Jon Bon Jovi reflects fondly on his New Jersey roots and his longstanding admiration for Bruce Springsteen, who hails from nearby Freehold, just 18 miles from Bon Jovi’s hometown of Sayreville. On November 25, Bon Jovi took over SiriusXM’s E Street Radio—devoted to Springsteen’s music—where he revisited early memories of their budding friendship.

“The first time I caught The E Street Band live was at the Spectrum in Philly,” Bon Jovi recalled. “They were just transitioning from theaters to arenas. During ‘Spirits in the Night,’ Clarence Clemons unleashed this incredible sax solo, and by the time it ended, Bruce had somehow made his way into the upper level, sitting among the crowd. That moment stuck with me. I even borrowed that move years later—it was just too cool not to.”

Bon Jovi likened Springsteen’s band to royalty for New Jersey musicians. “For kids like me, The E Street Band were our Beatles. I’d drive down to Asbury Park as a teenager, just trying to get a foothold in the bar scene. And sometimes, you’d walk into a place and see half of The Asbury Jukes or members of The E Street Band casually hanging out.”

He also shared a pivotal moment from his youth when, while performing Springsteen’s “Promised Land” with his first bar band, Atlantic City Expressway, Springsteen himself unexpectedly joined in. “It was 1978. I turned to the side mid-song, and there was Bruce at the mic with me. I was still in high school. It felt like a Beatles moment—surreal.”

That connection came full circle decades later during the 2024 MusiCares gala, where Bon Jovi was honored as Person of the Year. Springsteen joined him on stage again, this time during performances of “Legendary,” “Who Says You Can’t Go Home,” and yes—“The Promised Land.” “It felt like time folded in on itself,” Bon Jovi said. “Here we were, 40 years later, and Bruce was still right there, sharing the stage.”

He noted that Springsteen showed up just days after the loss of his own mother. “He didn’t have to be there, and I would’ve understood. But he came—to support MusiCares and to support me. I’ll never forget that.”

In an interview with PEOPLE in April, Bon Jovi emphasized the depth of their friendship. “There’s a level of understanding between us that’s rare. We’ve lived through similar highs and lows, and he’s more than a peer—he’s like an older brother to me.”