'Meet the Press' anchor Tim Russert, who passed away Friday of a heart attack at the age of 58, was remembered as a man who brought passion and enthusiasm to everything he did. And among the things he was most passionate about were Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band. Russert, who booked Springsteen to play John Carroll University in Cleveland in 1974, called the musician his "dream get" interview, saying in a 2007 interview with Jon Friedman, "I'm very intrigued by him. He has a real understanding of the political dialogue, of faith and life in urban America."

The affection was reciprocated Saturday night at an E Street Band show in Cardiff, England, when the Boss dedicated 'Thunder Road' to Russert and his family. "Tim Russert was an important unreplacable voice in American journalism," Springsteen read on the Sunday morning 'Meet the Press' Russert tribute. "I watched him hold our politicians feet to the fire on many Sunday mornings. He was always a strong voice for honesty and accountability in American government. But beyond that he was a lovely presence, a good father, husband, and good guy. He was a regular at many E Street Band shows and I'm going to miss looking down and seeing that big smiling face in the crowd."