The China Mail - Bruce Springsteen music center set to open in New Jersey

The venue is located in Long Branch, where the 20-time Grammy winner was born. It's just a stone's throw from Asbury Park, the once blue-collar coastal town that was the icon's stomping ground and shaped his musical identity.

Spread over two levels, the Bruce Springsteen Center for American Music, which opens Saturday, has a floor dedicated to US genres including blues, country, hip-hop and jazz.

There is also a heavy emphasis on celebrated voices of protest in music including Woody Guthrie, Bob Dylan, Nina Simone, Public Enemy, Kendrick Lamar and Springsteen himself.

"I'm the one of a long line of messengers," Springsteen -- a leading voice of opposition to President Donald Trump -- says in a 25-minute film shown to visitors on arrival.

- 'Born in the USA' -

"The stories that Bruce tells in his book 'Born to Run,' and of course in his lyrics, really became the inspiration for a lot of design choices here," said Jared Gilbert, an associate at the CookFox architectural firm, which led the project.

Exhibits include a gold jacket that belonged to Elvis Presley, a saxophone used by John Coltrane, an Eddie Van Halen guitar, and a Chuck D cap.

The items were loaned to the center by the artists or their estates, said executive director Bob Santelli, a close friend of Springsteen.

"It was relatively easy for me to go and make a phone call and say we'd like to borrow this or like to borrow that," Santelli told AFP.

"Bruce's name goes a long way."

The museum, which cost $53 million and will host Springsteen's archives, was largely financed through donations from "Springsteen fans with means," Santelli added.

Listening stations and touchscreens allow visitors to navigate the full range of styles and eras, although there are notable omissions such as disco, funk, house and techno.

"Unfortunately we were running out of space," said collections director Melissa Kozlowski.

Upstairs, the story of Springsteen's first concerts on the campus of Monmouth University is told.

The formation of his E Street Band follows, as does his breakout in the mid-1970s, and the triumph of his 1984 album "Born in the USA."

- 'Chimes of Freedom' -

A large section is devoted to the album's title track, still mistakenly regarded as a patriotic anthem by some, even though it was written to condemn US treatment of Vietnam War veterans.

A virtual library brings together some of the key books for the singer, who was a college dropout and recounts in a video that reading only became a passion when he was 28.

In a replica studio, visitors mix their own tracks using a mixing desk.

Springsteen completed a 20-date US tour in May, using each appearance to rail against Trump, but the president's name does not appear in the exhibits.

"We strive to tell an apolitical, non-political story," said Santelli.

"Bruce's personal political ideas are his, it's not necessarily ours.

"This is a very important subject in this country, which is why we have a new exhibit, a temporary exhibit, that will open with the building that will be there for about six months."

It will be called "Chimes of Freedom: Politics, Protest and the Power of Song."

W.Tam--ThChM