Bruce Springsteen and E Street Band are iconic in the rock and roll genre. It has been seven years since they have released a studio album together and over the last few years they have lost two members of the band, organist Danny Federici and saxophonist Clarence Clemons. Bruce and E Street are coming together again to release their 20th studio album, Letter to You, which Bruce says took them five days to record entirely live.
Bruce, 71, has had a fifty plus year long career and he has learned many valuable things along the way. Bruce is profiled in AARP’s October/November issue where he chats about love, loss, his musical journey and what his post-pandemic plans are. Here are a few excerpts via People:
On reconnecting with the band
“We spent one week in the studio — five days — and cut the entire record. It was all live, no overdub vocals and just a few overdub instruments,” the 20-time Grammy winner told writer Bob Love of their new album Letter to You. “It’s the first truly live, in-the-studio record of the band we’ve ever made.”On the losing loved ones
In the article, Springsteen also opened up about losing loved ones. “Spirit is very strong,” he said. “It really carries over at the end of the day.”He added that friends of his that have passed away, such as Clarence Clemons, still leave him with songs.
“And what are songs but dreams, at the end of the day?” he said. “It really is all my dreams that I put down on paper and on tape.”
On his post pandemic plans
“All I can tell you is, when this experience is over, I am going to throw the wildest party you’ve ever seen,” he told the magazine. “And you, my friends, are all invited.”
I mean can I get an invite to this party with The Boss? Bruce has literally been one of the musicians whose songs are on my life’s soundtrack. I remember my pre-teen self dancing in my room to Born in the U.S.A. I will always love Springsteen because of that song. My little Black self never felt grounded in my identity as an American, but that song always made me feel connected to the U.S. as if I am truly a daughter of this land.
I am excited about this new album because Springsteen said that they are returning to his rock n roll roots and it is a live studio album. Again, that is very nostalgic to a time when music didn’t sound so generic. In the original AARP article, the journalist asked Bruce if they could avoid talking politics. He said “fine with me.” I don’t mind when celebrities wade into the political pool but the way Bruce shrugged it off was done so nonchalantly. You can just tell he was chill as a cucumber. His seemingly Zen energy came through the article. I also did not know he had been married for 29 years and lived on a fully operational farm. It is literally a dream of mine to have a retreat center with a farm and large garden. It’s so nostalgic All-American and feels so Bruce. I also can’t believe he has been an artist for fifty damn years. Like where did the time go? He still looks amazing too.
Anyhow, Bruce if you are reading this, I want an invite to that party. In the meantime, I am gonna go dance to Dancing In the Dark and Born in the U.S.A. I need to be reminded that I, too, belong to this land despite what is happening in it.
Photos credit: Avalon.red and via Instagram/AARP
Jersey girl here. Love, love, love him. Put me on that list, Bruce.
Also, he has suffered from crippling depression. It sounds like he’s in a good place now. Wish him all the best.
MEEEE TOOOO!
EVERY time I go to shows (well, not lately) at The Stone Pony, I’d hope he would show up and jam with the band, as he’s known to do.
I also want an invite to that party!!! I was at the rain-delayed show at the Meadowlands that turned into Bruce’s 63rd birthday party. That was an epic night. His post-pandemic blowout will make that look tame and I want to be there!
I was also fortunate enough to score lottery tickets to see the Broadway show. I took my then-13 year old with me. He was very open about his struggles with his mental health and about his father’s struggles. It made quite an impression on both of us. It was also a magnificent opportunity to watch a master storyteller at work. He is a bard, in the oldest tradition.
Another Jersey Girl here and his music is my entire childhood way before Born in the USA. My sister was a fanatic 🙂 She worked for People’s Express Airlines (blast from the past) and would fly to wherever he was playing to catch a concert because he wasn’t that popular outside of NJ. She was at the filming of his Dancing in the Dark video (shot twice actually) and met him at The Stone Pony once.
So many great memories and I love his activism and philanthropy.
I saw him in concert 14 years ago, and oh my that was one of the best concert I have ever seen.
September 25th is a special day to an American Icon. Happy Birthday Bruce Springsteen!
Jersey Girl here too! I’ve seen him several times in big stadiums and was lucky enough to score tickets to his Broadway show which was amazing! Last summer, I went to a Southside Johnny show at the Stone Pony and Bruce showed up for seven songs. I love him so much and am looking forward to his album.
My husband is from NJ and is a huge Bruce fan – he’s from a small town in the NW part of the state, so I think a lot of Springsteen’s songs about breaking free and getting away really resonated with him, especially “it’s a town full of losers and we’re pulling out of here to win.”
So basically, if you’re asking “why Becks1, have you heard the new springsteen song” the answer is yes, yes I have. Multiple times. If you’re asking, “why Becks1, did you listen to any of Bruce’s at-home podcasts” the answer is yes, yes I did, all of them, against my will, LOL. (I like Bruce fine, but I’m not the super fan my husband is.)
Finally – if you aren’t sure how you feel about Bruce Springsteen in general, and you don’t think you’re a fan, put that aside the next time he goes on tour and go see him live. I like him like I said but his live concerts are just amazing. Just him and the band on stage for hours – no special effects, no long breaks (except for his speeches ha) – they’re an experience.
Ooooh he said we’re all invited! Born In The USA was the first cassette tape I ever bought! When I ran the NJ Marathon, I dressed as Bruce on the cover of that album and took a pic in front of the Stone Pony on the course doing that pose. I wonder if he ever imagined back in those days that 40 years later he’d be giving interviews to AARP magazine as one of rock’s elder statesmen. hahaa
I’ve seen him a few times too, the best was in the 80s in a very small venue. He’s amazing.
Agree completely! The Wild, the innocent & the e street shuffle is one of the best albums of all times. Some of the songs are simply symphonic. (Kitty’s Back & New York Street Serenade are personal favorites)
Plus as a horse girl I have mad admiration for his daughter, Jessica. A true equestrian talent.
Happy Birthday, Bruce.
One of our greatest performers. If you have a chance to see him in concert, go.
I’ve been playing lots of Bruce the past few weeks. Our kitten seems to really enjoy Cadillac Ranch.
My older sisters loved Bruce and my childhood soundtrack includes Born to Run. In fact, Bruce was my first celebrity crush!
I have loved Bruce since I was 12 and Born to Run came out…I heard it playing for the first time while taking piano lessons and my teacher’s son started blaring it. I never turned back! I’ve seen him 12 times in concert. He still makes me as giddy as as school girl!
One of the best moments of my life was when he hugged me after I accosted him (politely) at a horse show to thank him for the decades of good times and music. It was a great hug.
Like he says – his music is a lifelong conversation with his fans. I’m still listening over 40 years later. Thanks Bruce!!
We used to live near him in NJ (in a middle class home near his higher class neighborhood!) and we ran into him several times; he was always extremely nice! Once many years ago, he was with his son in a local park. When my husband said hi, Bruce said hi back, but explained his time with his son had to be private. My husband understood immediately and left him alone, but we were so impressed with how nice he was about it. Between Bruce and Bon Jovi, we had 2 incredibly nice celebrities in the area to brag about!!
He’s a genuinely good guy, and generous, too.
1973. I was a freshman in a small college in Pennsylvania, and there was a campus party/mixer in the student center. The entertainment? Springsteen. He was mesmerizing and we all went completely wild. The next year he skyrocketed to fame and was too big for student mixers anymore lol. Big big fan always.
You and me both, Bruce.
The world is divided in two groups: 1. Those who love Bruce Springsteen, and 2. Those who have never seen him live;
My husband was in group 2. Then we managed to score tickets to see him him in Chicago 8 years ago at Wrigley Field. Now he is group 1 and asking me if I have the new album on pre-order. (it was my first time seeing him live as he doesn’t usually tour where I am. However, I grew up with his music, so I had basically been a a fan since birth, whether I wanted to be or not. )
I remember when we had to cancel our Easter with family, my mom said “I can’t wait until this is all over — we can have a big party this summer to celebrate!” Yeah. That didn’t happen, of course. I can’t wait until we really can all celebrate together safely at parties, concerts, dinners, etc. I don’t think I’ll ever take those things for granted again.
Bruuuuuuuuuuuuce! My Libra man. My forever dong. I am coming to your party and I’m greeting everyone there, including all you bitchys, with an open mouth kiss!
I want in to the Springsteen party too!
I’ve listen and loved him my whole life. I was lucky enough to see him once, I live on an island in the North Atlantic and travelled thousands of miles to see him. It was worth all the time, effort and money to do so.
Thanks for this piece. It was beautifully written. Music can be so powerful and have a profound impact on people’s lives. I love your articles, Oya! You’re a great addition to this awesome site.
I will forever love Bruce. He is perpetually hot and deep and beautiful and brilliant. My 7 and 3 year old boys love him too. I think we’ve listened to Western Stars 150 times in the car.
It’s the BOSS!
Amazing man. Have loved him and his music my whole life. Can’t believe he is 71 years old!! He looks and sounds amazing. Truly, an American Hero. And that post-pandemic party sounds like a blast!!!!!!
American Land is an immigrant anthem! It gets me emotional when I listen to it, and I’m a white woman (whose ancestors came over in that wave of the 1940s/50s). “The hands that built the country we’re always trying to keep out” usually gives me goosebumps. It’s just such a great song.
Ok don’t come for me, but…
I haven’t really ever been a fan (my metal roots now raising its head here), but one or two songs are on my playlist and the one that is on CONSTANT loop is I’M ON FIRE
I don’t know what it is about that song, but it just resonates with me on a level I don’t quite understand but I can never hear it enough.
while I have never seen him in concert one of my closest friends has, and she said it is an experience never to be missed. She was fortunate (she says) to see the original E-Street Band back in the day
I went to see him live in 2003. I’m Australian, 20 years old, only went to the show in Melbourne because a guy I liked invited me and I wanted to impress him. All I knew was my dad liked Springsteen and I didn’t know the songs.
To this day it was the greatest show I’ve ever seen and made me a life long fan.