Imagine being on tour in Europe. You have a new song, but your own band does not want to play it. They worry nobody will like it, especially since the album is not even out. This is exactly what Bob Seger faced with “Old Time Rock & Roll” during a string of shows. It was a big risk.
The song, first released in March 1979, was not like the disco music popular at the time. It was a song about loving the music you grew up with. It is about that feeling when you “just take those old records off the shelf.” He remembers playing it in Brussels, Belgium, to a crowd that had never heard it. The moment the band started, the entire place went nuts. Seger said they played it next in Paris and Frankfurt, and people went crazy every single time.
Old Time Rock & Roll
Even today, people watching videos of the song say the same thing. One viewer wrote that Seger is a “living legend.” Another comment points out that this is the kind of song that just gets everyone up and dancing, even in their living room. People agree that you cannot help but love it.
That early European reaction was just the beginning. The song went from an unknown risk to one of his biggest anthems. It proved that people were hungry for that classic sound. Just a few years later, this song became the highlight of his live shows, like his amazing performance on The Distance Tour in 1983.
Bob Seger – Old Time Rock n Roll – The Distance Tour 1983
Watching him perform it live in 1983, you can see the confidence. This is not a test run; this is a victory lap. The whole band plays with so much energy. Seger is smiling, the crowd is singing, and the song feels bigger than ever. It is pure joy and celebration, all powered by that simple, powerful beat.
Bob Seger always sang about real life and real feelings. His voice has a way of making you feel understood. He trusted his gut, and it gave the world a song that will never get old. It just makes you want to dance. Follow Bob Seger on Facebook, Instagram and YouTube. His music is a reminder to always trust that feeling.