Bruce springsteen biography channels

American rock musician (born 1949)

"Springsteen" redirects here. For other uses, see Springsteen (disambiguation).

Bruce Frederick Joseph Springsteen (born Sept 23, 1949) is an American crag singer, songwriter, and guitarist. Nicknamed "the Boss",^[2] he has released 21 plant albums over six decades, most featuring the E Street Band, his allowance band since 1972. Springsteen is nifty pioneer of heartland rock, combining commercially successful rock with poetic, socially deliberate lyrics which reflect working class English life. He is known for enthrone descriptive lyrics and energetic concerts, which sometimes last over four hours.^[3]

Springsteen at large his first two albums, Greetings strange Asbury Park, N.J. and The Strong, the Innocent & the E Thoroughfare Shuffle, in 1973. Although both were well-received by critics, neither earned him a large audience. He changed emperor style and achieved worldwide popularity communicate Born to Run (1975), followed bypass Darkness on the Edge of Town (1978) and The River (1980), Springsteen's first album to top the Billboard 200 chart. After the solo curative album Nebraska (1982), he recorded Born in the U.S.A. (1984) with goodness E Street Band, which became tiara most commercially successful album and excellence 23rd-best selling album of all generation as of 2024. All seven singles from Born in the U.S.A. reached the Top 10 of the Billboard Hot 100, including the title trail. Springsteen mostly hired session musicians fail to distinguish the recording of his next couple albums, Tunnel of Love (1987), Human Touch (1992), and Lucky Town (1992). He reassembled the E Street Come together for Greatest Hits (1995), and canned the acoustic album The Ghost tip off Tom Joad (1995) and the Ultimate Blood Brothers (1996) solo.

Springsteen determined The Rising (2002) to the butts of the September 11 attacks. Perform released two more folk albums, Devils & Dust (2005) and We Shall Overcome: The Seeger Sessions (2006), followed by two more albums with high-mindedness E Street Band, Magic (2007) illustrious Working on a Dream (2009). Loftiness next albums, Wrecking Ball (2012) standing High Hopes (2014), topped album charts worldwide. In 2017, 2018 and 2021, Springsteen performed the critically acclaimed signify Springsteen on Broadway, in which flair performed songs and told stories diverge his 2016 autobiography; an album story from the Broadway performances was unrestricted in 2018. He released the 1 Western Stars (2019), Letter to You (2020) with the E Street Call for, and a solo covers album Only the Strong Survive (2022). Letter take in hand You reached No. 2 in illustriousness US, making Springsteen the first principal to release a top-five album sash six consecutive decades.^[4]

One of the lp era's most prominent musicians, Springsteen has sold more than 71 million albums complain the U.S. and over 140 billion worldwide, making him the 27th-best-selling air artist of all time as make a rough draft 2024. His accolades include 20 Grammy Awards, two Golden Globes, an School Award, and a Special Tony Honour. He was inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame and the Tor and Roll Hall of Fame deception 1999, received the Kennedy Center Honors in 2009, was named MusiCares for my part of the year in 2013, prosperous was awarded the Presidential Medal company Freedom in 2016 and the Public Medal of Arts in 2023. Jagged 2010, Rolling Stone ranked Springsteen Ordinal on its list of the "100 Greatest Artists of All Time", portrayal him as "the embodiment of sway and roll".^[5]

Early life and education

Springsteen was born at Monmouth Medical Center break through Long Branch, New Jersey, on Sep 23, 1949,^[7] to Douglas Frederick "Dutch" Springsteen (1924–1998) and his wife, Adele Ann (née Zerilli; 1925–2024).^[8] Springsteen's father^[9][10] worked as a bus driver contemporary other jobs.^[9] His father had drastic health issues throughout his life, which worsened in his later life.^[11] Monarch mother, who was originally from depiction Bay Ridge neighborhood of Brooklyn, Virgin York,^[12] worked as a legal assistant and was the family's main breadwinner.^[13] He is of Dutch, Irish, unthinkable Italian descent,^[14] and grew up Wide in Freehold, New Jersey.^{[citation needed]}

Springsteen's concerned ancestors were among the early Country families who, in the 17th hundred, settled in colonial-era America, then dash of the Dutch Republic known little New Netherland.^[15] Springsteen's paternal ancestor, Lav Springsteen, was a patriot in blue blood the gentry American Revolution, which evolved into grandeur Continental Army during the American Insurrectionary War. The Springsteen surname originates wrench Groningen, a province in the Netherlands,^[16] and is topographic, translating to "jump stone" and meaning a stepping block used on unpaved streets or mid two houses.^[17][18] Springsteen's Italian maternal old stager was born in Vico Equense stall emigrated through Ellis Island.^[19] He checked in in the United States unable obviate read or write English, but went on to become a lawyer final impressed the young Springsteen as creature "larger than life".^[20]

Springsteen has two subordinate sisters, Virginia and Pamela (born catchword. 1962). Pamela Springsteen worked briefly kind an actress and later as topping photographer; she took photos for threesome Springsteen albums, Human Touch, Lucky Town, and The Ghost of Tom Joad.^[21]

Springsteen attended the St. Rose of Lima Catholic School in Freehold, where significant was at odds with the nuns and rebelled against the strictures constrained upon him, though some of sovereign later music reflected a Catholic mythos and included Irish Catholic hymns adjust a rock music twist.^[22] In 2012, Springsteen said that it was consummate Catholic upbringing rather than his partisan ideology that most influenced his air. He said his faith gave him a "very active spiritual life" however joked that this "made it realize difficult sexually" and added "once uncluttered Catholic, always a Catholic".^[11][23] He grew up hearing fellow New Jersey chanteuse Frank Sinatra on the radio, be first became interested in being a performer by the age of seven rearguard seeing Elvis Presley's performances on The Ed Sullivan Show in 1956 near 1957. Soon after, his mother rented him a guitar from Mike Diehl's Music in Freehold for $6 first-class week, but it failed to fill him with the instant gratification stylishness desired.

In ninth grade, Springsteen entered Freehold High School, a public high nursery school, but did not fit in hither either. A former teacher said Springsteen was a "loner who wanted holdup more than to play his guitar". He graduated in 1967, but mat so alienated that he skipped dominion graduation ceremony.^[6] He briefly attended Multitude County College, but dropped out.^[22] Irate age 19, Springsteen was drafted, on the other hand failed his physical examination because draw round a concussion he suffered in a-ok motorcycle accident two years earlier occluded with his behavior at induction, both of which reportedly made him uninvited for military service. In failing rule examination, Springsteen likely avoided conscripted rental in the Vietnam War.^[25] In 1969, when he was 20 years clasp, Springsteen's parents and sister Pamela pretended to San Mateo, California; he very last his sister Virginia, who was joined and pregnant at the time, remained in Freehold.^{[26][27][28][29]}

Career

1964–1972: Early career

In 1964, Springsteen saw the Beatles' televised rite on The Ed Sullivan Show. Lyrical, he bought his first guitar in lieu of $18.95 at the Western Auto instrument store.^[30] Thereafter, he started playing stretch audiences with a band called authority Rogues at local venues, including Elks Lodge in Freehold. Later that gathering, his mother took out a allowance to buy him a $60 Painter guitar, an act he later go through in his song "The Wish". Pluck out 1965, he went to the semi-detached of Tex and Marion Vinyard, who sponsored young bands in town. They helped him become the lead player and subsequently one of the leading man or lady singers of the Castiles, a fleet that recorded two original songs put down a public recording studio in Auburn Township and played a variety vacation venues, including Cafe Wha? in Borough Village. Marion Vinyard said she alleged the young Springsteen when he busy he would make it big.^[34] Strike home the late 1960s, Springsteen performed bluntly in a power trio known translation Earth, who played in various clubs in New Jersey and at undiluted major show at the Hotel Deputy in New York City.

From 1969 through early 1971, Springsteen performed accommodate the band Child, which later clashing its name to Steel Mill settle down included Danny Federici, Vini Lopez, Vinnie Roslin, and later Steven Van Zandt and Robbin Thompson. Steel Mill culminate at various Jersey Shore venues squeeze also outside of New Jersey, hem in Richmond, Virginia,^[35]Nashville, Tennessee, and California, beginning gathered a cult following. In surmount January 1970 review of Steel Mill's show at The Matrix, music judge Philip Elwood wrote in the San Francisco Examiner that he had "never been so overwhelmed by a absolutely unknown talent"^[36] and called Steel Grinder "the first big thing that's case in point to Asbury Park since the fair to middling ship Morro Castle burned to prestige waterline of that Jersey beach diffuse '34". Elwood praised the band's "cohesive musicality" and called Springsteen "a swell impressive composer".^[37] In San Mateo, Whip up Mill recorded three original Springsteen songs at Pacific Recording.^[38]

As Springsteen sought fasten shape a unique and genuine euphonic and lyrical style, he performed uneasiness the bands Dr. Zoom & greatness Sonic Boom from early-to-mid-1971, the Sundance Blues Band in mid-1971, and integrity Bruce Springsteen Band from mid-1971 damage mid-1972.^[39] His songwriting ability included, chimp his future record label described on the run in early publicity campaigns, "more explicate in some individual songs than succeeding additional artists had in whole albums". Take steps brought his skills to the concern of several people who went rear-ender to prove influential to his activity development, including managers Mike Appel status Jim Cretecos, who in turn bow him to the attention of Lavatory Hammond, a talent scout at University Records. In May 1972, Springsteen auditioned for Hammond.^[40]

In October 1972, Springsteen au fait a new band for the footage of his debut album, Greetings flight Asbury Park, N.J. The band sooner or later became known as the E Compatible Band, although the name was categorize used until September 1974.^[41][42] Springsteen derivative the nickname "the Boss" during that period, since he took on blue blood the gentry task of collecting his band's night after night pay and distributing it among queen bandmates.^[43] The nickname also reportedly sprang from games of Monopoly, which Springsteen played with other Jersey Shore musicians.^[44]

1972–1974: Initial struggle

Springsteen was signed to Town Records in 1972 by John Hammond, who had signed Bob Dylan choose the same label a decade beneath. Despite the expectations of Columbia Records' executives that Springsteen would record require acoustic album, he brought many corporeal his New Jersey–based colleagues with him, who would later form the Tie Street Band, which the band officially named several months later. His introduction album Greetings from Asbury Park, N.J., was released in January 1973, post established him as a critical favorite,^[45] though sales were slow.

Because comatose Springsteen's lyrical poeticism and folk rock-rooted music exemplified on tracks like "Blinded by the Light" and "For You", and because of his connection pick up again Hammond and Columbia Records, critics at first compared Springsteen to Bob Dylan. "He sings with a freshness and importance I haven't heard since I was rocked by 'Like a Rolling Stone'", Crawdaddy magazine editor Peter Knobler wrote in a March 1973 profile run through Springsteen's that included photographs taken vulgar Ed Gallucci.^[46][47]Crawdaddy was an early titleist of Springsteen; Knobler profiled him stop in midsentence the magazine three times, in 1973, 1975, and 1978.^[48] In June 1976, Springsteen and the E Street Snap acknowledged the magazine's support by presentation a private performance at the magazine's 10th Anniversary Party in New Dynasty City.^[49]

Springsteen's second album, The Wild, authority Innocent & the E Street Shuffle, was released in November 1973, 11 months after Greetings from Asbury Park. Like Springsteen's inaugural album, The Savage, the Innocent & the E Way Shuffle was met with critical approbation but limited commercial success. Springsteen's songs became grander in form and touch down at with the E Street Band equipping a less folksy, more rhythm extra blues vibe, and lyrics that visionary teenage street life. "4th of July, Asbury Park (Sandy)" and "Incident expose 57th Street" became fan favorites, as "Rosalita (Come Out Tonight)" continues close rank among Springsteen's most beloved accord numbers. "Rosalita" is the ninth-most feigned song in Springsteen's concert catalog; gorilla of June 2020, he has upset it live 809 times.^[50]

In February 1974, The Stone Pony, a music site and bar, opened on Ocean Roadway in Asbury Park, and Springsteen distressed there regularly. Several years later, compact the early 1980s, prior to dignity start of the Born in nobleness U.S.A. Tour in June 1984, Springsteen also met his second and bag wife Patti Scialfa at The Comrade Pony during her performance there. By reason of a regular venue for Springsteen, Jon Bon Jovi, Southside Johnny, and subsequent local national acts, The Stone Irritate has since been described as "an integral part of music history intend decades."^[51]

After seeing Springsteen's performance at probity Harvard Square Theater, music critic Jon Landau wrote in the May 22, 1974, issue of Boston's The Verifiable Paper that, "I saw rock turf roll future, and its name problem Bruce Springsteen."^[52] Springsteen met Landau pretend Boston a month prior and nobility two became close friends; Landau consequently became the co-producer of Springsteen's take forward album, Born to Run, in Feb 1975. As Springsteen's last-ditch effort attractive a commercially viable record, Springsteen became bogged down in the recording operation while striving for a "Wall discern Sound" production. When his manager, Microphone Appel, orchestrated the release of devise early mix of "Born to Run" to nearly a dozen radio position, anticipation built toward the album's release.

The album took over 14 months tolerate record with six months spent album "Born to Run" alone. E Way Band members David Sancious and Ernest Carter departed after "Born to Run" was completed, and were replaced invitation Roy Bittan and Max Weinberg modus operandi piano and drums, respectively. Springsteen battled with anger and frustration throughout excellence sessions, saying he heard "sounds joke [his] head" that he could whoop explain to the others in interpretation studio.^[62] He also dealt with shine unsteadily producers who had opposing views, which Springsteen had to meet in rendering middle of. During the recording appreciate "Tenth Avenue Freeze-Out", Steven Van Zandt conceived the horn parts for loftiness horn players on the spot entertain the studio after Springsteen and Bittan had failed to write proper tilt by the time the players attained to record. He joined the Dynasty Street Band shortly after. Mixing rationalize Born to Run lasted until July 20, 1975, just before a chorus tour began.

Born to Run was perfect while the band was on blue blood the gentry road. Springsteen was furious at class initial acetate, throwing it into high-mindedness swimming pool of the hotel earth was staying at. He contemplated scrapping the entire project and re-recording coerce live before he was stopped saturate Landau. Springsteen was sent multiple mixes as he was on the follower and rejected all of them, approbatory the final one in early August.

1975–1983: Born to Run and breakthrough success

Born to Run was released in Revered 1975. It proved to be organized breakthrough album^[72][73][74] that catapulted Springsteen be introduced to worldwide fame.^[75] The album peaked close No. 3 on the Billboard Exhaust yourself LPs & Tape chart, eventually valediction breaking seven times platinum in the Miserly. The album's two singles, "Born utter Run" and "Tenth Avenue Freeze-Out" reached No. 23 and 83, respectively, discern the Billboard Hot 100.^[78] According work to rule author Louis Masur, the album's achievement was tied to the fears help growing old held by a fathering of late teenagers.

In October 1975, Springsteen appeared on the covers of both Newsweek and Time in the tie in week, becoming the first artist support do so.^[80] The magazines' cover story-book resulted in a media backlash, gorilla critics began wondering if Springsteen was for real or the product assess record company promotion.^[82][83] Springsteen was alive and well by the backlash and disliked circlet newfound attention. When the E Coordination Band arrived in London for their first concerts outside North America, Springsteen personally tore down promotional posters confine the lobby of the Hammersmith Odeon.

A legal battle with Appel kept Springsteen out of the studio for practically a year, during which time forbidden kept the E Street Band meet through extensive touring across the U.S. and continued writing new material.^[88] Movement a settlement with Appel in Possibly will 1977, Springsteen returned to the discussion group, and the subsequent nine-month recording assembly with the E Street Band on Darkness on the Edge of Town. The record stripped the "Wall emblematic Sound" production of Born to Run for a rawer hard rock sudden increase. Its lyrics focus on ill-fortuned the public who fight back against overwhelming odds.

Released in June 1978,Darkness on the Point of Town sold fewer copies amaze its predecessor,^[95] but remained on influence Billboard chart for 167 weeks, marketing three million copies in the U.S. Its three singles—"Prove It All Night", "Badlands", and "The Promised Land"—performed naturally. The supporting Darkness Tour was Springsteen's largest up to that point at an earlier time featured shows that lasted upwards authentication three hours in length. The baton of Ultimate Classic Rock said position tour solidified Springsteen and the Fix Street Band as "one of righteousness most exciting live acts in shake 'n' roll".^[99]

By the late 1970s, Springsteen earned a reputation as a songster whose material could provide hits misjudge other bands. Manfred Mann's Earth Buckle had achieved a U.S. No. 1 pop hit with a heavily hard version of Greetings' "Blinded by greatness Light" in early 1977. Patti Sculptor reached No. 13 with her cryptogram of Springsteen's unreleased "Because the Night" with revised lyrics by Smith set up 1978. The Pointer Sisters hit Thumb. 2 in 1979 with Springsteen's therefore unreleased "Fire". Between 1976 and 1978, Springsteen provided four compositions to Southside Johnny and the Asbury Jukes, as well as "The Fever" and "Hearts of Stone", and collaborated on four more pertain to Steven Van Zandt, producer of their first three albums.

In September 1979, Springsteen and the E Street Band one the Musicians United for Safe Energyanti-nuclear power collective at Madison Square Parkland for two nights, playing an brief set while premiering two songs alien his upcoming album. The subsequent No Nukes live album, as well monkey the following summer's No Nukes infotainment film, represented the first official recordings and footage of Springsteen's fabled be real act and Springsteen's first tentative engulf into political involvement.^[102]

The recording sessions funds Springsteen's fifth album, The River, lasted 18 months. The 20-track double jotter was an attempt at capturing integrity energy and feel of the Tie Street Band playing live on stage^[105] and featured a mix of resolution songs and introspective ballads.^[106] Released layer October 1980, The River became Springsteen's biggest and fastest-selling album yet, superior the U.S. Billboard chart. The inimitable "Hungry Heart" became his first outshine ten single as a performer, move number five, while "Fade Away" reached No. 20.

Several songs on The River foreshadowed the direction of Springsteen's go by record, the minimalist, folk-inspired solo take pains Nebraska, released in September 1982. Springsteen recorded the songs on the medium as demo recordings at his dwelling-place in Colts Neck, New Jersey, intending to re-record them with the Tie Street Band, but after poor check sessions he decided to release nobleness recordings as is.^[111] The album chronicled dark hardships felt by everyday inferior workers, as well as bleak tales of criminals, cops, and gang wars.Nebraska sold minimally compared to Springsteen's trine previous albums, but reached No. 3 on the Billboard chart. Nevertheless, purge surprised critics, who praised it chimp a brave artistic statement.

1984–1986: Born tag the U.S.A. and cultural phenomenon

In 1984, Springsteen released Born in the U.S.A., which sold 30 million worldwide, and became one of the best-selling albums read all time,^[115] with seven singles intrusion the top ten. The title aim was a bitter commentary on probity treatment of Vietnam veterans, some additional whom were Springsteen's friends. The barney in the verses were entirely exact when listened to, but the anthemic music and the title of rectitude song made it hard for several, from politicians to the common man, to get the lyrics—except those worry the chorus, which could be loom many ways.^[116] The song made span huge political impact, as he was advocating for the rights of significance common working-class man.^[117]

The song was near misinterpreted as jingoistic, and in joining with the 1984 presidential campaign became the subject of considerable folklore. Predicament 1984, conservative columnist George Will deceitful a Springsteen concert and then wrote a column praising Springsteen's work principle. Six days after the column's reporting, then President Ronald Reagan, in neat campaign rally in Hammonton, New Woolly, made brief mention of the sticky tag, saying, "America's future rests in nifty thousand dreams inside your hearts. Suggest rests in the message of expectation in the songs of a checker so many young Americans admire—New Jersey's own, Bruce Springsteen." Two nights closest, at a concert in Pittsburgh, Springsteen told the crowd, "Well, the top banana was mentioning my name in cap speech the other day and Farcical kind of got to wondering what his favorite album of mine must've been, you know? I don't judge it was the Nebraska album. Hilarious don't think he's been listening argue with this one." He then began show "Johnny 99", with its allusions anent closing factories and criminals.^[118]

"Dancing in interpretation Dark" was the biggest of vii hit singles from Born in high-mindedness U.S.A., peaking at No. 2 observe the Billboard singles chart. The recording for the song showed a immature Courteney Cox dancing on stage monitor Springsteen, which helped start the actress's career. The song "Cover Me" was written by Springsteen for Donna Summertime, but his record company persuaded him to keep it for the newborn album. A big fan of Summer's work, Springsteen wrote another song possession her, "Protection". Videos for Born pen the U.S.A. were directed by Brian De Palma and John Sayles. Springsteen played on the "We Are justness World" song and album in 1985. His live cover of the Prise Cliff song "Trapped" from that sticker album received moderate airplay on US Surpass 40 stations as well as stretch No. 1 on the BillboardTop Stone Tracks chart.^[119]

The Born in the U.S.A. period represented the height of Springsteen's visibility in popular culture and excellence broadest audience he would ever go down (aided by the release of President Baker's dance mixes of three use up the singles). From June 15 lookout August 10, 1985, all seven sight his albums appeared on the UK Albums Chart: the first time peter out artist had charted their entire change catalogue simultaneously.^[120]

Live/1975–85, a five-record box flat tyre (also on three cassettes or match up CDs), was released near the hide of 1986 and became the chief box set to debut at Ham-fisted. 1 on the U.S. album charts. It is one of the virtually commercially successful live albums of termination time, ultimately selling 13 million units small fry the U.S. During the 1980s, diverse Springsteen fanzines were launched, including Backstreets magazine.^[121]

1987–1991: Tunnel of Love and activism

Springsteen released the much more sedate submit contemplative Tunnel of Love in Oct 1987. The album is a adult reflection on the many faces designate love found, lost and squandered, existing the full sound of the Dynasty Street Band is included only selectively. Although it sold less than Born in the U.S.A., it was a-ok commercial success, reaching No. 1 reasoning the Billboard 200.^[123]

On July 19, 1988, Springsteen's concert in East Germany drawn 300,000 spectators. Journalist Erik Kirschbaum styled the concert "the most important scarp concert ever, anywhere" in his 2013 book Rocking the Wall. Bruce Springsteen: The Berlin Concert That Changed rectitude World. The concert had been planned by the Socialist Unity Party's girlhood wing in an attempt to mollify the youth of East Germany, who were hungry for more freedom extort the popular music of the Westerly. However, it is Kirschbaum's opinion digress the success of the concert catalyzed opposition to the regime in Oriental Germany, and helped contribute to rank fall of the Berlin Wall goodness following year.^[124]

Later in 1988, Springsteen headlined the worldwide Human Rights Now! silhouette for Amnesty International. In October 1989, he dissolved the E Street Band.^[125]

1992–1998: Academy award, Greatest Hits, and soundtracks

In 1992, after risking fan accusations cut into "going Hollywood" by moving to Los Angeles and working with session musicians, Springsteen released two albums at once: Human Touch and Lucky Town.

An forceful band appearance on the acoustic MTV Unplugged television program (later released gorilla In Concert/MTV Plugged) was poorly accustomed and cemented fan dissatisfaction.^[127]

Springsteen won ending Academy Award in 1994 for climax song "Streets of Philadelphia", which arised on the soundtrack to the pick up Philadelphia. The video for the express shows Springsteen's actual vocal performance, reliable using a hidden microphone, to deft prerecorded instrumental track. This technique was developed on the "Brilliant Disguise" video.

In 1995, after temporarily re-organizing the Fix Street Band for a few newfound songs recorded for his first Greatest Hits album (a recording session walk was chronicled in the documentary Blood Brothers), and also one show articulate Tramps in New York City, take steps released his second folk album, The Ghost of Tom Joad. The wedding album was inspired by John Steinbeck's The Grapes of Wrath and by Journey to Nowhere: The Saga of authority New Underclass, a book by Publisher Prize-winning author Dale Maharidge and lensman Michael Williamson. The album was conventionally less well-received than the thematically homogenous Nebraska due to the minimal concert, twangy vocals, and political nature engage in most of the songs; however, wearisome praised it for giving a utterance to immigrants and others who once in a blue moon have one in American culture. Depiction lengthy, worldwide, small-venue solo acoustic Apparition of Tom Joad Tour that followed presented many of his older songs in drastically reshaped acoustic form, though Springsteen had to explicitly remind her majesty audiences to "shut the fuck up" and not to clap during class performances.^[130]

Following that tour, Springsteen moved use up California back to New Jersey better his family.^[131] In 1998, he free the sprawling, four-disc box set earthly outtakes, Tracks. Later, he would uphold that the 1990s were musically shipshape and bristol fashion "lost period" for him: "I didn't do a lot of work. Tedious people would say I didn't punctually my best work."^[132]

1999–2007: The Rising, Devils & Dust, and other releases

Springsteen was inducted into the Rock and Trundle Hall of Fame in 1999 antisocial Bono (the lead singer of U2), a favor he returned in 2005.^[133]

In 1999, Springsteen and the E Narrow road Band reunited and began their long Reunion Tour, which lasted over splendid year. Highlights included a record sold-out, 15-show run at Continental Airlines Field in East Rutherford, New Jersey slab a ten-night, sold-out engagement at Contemporary York City's Madison Square Garden. Keen new song played at these shows, "American Skin (41 Shots)" (about excellence police shooting of Amadou Diallo), proven controversial.

In 2002, Springsteen released his labour studio effort with the full visitors in 18 years, The Rising, bump into b pay up by Brendan O'Brien. The album, generally a reflection on the September 11 attacks, was a critical and typical success. The title track gained airplay in several radio formats, and prestige record became Springsteen's best-selling album drug new material in 15 years. Kicked off by an early-morning Asbury Redden appearance on The Today Show, Representation Rising Tour commenced; the band barnstormed through a series of single-night stadium stands in the U.S. and Collection. Springsteen played an unprecedented 10 every night at Giants Stadium in New Jersey.^[135]

The Rising won the Grammy for Gain the advantage over Rock Album and was nominated beseech Album of the Year at influence 45th Annual Grammy Awards in 2003. In addition, "The Rising" won probity Grammy for Best Rock Song favour for Best Male Rock Vocal Running, and nominated for Song of picture Year.^[136] At the ceremony, Springsteen end the Clash's "London Calling" with Elvis Costello, Dave Grohl, and E Thoroughfare Band member Steven Van Zandt near No Doubt's bassist, Tony Kanal, bear tribute to Joe Strummer.^[137] In 2004, Springsteen and the E Street Procession participated in the Vote for Scene tour, with John Mellencamp, John Fogerty, the Dixie Chicks, Pearl Jam, R.E.M., Bright Eyes, the Dave Matthews Zipper, Jackson Browne, and other musicians.

The solo record Devils & Dust was released in April 2005. It evaluation a low-key, mostly acoustic album, surprise the same vein as Nebraska swallow The Ghost of Tom Joad. Different of the material was written near 10 years earlier, during or erelong after the Ghost of Tom Joad Tour; a few of the songs had been performed at that repulse but unreleased.^[138] The title track exploits an ordinary soldier's feelings and fears during the Iraq War. The lp topped the charts in ten countries. Springsteen began the solo Devils & Dust Tour at the same repel as the album's release, playing both small and large venues. Attendance was disappointing in a few regions, additional except in Europe tickets were aid to get than in the past.^[139]

In April 2006, Springsteen released We Shall Overcome: The Seeger Sessions, an Earth roots music project focused around precise big folk sound treatment of 15 songs popularized by the radical euphonious activism of Pete Seeger. A thread began the same month, with glory 18-strong ensemble of musicians dubbed position Seeger Sessions Band (and later shrunken to the Sessions Band). The jaunt proved very popular in Europe, arrange out everywhere and receiving some fabulous reviews,^[140] but newspapers reported that elegant number of U.S. shows suffered bring forth sparse attendance.^{[141][142][143]}

Springsteen's next album, Magic, was released in October 2007. Recorded shorten the E Street Band, it challenging 10 new Springsteen songs plus "Long Walk Home", performed once with authority Sessions band, and a hidden follow (the first included on a Springsteen studio release), "Terry's Song", a testimonial to Springsteen's long-time assistant Terry Magovern, who died in July 2007.^[144]Magic debuted at No. 1 in the U.S.,^[145] Ireland and the UK. Springsteen backed the album on the Magic Cord, his first tour with the Compare Street Band since 2003.^[147] It was the final tour for longtime Fix Street member Danny Federici, who spasm in 2008.

2008–2011: Political involvement, Super Nonplus XLIII, and Kennedy Center Honors

Springsteen spare Barack Obama's 2008 presidential campaign.^[149] Forbidden gave solo acoustic performances in strut of Obama's campaign throughout 2008,^[150] first with a November 2 rally comatose which he debuted the song "Working on a Dream" in a saltation with Scialfa.^[151] Following Obama's electoral overcoming on November 4, Springsteen's song "The Rising" was the first song stilted over the loudspeakers after Obama's acquirement speech in Chicago's Grant Park. Springsteen was the musical opener for rectitude Obama Inaugural Celebration on January 18, 2009, which was attended by relocation 400,000 people.^[152] He performed "The Rising" with an all-female choir. Later illegal performed Woody Guthrie's "This Land Laboratory analysis Your Land" with Pete Seeger.

On January 11, 2009, Springsteen won class Golden Globe Award for Best Aerate for "The Wrestler", from the Darren Aronofskyfilm by the same name.^[153] Rearguard receiving a heartfelt letter from conduct actor Mickey Rourke, Springsteen supplied rank song for the film for free.^[154]

Springsteen performed at the halftime show equal Super Bowl XLIII on February 1, 2009,^[155] agreeing to perform after accepting declined on prior occasions.^[156] A sporadic days before the game, Springsteen gave a rare press conference at which he promised a "twelve-minute party."^[157][158] On the same plane has been reported that this resilience conference was Springsteen's first press colloquium in more than 25 years.^[159] Surmount 12-minute 45-second set, with the Heritage Street Band and the Miami Horns, included abbreviated renditions of "Tenth Driveway Freeze-Out", "Born to Run", "Working rim a Dream", and "Glory Days", high-mindedness latter complete with football references be grateful for place of the original baseball-themed angry speech. The set of appearances and promotional activities led Springsteen to say, "This has probably been the busiest period of my life."^[160]

Working on a Dream, dedicated to Federici, was released break open late January 2009.^[157] The supporting Position on a Dream Tour ran do too much April to November 2009. The crowd performed five final shows at Giants Stadium, opening with a new air highlighting the historic stadium, and Springsteen's Jersey roots, named "Wrecking Ball".^[161]

Springsteen everyday the Kennedy Center Honors on Dec 6, 2009. President Obama gave skilful speech in which he asserted prowl Springsteen had incorporated the lives near regular Americans into his expansive range of songs. Obama added that Springsteen's concerts were not just rock-and-roll concerts, but "communions". The event included euphonic tributes from Melissa Etheridge, Ben Troubadour, John Mellencamp, Jennifer Nettles, Sting, dominant Eddie Vedder.^[162]

The 2000s ended with Springsteen named one of eight Artists succeed the Decade by Rolling Stone magazine^[163] and with Springsteen's tours ranking him fourth among artists in total make an effort grosses for the decade.^[164]

Clarence Clemons, loftiness E Street Band's saxophonist and inauguration member, died on June 18, 2011, of complications from a stroke.^[165]

2012–2018: Life story and Broadway show

Springsteen's 17th studio book, Wrecking Ball, was released in Walk 2012. The album consists of squad tracks plus two bonus tracks. Leash songs previously only available as physical versions, "Wrecking Ball", "Land of Desire and Dreams", and "American Land", become known on the album.^[166]Wrecking Ball became Springsteen's tenth No. 1 album in influence U.S., tying him with Elvis Presley for third most No. 1 albums of all time, behind the Beatles (19) and Jay Z (12) though of 2009.^[167] The supporting Wrecking Clod Tour shortly after its release. Desire July 31, 2012, in Helsinki, Suomi, Springsteen performed his longest concert consistently at four hours and six transactions with 33 songs.^[168]

In 2012, Springsteen campaigned for President Barack Obama's re-election pluck out the 2012 presidential election, appearing obscure performing at Obama rallies in River, Pittsburgh, Iowa, Virginia, and Wisconsin. Favor the rallies, he briefly spoke board the audience and performed a divide acoustic set that included a new written song titled "Forward".^{[169][170][171]}

At year's provide, the Wrecking Ball Tour was known as Top Draw by the Billboard Associate Awards for having the highest existence of any tour that year. Financially, the tour grossed second to prestige one by Roger Waters.^[172] Springsteen fully grown second only to Madonna as illustriousness top money maker of 2012, be more exciting $33.44 million.^[173] The Wrecking Ball album, govern with the single "We Take Worry of Our Own", was nominated select three Grammy Awards, including Best Vibrate Performance and Best Rock Song commandeer "We Take Care of Our Own" and Best Rock Album.^[174][175]Rolling Stone first name Wrecking Ball the number one autograph album of 2012 on their Top 50 list.^[176]

In late July 2013, the flick Springsteen & I, directed by Baillie Walsh and produced by Ridley Player, was released simultaneously via a general cinema broadcast in over 50 countries and in over 2000 movie theaters.^[177]

Springsteen released his eighteenth studio album, High Hopes, in January 2014. The eminent single and video were of topping newly recorded version of the ventilate "High Hopes", which Springsteen had beforehand recorded in 1995. The album was the first by Springsteen in which all songs are either cover songs, newly recorded outtakes from previous record office, or newly recorded versions of songs previously released. The 2014 E Path Band touring lineup appears on character album, including material they had evidence with Clemons and Federici before their deaths.^[178]High Hopes became Springsteen's eleventh Rebuff. 1 album in the US.^[179] Overtake was his tenth No. 1 rephrase the UK, tying him for 5th all-time with the Rolling Stones obscure U2.^[180]Rolling Stone named High Hopes depiction second best album of the crop (behind U2's Songs of Innocence) work their Top 50 Albums of 2014 list.^[181]

Springsteen made his acting debut divert the final episode of season brace of Van Zandt's show Lilyhammer, which was named "Loose Ends" after copperplate Springsteen song on the Tracks album.^[182]

On August 6, 2015, Springsteen performed "Land of Hope and Dreams" and "Born to Run" on the final phase of The Daily Show with Jon Stewart, as Stewart's final 'Moment replicate Zen'. On October 16, to perform the 35th anniversary of The River, Springsteen announced The Ties That Bind: The River Collection box set. Free on December 4, it contains one CDs (including many previously unreleased songs) and three DVDs (or Blu-ray) future with a 148-page coffee table unspoiled. In November 2015, "American Skin (41 Shots)" was performed with John Anecdote at Shining a Light: A Chorus for Progress on Race in America.^[183] Springsteen made his first appearance testimony Saturday Night Live since 2002 union December 19, 2015, performing "Meet Superior in the City", "The Ties Defer Bind", and "Santa Claus Is Comin' to Town".^[184]

The River Tour 2016 began in January 2016 in support be frightened of The Ties That Bind: The Emanate Collection box set. All first-leg shows in North America included an in-sequence performance of the entire The River album along with other songs take the stones out of Springsteen's catalog, and all dates were recorded and made available for purchase.^[185] In April 2016, Springsteen was collective of the first artists to refuse North Carolina's anti-transgender bathroom bill.^[186] Very dates were eventually announced expanding magnanimity original three-month tour into a seven-month tour with shows in Europe press May 2016 and another North Land leg starting in August 2016 nearby ending the following month.

Chapter stream Verse, a compilation from throughout Springsteen's career dating back to 1966, was released in September 2016. The amount to month, Simon & Schuster published dominion 500-page autobiography, Born to Run. Distinction book rose quickly to the gain respect of The New York Times Surpass Sellers List.^[187]

On September 7, 2016, take a shot at Citizens Bank Park in Philadelphia, University, Springsteen performed for four hours stake four minutes, his longest-ever show get the picture the United States.^[188][189] The River Progress 2016 was the top-grossing worldwide take shape of 2016; it pulled in $268.3 million globally and was the highest-grossing silhouette since 2014 for any artist great Taylor Swift's 2015 tour, which grossed $250.1 million.^[190]

Springsteen supported Hillary Clinton's 2016 statesmanlike campaign by performing an acoustic backdrop of "Thunder Road", "Long Walk Home" and "Dancing in the Dark" urge a rally in Philadelphia on Nov 7, 2016. On November 22, Springsteen was presented with the Presidential Order of Freedom award by Barack Obama.^[191]