them.
-
-
Welcome Overview
- By Stephen on 11-09-23
By: Mick Wall
-
The Fixer
- Moguls, Mobsters, Movie Stars, and Marilyn
- By: Josh Young, Manfred Westphal
- Narrated by: Jefferson Mays, Manfred Westphal
- Length: 9 hrs and 3 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
During the height of Hollywood’s golden age, one man lorded over the city’s lurid underbelly of forbidden sin and celebrity scandal like no other: Fred Otash. An ex-Marine turned L.A.P.D. vice cop, Otash became the most sought-after private detective and fixer to the stars by specializing in the dark arts that would soon dominate the entertainment industry. The Fixer delves into the extraordinary life of Hollywood’s most infamous private detective and “fixer” to the stars, revealing newly discovered shocking revelations from his never-before-seen investigative files.
-
-
For Hollywood gossip lovers!
- By Janna Wong Healy on 06-01-24
By: Josh Young, and others
-
Drums & Demons
- The Tragic Journey of Jim Gordon
- By: Joel Selvin
- Narrated by: David Bendena
- Length: 7 hrs and 37 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
With full cooperation from the late Gordon's family and based on his trademark extensive, detailed research, Joel Selvin’s account is at once an epic journey through an artist’s monumental musical contributions, a rollicking history of rock drumming, and a terrifying downward spiral into the unimaginable madness that Gordon fought a valiant but losing battle against. One of the great untold stories of rock is finally being told.
-
-
Detailed look into the tortured soul of Jim Gordon
- By vintageone on 04-10-24
By: Joel Selvin
-
All the Worst Humans
- How I Made News for Dictators, Tycoons, and Politicians
- By: Phil Elwood
- Narrated by: Holter Graham
- Length: 6 hrs and 42 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
After nearly two decades in the Washington PR business, Elwood wants to come clean, by exposing the dark underbelly of the very industry that’s made him so successful. The first step is revealing exactly what he’s been up to for the past twenty years—and it isn’t pretty. Elwood has worked for a murderer’s row of questionable clients, including Gaddafi, Assad, and the government of Qatar. In All the Worst Humans, Elwood unveils how the PR business works, and how the truth gets made, spun, and sold to the public—not shying away from the gritty details of his unlikely career.
-
-
Wow, what a story!
- By DHaston on 07-05-24
By: Phil Elwood
-
Lorne
- The Man Who Invented Saturday Night Live
- By: Susan Morrison
- Narrated by: Kristen DiMercurio, Susan Morrison
- Length: 22 hrs and 50 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Over the fifty years that Lorne Michaels has been at the helm of Saturday Night Live, he has become a revered and inimitable presence in the entertainment world. He’s a tastemaker, a mogul, a withholding father figure, a genius spotter of talent, a shrewd businessman, a name-dropper, a raconteur, the inspiration for Dr. Evil, the winner of more than a hundred Emmys—and, essentially, a mystery. Generations of writers and performers have spent their lives trying to figure him out, by turns demonizing and lionizing him.
-
-
Great read but several weird mispronunciations
- By Larry Carlat on 02-20-25
By: Susan Morrison
-
You're Lucky You're Funny
- How Life Becomes a Sitcom
- By: Phil Rosenthal
- Narrated by: Phil Rosenthal
- Length: 6 hrs and 52 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
This laugh-out-loud memoir takes listeners backstage and inside the writers’ room of one of America’s best-loved shows. With more than 17 million viewers and more than 70 Emmy nominations—including two wins for best comedy—Everybody Loves Raymond reigned supreme in television comedy for almost a decade.
-
-
For Raymond Lovers
- By Margaret C. on 11-05-06
By: Phil Rosenthal
-
elle
- Life, Lessons & Learning to Trust Yourself
- By: Elle Macpherson
- Narrated by: Elle Macpherson
- Length: 12 hrs and 54 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Elle shares her hard-earned, well-learned insights and understandings, empowering us all to discover our own uniqueness and life purpose. In the dazzling world of fashion, Elle Macpherson is synonymous with elegance and timeless beauty. Her inimitable, ‘give-it-a-go’ spirit underpins all her achievements as an iconic supermodel, businesswoman, and wellness advocate—a remarkable career concealing profound inner challenges.
-
-
Self help book?
- By Barbara Miller on 12-31-24
By: Elle Macpherson
-
Living the Beatles’ Legend
- The Untold Story of Mal Evans
- By: Kenneth Womack
- Narrated by: Gary T. Evans, Kenneth Womack
- Length: 19 hrs and 9 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Malcolm Evans, the Beatles’ long-time roadie, personal assistant, and devoted friend, was an invaluable member of the band’s inner circle. A towering figure in horn-rimmed glasses, Evans loomed large in the Beatles’ story, contributing at times as a performer and sometime lyricist, while struggling mightily to protect his beloved “boys.” He was there for the whole of the group’s remarkable, unparalleled story: from the Shea Stadium triumph through the creation of the timeless cover art for Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band and the famous Let It Be rooftop concert.
-
-
A Must For Every Beatles Fan
- By shannonsongs on 11-23-23
By: Kenneth Womack
-
Turn It Up!
- My Time Making Hit Records in the Glory Days of Rock Music
- By: Tom Werman
- Narrated by: Tom Werman
- Length: 8 hrs and 38 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
As an A&R man at Epic Records, Tom Werman helped introduce the world to REO Speedwagon, Boston, Ted Nugent, and Cheap Trick; he also discovered KISS, Rush, and Lynyrd Skynyrd, but his record label passed on all of them. Then, as an independent producer, he oversaw landmark albums by Mötley Crüe, Twisted Sister, Lita Ford, Jeff Beck, Poison, and many more. All in all, his record-making resume includes twenty-three gold- or platinum-selling albums and cumulative sales of more than fifty-two million copies.
-
-
Great behind the scenes descriptions of some historic recordings.
- By MeLisa Owens on 05-28-24
By: Tom Werman
-
The Blues Brothers
- An Epic Friendship, the Rise of Improv, and the Making of an American Film Classic
- By: Daniel De Visé
- Narrated by: Johnny Heller
- Length: 11 hrs and 12 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
The saga behind The Blues Brothers, as Daniel de Visé reveals, is epic, encompassing the colorful childhoods of Belushi and Aykroyd; the comedic revolution sparked by Harvard’s Lampoon and Chicago’s Second City; the birth and anecdote-rich, drug-filled early years of Saturday Night Live, where the Blues Brothers were born as an act amidst turmoil and rivalry; and, of course, the indelible behind-the-scenes narrative of how the film was made, scene by memorable scene.
-
-
In my opinion, the best single book on Belushi.
- By Ron Phenicie on 04-19-24
By: Daniel De Visé
-
Sonny Boy
- A Memoir
- By: Al Pacino
- Narrated by: Al Pacino
- Length: 12 hrs and 28 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
To the wider world, Al Pacino exploded onto the scene like a supernova. He landed his first leading role, in The Panic in Needle Park, in 1971, and by 1975, he had starred in four movies—The Godfather and The Godfather Part II, Serpico, and Dog Day Afternoon—that were not just successes but landmarks in the history of film. Those performances became legendary and changed his life forever. Not since Marlon Brando and James Dean in the late 1950s had an actor landed in the culture with such force.
-
-
I loved this so much!!! But….
- By paintgal on 10-24-24
By: Al Pacino
-
When the Clock Broke
- Con Men, Conspiracists, and How America Cracked Up in the Early 1990s
- By: John Ganz
- Narrated by: Eric Jason Martin
- Length: 15 hrs and 17 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
With the Soviet Union extinct, Saddam Hussein defeated, and U.S. power at its zenith, the early 1990s promised a “kinder, gentler America.” Instead, it was a period of rising anger and domestic turmoil, anticipating the polarization and resurgent extremism we know today. In When the Clock Broke, the acclaimed political writer John Ganz tells the story of America’s late-century discontents.
-
-
Amazing history of the early 90s
- By Aaron R. Isaacson on 06-25-24
By: John Ganz
-
The Hidden Magic of Walt Disney World, 3rd Edition
- Over 600 Secrets of the Magic Kingdom, EPCOT, Disney's Hollywood Studios, and Disney's Animal Kingdom
- By: Susan Veness
- Narrated by: Andrea Emmes
- Length: 8 hrs and 21 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Whether it’s your first or 50th visit to Walt Disney World, you’ll be surprised at how much you can miss during your trip. Including all-new information on Toy Story Land, Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge, and Mickey and Minnie’s Runaway Railway, The Hidden Magic of Walt Disney World, 3rd Edition will inspire you to relive the magic year after year!
-
-
this is just a timelilne of disney
- By Tammy Krick on 10-21-21
By: Susan Veness
-
The Hamilton Scheme
- An Epic Tale of Money and Power in the American Founding
- By: William Hogeland
- Narrated by: William Hogeland
- Length: 17 hrs and 37 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Alexander Hamilton has become a global celebrity. Millions know his name and imagine knowing the man. But what did he really want for the country? What risks did he run in pursuing those vaulting ambitions? Who tried to stop him? How did they fight? It's ironic that the Hamilton revival has obscured the man's most dramatic battles and hardest-won achievements—as well as downplaying unsettling aspects of his legacy.
-
-
Unknown to me
- By J. D. Howard on 10-21-24
By: William Hogeland
-
The Premonition
- A Pandemic Story
- By: Michael Lewis
- Narrated by: Adenrele Ojo
- Length: 11 hrs and 26 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
For those who could read between the lines, the censored news out of China was terrifying. But the president insisted there was nothing to worry about. Fortunately, we are still a nation of skeptics. Fortunately, there are those among us who study pandemics and are willing to look unflinchingly at worst-case scenarios. Michael Lewis’ taut and brilliant nonfiction thriller pits a band of medical visionaries against the wall of ignorance that was the official response of the Trump administration to the outbreak of COVID-19.
-
-
Why not Michael Lewis?
- By Brian on 05-04-21
By: Michael Lewis
-
Live from New York
- The Complete, Uncensored History of Saturday Night Live as Told by Its Stars, Writers, and Guests
- By: James Andrew Miller, Tom Shales
- Narrated by: Christina Delaine, Paul Woodson
- Length: 28 hrs and 18 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
When first published to celebrate the 30th anniversary of Saturday Night Live, Live from New York was immediately proclaimed the best book ever produced on the landmark and legendary late-night show. In their own words, unfiltered and uncensored, a dazzling galaxy of trail-blazing talents recalled three turbulent decades of on-camera antics and off-camera escapades.
-
-
The First Forty Years ... and Counting
- By Dubi on 10-21-18
By: James Andrew Miller, and others
-
Charlie's Good Tonight
- The Life, the Times, and the Rolling Stones: The Authorized Biography of Charlie Watts
- By: Paul Sexton
- Narrated by: Paul Sexton
- Length: 7 hrs and 11 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Charlie Watts was one of the most decorated musicians in the world, having joined the Rolling Stones, a few months after their formation, early in 1963. A student of jazz drumming, he was headhunted by the band after bumping into them regularly in London’s rhythm and blues clubs. Once installed at the drum seat, he didn’t miss a gig, album or tour in his 60 years in the band.
-
-
Authorized Snoozefest
- By G. Lindsay on 10-31-22
By: Paul Sexton
-
My Girls
- A Lifetime with Carrie and Debbie
- By: Todd Fisher
- Narrated by: Todd Fisher
- Length: 13 hrs and 13 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
In December 2016, the world was shaken by the sudden deaths of Carrie Fisher and her mother Debbie Reynolds, two unspeakable losses. The stunned public turned for solace to Debbie’s only remaining child, Todd Fisher. The son of "America’s Sweethearts" Debbie Reynolds and Eddie Fisher, Todd grew up amid the glamorous wealth and pretense of Hollywood. Thanks to his mother, Todd remained down to earth, his own man, but always close to his cherished mom, and to his sister through her meteoric rise to stardom and her struggle with demons that never diminished her humor, talent, or spirit.
-
-
Detailed & heartfelt tribute
- By Lili on 07-08-18
By: Todd Fisher
What listeners say about I Don't Want to Go Home
Average customer ratingsReviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- Flip Dennis
- 06-19-24
The great music and it’s a part of my generation
I loved all of it, it is a part of musical history and a story of our time.
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- Paul M
- 08-17-24
Great listen.
Even though I’m from California it still felt like a big part of my life. Highly recommended.
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- Dan L.
- 12-03-24
Outstanding Rock Read
If you’re a fan of Bruce Springsteen & The E Street Band, Southside Johnny & The Asbury Jukes and rock history this is a must listen/read! Incredible stories and info on the place where it all began on the Jersey shore.
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- EmilyH
- 07-20-24
Great content! But who directed this…
Seems like the people who read the words were not sure how they are meant to be said…
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
1 person found this helpful
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- Jill Perhach
- 06-30-24
Wonderful book!!!
I’m born and raise in NJ. I was late to becoming a Springsteen fan, as that has really only happened over the last 10 years. I’ve never seen a show inside of the Stone Pony and booked my 1st one shortly after I started listening to this. I absolutely love the diversity of storytellers from politicians to musicians to employees. Must read or listen for music fans
and historians!
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!