Bruce Springsteen Thought He Was Not Going to Sing Again
Bruce Springsteen thought he was not going to sing again when he was sidelined for six months due to peptic ulcer disease. In a new interview, The Boss details many…
Bruce Springsteen thought he was not going to sing again when he was sidelined for six months due to peptic ulcer disease.
In a new interview, The Boss details many of the mental and physical aspects of dealing with peptic ulcer disease. He described how the stress and pain in his diaphragm for about three months was "killing" him. As a result, he "literally couldn't sing at all."
Springsteen said, "I was, during the course of it, before people told me, ‘Oh no. It’s gonna go away, and you’re gonna be OK,’ you know, you’re thinking like, ‘Hey, am I gonna sing again?’ and you know, this is one of the things I love to do the best, the most, and right now I can’t do it."
He also noted that it took doctors a while before they said he was going to be okay and be able to sing again. Understandably, this uncertainty made Springsteen very nervous about treatment and what the future would be like. Fortunately, his treatment was successful, and he's very grateful to be back to performing again.
Bruce Springsteen Returns to Touring
The Boss finally returned to the road on March 19 in Phoenix. Despite the uncertainty during his break, it clearly did Springsteen some good.
Billboard noted, "The Boss was in top form from show opener 'Lonesome Day' and fully had his sea legs back by third song, 'No Surrender,' when he gave his first trademark shout out, 'C’mon, Steve!' beckoning for his brother-in-music for over half a century, Steven Van Zandt, to join him on the mic."
Below is the setlist from Springsteen's first show back, per Setlist.fm.
Bruce Springsteen & The E Street Band - Phoenix, AZ - 3/19/2024 - Setlist
Lonesome Day
Night
No Surrender
Two Hearts
Darlington County
Ghosts
Prove It All Night
Darkness on the Edge of Town
Letter to You
The Promised Land
Spirit in the Night
Don't Play That Song (You Lied)
Nightshift
Mary's Place
Last Man Standing
Backstreets
Because the Night
She's the One
Wrecking Ball
The Rising
Badlands
Thunder Road
ENCORE
Born To Run
Rosalita (Come Out Tonight)
Glory Days
Dancing in the Dark
Tenth Avenue Freeze-Out
Twist and Shout
ENCORE II
I'll See You in My Dreams
Bruce Springsteen is one of the most prolific songwriters in music history. Here are his top 50 songs ranked.
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50. "This Depression" - ‘Wrecking Ball’ (2012)
Columbia49. "Devils and Dust" - ‘Devils And Dust’ (2005)
Columbia48. "My Beautiful Reward" - ‘Lucky Town’ (1992)
Columbia47. "57 Channels (And Nothin’ On)" (Little Steven Remix) - B-side of ‘57 Channels And Nothin’ On)’ (1992)
Columbia46. "If I Should Fall Behind" (live) - ‘Live In New York City’
Columbia45. "Western Stars" - ‘Western Stars’ (2019)
Columbia44. "Girls In Their Summer Clothes" - ‘Magic’ (2007)
Columbia43. "The Ghost Of Tom Joad" - ‘The Ghost Of Tom Joad’ (1995)
42. "Bobby Jean" - ‘Born In The U.S.A.’ (1984)
Columbia41. "Light Of Day" (live) - ‘In Concert/MTV Plugged’ (1993)
Columbia40. "Nebraska" - ‘Nebraska’ (1982)
Columbia39. "American Land" - ‘We Shall Overcome: The Seeger Sessions (American Land Version)’ (2006)
Columbia38. "Two Hearts" - ‘The River’ (1980)
Columbia37. "You’re Missing" - ‘The Rising’ (2002)
Columbia36. "Tunnel Of Love" - ‘Tunnel Of Love’ (1987)
Columbia35. "Fire" (live) - “Live 1975-1985’
Columbia34. "One Step Up" - ‘Tunnel Of Love’ (1987)
Columbia33. "The Wrestler" - ‘The Wrestler’ soundtrack (2008)
Koch Records32. "Long Walk Home" - ‘Magic’ (2007)
Columbia31. "Blinded By The Light" - ‘Greetings From Asbury Park, New Jersey’ (1973)
Columbia30. "Because The Night" - ‘Live 1975-1985’
Columbia29. "The River" - ‘The River’ (1980)
Columbia28. "Meeting Across The River" - ‘Born To Run’ (1975)
Columbia27. "Independence Day" - ‘The River’ (1980)
Columbia26. "Growin’ Up" - ‘Greetings From Asbury Park, New Jersey’ (1973)
Columbia25. "My City Of Ruins" - ‘The Rising’ (2002)
Columbia24. "Born In The U.S.A." - ‘Born In The U.S.A.’ (1984)
Columbia23. "Highway Patrolman" - ‘Nebraska’ (1982)
Columbia22. "Streets Of Philadelphia" - ‘Philadelphia’ soundtrack (1993)
Sony21. "Johnny 99" - ‘Nebraska’ (1982)
Columbia20. "Factory" - ‘Darkness On The Edge Of Town’ (1978)
Columbia19. "The Rising" - ‘The Rising’ (2002)
Columbia18. "4th Of July, Asbury Park (Sandy)" - ‘The Wild, The Innocent And The E Street Shuffle’ (1973)
Columbia17. "Lost In The Flood" - ‘Greetings From Asbury Park, New Jersey’ (1973)
16. "It’s Hard To Be A Saint In The City" - ‘Greetings From Asbury Park, New Jersey’ (1973)
Columbia15. "Reason To Believe" - ‘Nebraska’ (1982)
Columbia14. "New York City Serenade" - ‘The Wild, The Innocent And The E Street Shuffle’ (1973)
Columbia13. "Tenth Avenue Freeze-Out" - ‘Born To Run’ (1975)
Columbia12. "Rosalita (Come Out Tonight)" (live) - ‘Live: 1975 - 1985’
Columbia11. "Spirit In The Night" - ‘Greetings From Asbury Park, New Jersey’ (1973)
Columbia10. "The Promised Land" - ‘Darkness On The Edge Of Town’ (1978)
Columbia9. "Atlantic City" - ‘Nebraska’ (1982)
Columbia8. "No Surrender" - ‘Born In The U.S.A.’ (1984)
Columbia7. "Darkness On The Edge Of Town" - ‘Darkness On The Edge Of Town’ (1978)
Columbia6. "Prove It All Night" - ‘Darkness On The Edge Of Town’ (1978)
Columbia5. "Badlands" - ‘Darkness On The Edge Of Town’ (1978)
4. "Jungleland" - ‘Born To Run’ (1975)
Columbia3. "Backstreets" - ‘Born To Run’ (1975)
Columbia2. "Thunder Road" - ‘Born To Run’ (1975)
Columbia1. "Born To Run" - ‘Born To Run’ (1975)
Columbia
