MUSIC
What has Bruce Springsteen said about retiring from touring in the near future?
The singer-songwriter known globally as ‘The Boss’ is about to turn 75, with some suggestions that he may be hanging up his guitar.
Born in the U.S.A. Dancing in the Dark. Streets of Philadelphia. Just saying the title of those songs out loud – and I could have gone on with many more – immediately triggers the melody of the track, fires up a past experience related to it, or has us reaching for our chosen streaming service to line up some of the greatest hits. That’s the power, influence and longevity of Bruce Springsteen and the music that he’s churned out over the decades.
The Boss is still touring, despite being just a few weeks from his 75th birthday, but could this be his final one? Well, he answered that pretty definitively at a Philadelphia gig a few days ago.
Springsteen to keep on rocking
“We’ve been around for 50 fuckin’ years, and we ain’t quitting!” he said. “We ain’t doing no farewell tour bullshit! Jesus Christ! No farewell tour for the E Street Band!
“Farewell to what? A thousand people screaming your name? Get the hell out. I ain’t going anywhere!”
So, the desire to continue is certainly as strong as it was in the glory days but it’s fair to say that health issues have been making it more challenging to prove it all night. A total of 20 concerts were postponed last year due to needing treatment for peptic ulcer disease. Other pains, including that of the diaphragm, meant more postponements this year.
Next up for Springsteen is a visit to Washington, D.C. with a sell-out crowd awaiting him on September 7. Bruce is clearly tougher than the rest and his hungry heart will keep the performances going until the end.