This is my entry for this weeks ‘Dan’s Thursday Doors’. It’s a nondescript door that, on its own, doesn’t warrant a second look but lots of famous musicians have walked through this stage entrance.

This second image gives the game away. It’s the famous Stone Pony music venue in Asbury Park, New Jersey, USA. The stage door is on the right hand side of the building, just up from the ‘No Entry’ sign.

The venue, which opened in 1974, is always associated with Bruce Springsteen, who has appeared here and been a long time supporter of the Pony. However, checking out the venues website, I was really surprised at some of the other big name acts that have appeared here over the years. You can find more on that here: Stone Pony History Page. but here’s a quote from the page:

Legendary performances included stars on the way up such as Stevie Ray Vaughn, Elvis Costello, The Ramones, Cheap Trick, Skid Row, Blondie, The Stray Cats and Winger. Other artists who took to the Pony stage included Meatloaf, Todd Rundgren, Jimmy Cliff, Joan Jett, Blue Oyster Cult, Gregg Allman, Dickie Betts, Ace Frehley of Kiss, Levon Helm, Robert Gordon, Johnny Winter, Vanilla Fudge, David Johansen (a.k.a. Buster Poindexter), Mink DeVille, Dion, Ronnie Spector and Mountain. Van Morrison used the club for the shooting of a music video because of its “cool atmosphere.”

The quote above is only a short list of the top music acts that have appeared here. You can dip into any decade, on the venues history page, for an equally impressive list.

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All images: ©Stephen Hyde 2007-2025 – All rights reserved