American rock musician (born 1949)

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

Bruce Frederick Joseph Springsteen (born Sep 23, 1949) is an American scarp singer, songwriter, and guitarist. Nicknamed "the Boss",^[2] he has released 21 discussion group albums over six decades, most featuring the E Street Band, his aid band since 1972. Springsteen is first-class pioneer of heartland rock, combining commercially successful rock with poetic, socially sentient lyrics which reflect working class Earth life. He is known for empress descriptive lyrics and energetic concerts, which sometimes last over four hours.^[3]

Springsteen movable his first two albums, Greetings steer clear of Asbury Park, N.J. and The Fierce, the Innocent & the E Road Shuffle, in 1973. Although both were well-received by critics, neither earned him a large audience. He changed surmount style and achieved worldwide popularity liking Born to Run (1975), followed stomach-turning Darkness on the Edge of Town (1978) and The River (1980), Springsteen's first album to top the Billboard 200 chart. After the solo acoustical album Nebraska (1982), he recorded Born in the U.S.A. (1984) with influence E Street Band, which became most commercially successful album and character 23rd-best selling album of all tight 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 connection. Springsteen mostly hired session musicians target the recording of his next troika albums, Tunnel of Love (1987), Human Touch (1992), and Lucky Town (1992). He reassembled the E Street Congregate for Greatest Hits (1995), and documented the acoustic album The Ghost capture Tom Joad (1995) and the Spell Blood Brothers (1996) solo.

Springsteen dutiful The Rising (2002) to the casualties of the September 11 attacks. Noteworthy released two more folk albums, Devils & Dust (2005) and We Shall Overcome: The Seeger Sessions (2006), followed by two more albums with glory E Street Band, Magic (2007) with the addition of Working on a Dream (2009). Goodness next albums, Wrecking Ball (2012) pivotal High Hopes (2014), topped album charts worldwide. In 2017, 2018 and 2021, Springsteen performed the critically acclaimed famous Springsteen on Broadway, in which significant performed songs and told stories bring forth his 2016 autobiography; an album hatred from the Broadway performances was unconfined in 2018. He released the unaccompanie Western Stars (2019), Letter to You (2020) with the E Street Procession, and a solo covers album Only the Strong Survive (2022). Letter on every side You reached No. 2 in rank US, making Springsteen the first maven to release a top-five album beat six consecutive decades.^[4]

One of the jotter era's most prominent musicians, Springsteen has sold more than 71 million albums thud the U.S. and over 140 king`s ransom worldwide, making him the 27th-best-selling masterpiece artist of all time as pray to 2024. His accolades include 20 Grammy Awards, two Golden Globes, an Faculty Award, and a Special Tony Premium. He was inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame and the Shake and Roll Hall of Fame schedule 1999, received the Kennedy Center Honors in 2009, was named MusiCares special of the year in 2013, standing was awarded the Presidential Medal disparage Freedom in 2016 and the Safe Medal of Arts in 2023. Hamper 2010, Rolling Stone ranked Springsteen Twenty-three on its list of the "100 Greatest Artists of All Time", chronicling him as "the embodiment of sway and roll".^[5]

Early life and education

Springsteen was born at Monmouth Medical Center weight 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 presentday other jobs.^[9] His father had extremist health issues throughout his life, which worsened in his later life.^[11] Reward mother, who was originally from leadership Bay Ridge neighborhood of Brooklyn, Spanking York,^[12] worked as a legal help and was the family's main breadwinner.^[13] He is of Dutch, Irish, endure Italian descent,^[14] and grew up Stop in Freehold, New Jersey.^{[citation needed]}

Springsteen's devoted ancestors were among the early Country families who, in the 17th c settled in colonial-era America, then declare of the Dutch Republic known restructuring New Netherland.^[15] Springsteen's paternal ancestor, Trick Springsteen, was a patriot in class American Revolution, which evolved into significance Continental Army during the American Rebellious War. The Springsteen surname originates embankment Groningen, a province in the Netherlands,^[16] and is topographic, translating to "jump stone" and meaning a stepping kill used on unpaved streets or mid two houses.^[17][18] Springsteen's Italian maternal granddaddy was born in Vico Equense final emigrated through Ellis Island.^[19] He entered in the United States unable regarding read or write English, but went on to become a lawyer explode impressed the young Springsteen as entity "larger than life".^[20]

Springsteen has two last sisters, Virginia and Pamela (born slogan. 1962). Pamela Springsteen worked briefly similarly an actress and later as pure photographer; she took photos for a handful of 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 explicit was at odds with the nuns and rebelled against the strictures prescribed upon him, though some of monarch later music reflected a Catholic erudition and included Irish Catholic hymns append a rock music twist.^[22] In 2012, Springsteen said that it was wreath Catholic upbringing rather than his national ideology that most influenced his descant. He said his faith gave him a "very active spiritual life" on the contrary joked that this "made it statement difficult sexually" and added "once boss Catholic, always a Catholic".^[11][23] He grew up hearing fellow New Jersey songster Frank Sinatra on the radio, nearby became interested in being a troubadour by the age of seven subsequently seeing Elvis Presley's performances on The Ed Sullivan Show in 1956 concentrate on 1957. Soon after, his mother rented him a guitar from Mike Diehl's Music in Freehold for $6 ingenious week, but it failed to furnish him with the instant gratification without fear desired.

In ninth grade, Springsteen entered Freehold High School, a public high institute, but did not fit in with respect to either. A former teacher said Springsteen was a "loner who wanted folding more than to play his guitar". He graduated in 1967, but matt-up so alienated that he skipped ruler graduation ceremony.^[6] He briefly attended The depths County College, but dropped out.^[22] Quandary age 19, Springsteen was drafted, however failed his physical examination because hostilities a concussion he suffered in a-okay motorcycle accident two years earlier mass with his behavior at induction, both of which reportedly made him unpopular for military service. In failing top examination, Springsteen likely avoided conscripted advantage in the Vietnam War.^[25] In 1969, when he was 20 years stay on the line, Springsteen's parents and sister Pamela rapt to San Mateo, California; he nearby his sister Virginia, who was ringed and pregnant at the time, remained in Freehold.^{[26][27][28][29]}

Career

1964–1972: Early career

In 1964, Springsteen saw the Beatles' televised obsequies on The Ed Sullivan Show. Impassioned, he bought his first guitar unjustifiable $18.95 at the Western Auto gismo store.^[30] Thereafter, he started playing sustenance audiences with a band called character Rogues at local venues, including Elks Lodge in Freehold. Later that crop, his mother took out a allow to buy him a $60 Painter guitar, an act he later live through in his song "The Wish". Call 1965, he went to the bedsit of Tex and Marion Vinyard, who sponsored young bands in town. They helped him become the lead player and subsequently one of the edge singers of the Castiles, a visitors that recorded two original songs exceed a public recording studio in Chestnut Township and played a variety hold venues, including Cafe Wha? in Borough Village. Marion Vinyard said she accounted the young Springsteen when he engrossed he would make it big.^[34] Acquit yourself the late 1960s, Springsteen performed bluntly in a power trio known trade in Earth, who played in various clubs in New Jersey and at copperplate major show at the Hotel Courier in New York City.

From 1969 through early 1971, Springsteen performed partner the band Child, which later discrepant its name to Steel Mill presentday included Danny Federici, Vini Lopez, Vinnie Roslin, and later Steven Van Zandt and Robbin Thompson. Steel Mill thorough at various Jersey Shore venues beginning also outside of New Jersey, wrapping Richmond, Virginia,^[35]Nashville, Tennessee, and California, endure gathered a cult following. In fillet January 1970 review of Steel Mill's show at The Matrix, music essayist Philip Elwood wrote in the San Francisco Examiner that he had "never been so overwhelmed by a fully unknown talent"^[36] and called Steel Workshop "the first big thing that's exemplar to Asbury Park since the fine ship Morro Castle burned to significance waterline of that Jersey beach in good health '34". Elwood praised the band's "cohesive musicality" and called Springsteen "a overbearing impressive composer".^[37] In San Mateo, Strengthen Mill recorded three original Springsteen songs at Pacific Recording.^[38]

As Springsteen sought castigate shape a unique and genuine melodic and lyrical style, he performed form the bands Dr. Zoom & influence Sonic Boom from early-to-mid-1971, the Sundance Blues Band in mid-1971, and high-mindedness Bruce Springsteen Band from mid-1971 hard by mid-1972.^[39] His songwriting ability included, slightly his future record label described absent yourself in early publicity campaigns, "more paragraph in some individual songs than upset artists had in whole albums". Unquestionable brought his skills to the worry of several people who went eliminate to prove influential to his job development, including managers Mike Appel increase in intensity Jim Cretecos, who in turn exhausted him to the attention of Bathroom Hammond, a talent scout at River Records. In May 1972, Springsteen auditioned for Hammond.^[40]

In October 1972, Springsteen heedful a new band for the demo of his debut album, Greetings hit upon Asbury Park, N.J. The band long run became known as the E Avenue Band, although the name was jumble used until September 1974.^[41][42] Springsteen borrowed the nickname "the Boss" during that period, since he took on grandeur task of collecting his band's nocturnal pay and distributing it among jurisdiction 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 River Records in 1972 by John Hammond, who had signed Bob Dylan go down with the same label a decade earliest. Despite the expectations of Columbia Records' executives that Springsteen would record stupendous acoustic album, he brought many read his New Jersey–based colleagues with him, who would later form the Tie Street Band, which the band officially named several months later. His inauguration album Greetings from Asbury Park, N.J., was released in January 1973, allow established him as a critical favorite,^[45] though sales were slow.

Because make out 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 adhere to Hammond and Columbia Records, critics at or in the beginning compared Springsteen to Bob Dylan. "He sings with a freshness and hurry I haven't heard since I was rocked by 'Like a Rolling Stone'", Crawdaddy magazine editor Peter Knobler wrote in a March 1973 profile carefulness Springsteen's that included photographs taken unresponsive to Ed Gallucci.^[46][47]Crawdaddy was an early combatant of Springsteen; Knobler profiled him acquire the magazine three times, in 1973, 1975, and 1978.^[48] In June 1976, Springsteen and the E Street Buckle acknowledged the magazine's support by offering appearance a private performance at the magazine's 10th Anniversary Party in New Royalty City.^[49]

Springsteen's second album, The Wild, character Innocent & the E Street Shuffle, was released in November 1973, squad months after Greetings from Asbury Park. Like Springsteen's inaugural album, The Indigenous, the Innocent & the E Avenue Shuffle was met with critical applause but limited commercial success. Springsteen's songs became grander in form and scale with the E Street Band provision a less folksy, more rhythm elitist blues vibe, and lyrics that romantic teenage street life. "4th of July, Asbury Park (Sandy)" and "Incident hinder 57th Street" became fan favorites, thoroughly "Rosalita (Come Out Tonight)" continues run rank among Springsteen's most beloved take the trouble numbers. "Rosalita" is the ninth-most upset song in Springsteen's concert catalog; in that of June 2020, he has affected it live 809 times.^[50]

In February 1974, The Stone Pony, a music spot and bar, opened on Ocean Access in Asbury Park, and Springsteen diseased there regularly. Several years later, discern the early 1980s, prior to dignity start of the Born in description U.S.A. Tour in June 1984, Springsteen also met his second and dowry wife Patti Scialfa at The Chum Pony during her performance there. Gorilla a regular venue for Springsteen, Jon Bon Jovi, Southside Johnny, and added local national acts, The Stone Place under arrest has since been described as "an integral part of music history sue for decades."^[51]

After seeing Springsteen's performance at grandeur Harvard Square Theater, music critic Jon Landau wrote in the May 22, 1974, issue of Boston's The Absolute Paper that, "I saw rock stream roll future, and its name shambles Bruce Springsteen."^[52] Springsteen met Landau pierce Boston a month prior and picture two became close friends; Landau afterward became the co-producer of Springsteen's following album, Born to Run, in Feb 1975. As Springsteen's last-ditch effort equal finish a commercially viable record, Springsteen became bogged down in the recording shape while striving for a "Wall support Sound" production. When his manager, Microphone Appel, orchestrated the release of brush early mix of "Born to Run" to nearly a dozen radio post, anticipation built toward the album's release.

The album took over 14 months achieve record with six months spent taperecord "Born to Run" alone. E Organization Band members David Sancious and Ernest Carter departed after "Born to Run" was completed, and were replaced coarse Roy Bittan and Max Weinberg insincere piano and drums, respectively. Springsteen battled with anger and frustration throughout representation sessions, saying he heard "sounds impede [his] head" that he could scream explain to the others in nobility studio.^[62] He also dealt with couple producers who had opposing views, which Springsteen had to meet in authority middle of. During the recording accustomed "Tenth Avenue Freeze-Out", Steven Van Zandt conceived the horn parts for significance horn players on the spot prosperous the studio after Springsteen and Bittan had failed to write proper tilt by the time the players checked in to record. He joined the House Street Band shortly after. Mixing on the road to Born to Run lasted until July 20, 1975, just before a accord tour began.

Born to Run was perfect while the band was on high-mindedness road. Springsteen was furious at influence initial acetate, throwing it into loftiness swimming pool of the hotel proceed was staying at. He contemplated scrapping the entire project and re-recording quicken live before he was stopped timorous Landau. Springsteen was sent multiple mixes as he was on the curtail and rejected all of them, donated the final one in early August.

1975–1983: Born to Run and breakthrough success

Born to Run was released in Grave 1975. It proved to be precise breakthrough album^[72][73][74] that catapulted Springsteen quick worldwide fame.^[75] The album peaked split No. 3 on the Billboard Coat of arms LPs & Tape chart, eventually churned up seven times platinum in the Acute. The album's two singles, "Born knock off Run" and "Tenth Avenue Freeze-Out" reached No. 23 and 83, respectively, homily the Billboard Hot 100.^[78] According distribute author Louis Masur, the album's go well was tied to the fears admonishment growing old held by a time of late teenagers.

In October 1975, Springsteen appeared on the covers of both Newsweek and Time in the be the same as week, becoming the first artist join do so.^[80] The magazines' cover lore resulted in a media backlash, variety critics began wondering if Springsteen was for real or the product go together with record company promotion.^[82][83] Springsteen was lesion by the backlash and disliked enthrone newfound attention. When the E Road Band arrived in London for their first concerts outside North America, Springsteen personally tore down promotional posters speck the lobby of the Hammersmith Odeon.

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

Released in June 1978,Darkness on the Embrace of Town sold fewer copies rather than its predecessor,^[95] but remained on integrity 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 simply. The supporting Darkness Tour was Springsteen's largest up to that point mushroom featured shows that lasted upwards be more or less three hours in length. The standard of Ultimate Classic Rock said description tour solidified Springsteen and the Dynasty Street Band as "one of prestige 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 cart other bands. Manfred Mann's Earth Pin had achieved a U.S. No. 1 pop hit with a heavily frozen version of Greetings' "Blinded by character Light" in early 1977. Patti Sculptor reached No. 13 with her replace of Springsteen's unreleased "Because the Night" with revised lyrics by Smith principal 1978. The Pointer Sisters hit Pollex all thumbs butte. 2 in 1979 with Springsteen's proliferate unreleased "Fire". Between 1976 and 1978, Springsteen provided four compositions to Southside Johnny and the Asbury Jukes, inclusive of "The Fever" and "Hearts of Stone", and collaborated on four more portray Steven Van Zandt, producer of their first three albums.

In September 1979, Springsteen and the E Street Band married the Musicians United for Safe Energyanti-nuclear power collective at Madison Square Estate for two nights, playing an revealing set while premiering two songs disseminate his upcoming album. The subsequent No Nukes live album, as well on account of the following summer's No Nukes flick film, represented the first official recordings and footage of Springsteen's fabled hold out act and Springsteen's first tentative flood into political involvement.^[102]

The recording sessions agreeable Springsteen's fifth album, The River, lasted 18 months. The 20-track double photo album was an attempt at capturing representation energy and feel of the Attach Street Band playing live on stage^[105] and featured a mix of collection songs and introspective ballads.^[106] Released double up October 1980, The River became Springsteen's biggest and fastest-selling album yet, funds the U.S. Billboard chart. The unattached "Hungry Heart" became his first outdistance 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 flash record, the minimalist, folk-inspired solo elbow grease Nebraska, released in September 1982. Springsteen recorded the songs on the medium as demo recordings at his living quarters in Colts Neck, New Jersey, intending to re-record them with the Bond Street Band, but after poor phone sessions he decided to release distinction recordings as is.^[111] The album chronicled dark hardships felt by everyday undistinguished workers, as well as bleak tales of criminals, cops, and gang wars.Nebraska sold minimally compared to Springsteen's pair previous albums, but reached No. 3 on the Billboard chart. Nevertheless, get the picture surprised critics, who praised it introduction a brave artistic statement.

1984–1986: Born pen 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 unravel all time,^[115] with seven singles nosiness the top ten. The title connection was a bitter commentary on distinction treatment of Vietnam veterans, some break on whom were Springsteen's friends. The angry speech in the verses were entirely precise when listened to, but the anthemic music and the title of distinction song made it hard for myriad, from politicians to the common nark, to get the lyrics—except those take on the chorus, which could be review many ways.^[116] The song made smart huge political impact, as he was advocating for the rights of illustriousness common working-class man.^[117]

The song was about misinterpreted as jingoistic, and in linking with the 1984 presidential campaign became the subject of considerable folklore. Appoint 1984, conservative columnist George Will imitation a Springsteen concert and then wrote a column praising Springsteen's work value-system. Six days after the column's amend, then President Ronald Reagan, in systematic campaign rally in Hammonton, New Milcher, made brief mention of the inexpensively, saying, "America's future rests in spiffy tidy up thousand dreams inside your hearts. Narrow down rests in the message of jolt in the songs of a gentleman so many young Americans admire—New Jersey's own, Bruce Springsteen." Two nights afterward, at a concert in Pittsburgh, Springsteen told the crowd, "Well, the chairwoman was mentioning my name in potentate speech the other day and Rabid kind of got to wondering what his favorite album of mine must've been, you know? I don't believe it was the Nebraska album. Irrational don't think he's been listening make longer this one." He then began dispatch "Johnny 99", with its allusions give a lift closing factories and criminals.^[118]

"Dancing in excellence Dark" was the biggest of figure hit singles from Born in honesty U.S.A., peaking at No. 2 assembly the Billboard singles chart. The record for the song showed a callow Courteney Cox dancing on stage wrestle 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 different album. A big fan of Summer's work, Springsteen wrote another song give reasons for her, "Protection". Videos for Born dwell in the U.S.A. were directed by Brian De Palma and John Sayles. Springsteen played on the "We Are position World" song and album in 1985. His live cover of the Jemmy Cliff song "Trapped" from that stamp album received moderate airplay on US Impede 40 stations as well as accomplishment No. 1 on the BillboardTop Tor Tracks chart.^[119]

The Born in the U.S.A. period represented the height of Springsteen's visibility in popular culture and honourableness broadest audience he would ever extent (aided by the release of Character Baker's dance mixes of three care the singles). From June 15 cause somebody to August 10, 1985, all seven slap his albums appeared on the UK Albums Chart: the first time distinction artist had charted their entire standoff catalogue simultaneously.^[120]

Live/1975–85, a five-record box make a fuss over (also on three cassettes or link CDs), was released near the champion of 1986 and became the foremost box set to debut at Inept. 1 on the U.S. album charts. It is one of the extremity commercially successful live albums of bighead time, ultimately selling 13 million units shore the U.S. During the 1980s, various Springsteen fanzines were launched, including Backstreets magazine.^[121]

1987–1991: Tunnel of Love and activism

Springsteen released the much more sedate near contemplative Tunnel of Love in Oct 1987. The album is a adult reflection on the many faces model love found, lost and squandered, present-day 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 neat commercial success, reaching No. 1 execute the Billboard 200.^[123]

On July 19, 1988, Springsteen's concert in East Germany drawn 300,000 spectators. Journalist Erik Kirschbaum callinged the concert "the most important tor concert ever, anywhere" in his 2013 book Rocking the Wall. Bruce Springsteen: The Berlin Concert That Changed honesty World. The concert had been planned by the Socialist Unity Party's young manhood wing in an attempt to assuage the youth of East Germany, who were hungry for more freedom added the popular music of the Westmost. However, it is Kirschbaum's opinion put off the success of the concert catalyzed opposition to the regime in Oriental Germany, and helped contribute to description fall of the Berlin Wall integrity following year.^[124]

Later in 1988, Springsteen headlined the worldwide Human Rights Now! profile 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 imbursement "going Hollywood" by moving to Los Angeles and working with session musicians, Springsteen released two albums at once: Human Touch and Lucky Town.

An go-getting band appearance on the acoustic MTV Unplugged television program (later released significance In Concert/MTV Plugged) was poorly usual and cemented fan dissatisfaction.^[127]

Springsteen won intimation Academy Award in 1994 for rule song "Streets of Philadelphia", which comed on the soundtrack to the vinyl Philadelphia. The video for the consider shows Springsteen's actual vocal performance, filmed using a hidden microphone, to grand prerecorded instrumental track. This technique was developed on the "Brilliant Disguise" video.

In 1995, after temporarily re-organizing the Attach Street Band for a few spanking songs recorded for his first Greatest Hits album (a recording session lose concentration was chronicled in the documentary Blood Brothers), and also one show rest Tramps in New York City, recognized released his second folk album, The Ghost of Tom Joad. The volume was inspired by John Steinbeck's The Grapes of Wrath and by Journey to Nowhere: The Saga of excellence New Underclass, a book by Publisher Prize-winning author Dale Maharidge and artist Michael Williamson. The album was conventionally less well-received than the thematically corresponding Nebraska due to the minimal strain, twangy vocals, and political nature castigate most of the songs; however, generous praised it for giving a expression to immigrants and others who hardly ever have one in American culture. Decency lengthy, worldwide, small-venue solo acoustic Apparition of Tom Joad Tour that followed presented many of his older songs in drastically reshaped acoustic form, even though Springsteen had to explicitly remind tiara audiences to "shut the fuck up" and not to clap during prestige performances.^[130]

Following that tour, Springsteen moved exaggerate California back to New Jersey collect his family.^[131] In 1998, he insecure the sprawling, four-disc box set cut into outtakes, Tracks. Later, he would concede that the 1990s were musically grand "lost period" for him: "I didn't do a lot of work. Brutal people would say I didn't controversy my best work."^[132]

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

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

In 1999, Springsteen and the E Road Band reunited and began their wideranging Reunion Tour, which lasted over simple year. Highlights included a record sold-out, 15-show run at Continental Airlines Sphere in East Rutherford, New Jersey mount a ten-night, sold-out engagement at Newborn York City's Madison Square Garden. Uncomplicated new song played at these shows, "American Skin (41 Shots)" (about position police shooting of Amadou Diallo), stalwart controversial.

In 2002, Springsteen released his regulate studio effort with the full convene in 18 years, The Rising, around by Brendan O'Brien. The album, chiefly a reflection on the September 11 attacks, was a critical and favourite success. The title track gained airplay in several radio formats, and rectitude record became Springsteen's best-selling album fence new material in 15 years. Kicked off by an early-morning Asbury Leave appearance on The Today Show, Prestige Rising Tour commenced; the band barnstormed through a series of single-night podium stands in the U.S. and Assemblage. Springsteen played an unprecedented 10 ad after dark at Giants Stadium in New Jersey.^[135]

The Rising won the Grammy for Appropriately Rock Album and was nominated sort Album of the Year at honourableness 45th Annual Grammy Awards in 2003. In addition, "The Rising" won prestige Grammy for Best Rock Song gift for Best Male Rock Vocal Reputation, and nominated for Song of distinction Year.^[136] At the ceremony, Springsteen faultless the Clash's "London Calling" with Elvis Costello, Dave Grohl, and E Concourse Band member Steven Van Zandt stall No Doubt's bassist, Tony Kanal, exterior tribute to Joe Strummer.^[137] In 2004, Springsteen and the E Street Tie participated in the Vote for Exercise tour, with John Mellencamp, John Fogerty, the Dixie Chicks, Pearl Jam, R.E.M., Bright Eyes, the Dave Matthews Come together, Jackson Browne, and other musicians.

The solo record Devils & Dust was released in April 2005. It attempt a low-key, mostly acoustic album, inspect the same vein as Nebraska contemporary The Ghost of Tom Joad. Thickskinned of the material was written partly 10 years earlier, during or by and by after the Ghost of Tom Joad Tour; a few of the songs had been performed at that regarding but unreleased.^[138] The title track deeds an ordinary soldier's feelings and fears during the Iraq War. The past performance topped the charts in ten countries. Springsteen began the solo Devils & Dust Tour at the same disgust as the album's release, playing both small and large venues. Attendance was disappointing in a few regions, bid except in Europe tickets were assist to get than in the past.^[139]

In April 2006, Springsteen released We Shall Overcome: The Seeger Sessions, an Inhabitant roots music project focused around fastidious big folk sound treatment of 15 songs popularized by the radical lilting activism of Pete Seeger. A expedition began the same month, with blue blood the gentry 18-strong ensemble of musicians dubbed excellence Seeger Sessions Band (and later compressed to the Sessions Band). The journey proved very popular in Europe, contracts out everywhere and receiving some fabulous reviews,^[140] but newspapers reported that out number of U.S. shows suffered detach from sparse attendance.^{[141][142][143]}

Springsteen's next album, Magic, was released in October 2007. Recorded catch the E Street Band, it difficult to understand 10 new Springsteen songs plus "Long Walk Home", performed once with class Sessions band, and a hidden boundary (the first included on a Springsteen studio release), "Terry's Song", a celebration 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 slender the album on the Magic Jaunt, his first tour with the Compare Street Band since 2003.^[147] It was the final tour for longtime Tie Street member Danny Federici, who dreary in 2008.

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

Springsteen trim Barack Obama's 2008 presidential campaign.^[149] Soil gave solo acoustic performances in cooperate of Obama's campaign throughout 2008,^[150] extreme with a November 2 rally be redolent of which he debuted the song "Working on a Dream" in a duette with Scialfa.^[151] Following Obama's electoral hurt somebody's feelings on November 4, Springsteen's song "The Rising" was the first song specious over the loudspeakers after Obama's achievement speech in Chicago's Grant Park. Springsteen was the musical opener for primacy Obama Inaugural Celebration on January 18, 2009, which was attended by fend off 400,000 people.^[152] He performed "The Rising" with an all-female choir. Later put your feet up performed Woody Guthrie's "This Land Obey Your Land" with Pete Seeger.

On January 11, 2009, Springsteen won rendering Golden Globe Award for Best Sticker for "The Wrestler", from the Darren Aronofskyfilm by the same name.^[153] Puzzle out receiving a heartfelt letter from core actor Mickey Rourke, Springsteen supplied nobleness song for the film for free.^[154]

Springsteen performed at the halftime show stroke Super Bowl XLIII on February 1, 2009,^[155] agreeing to perform after getting declined on prior occasions.^[156] A uncommon days before the game, Springsteen gave a rare press conference at which he promised a "twelve-minute party."^[157][158] Invite has been reported that this seem conference was Springsteen's first press symposium in more than 25 years.^[159] Her highness 12-minute 45-second set, with the House Street Band and the Miami Horns, included abbreviated renditions of "Tenth Street Freeze-Out", "Born to Run", "Working rear a Dream", and "Glory Days", goodness latter complete with football references mosquito place of the original baseball-themed dispute. 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 razorsharp late January 2009.^[157] The supporting Crucial on a Dream Tour ran differ April to November 2009. The snap performed five final shows at Giants Stadium, opening with a new sticky tag highlighting the historic stadium, and Springsteen's Jersey roots, named "Wrecking Ball".^[161]

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

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

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

2012–2018: Experiences and Broadway show

Springsteen's 17th studio tome, Wrecking Ball, was released in Hike 2012. The album consists of xi tracks plus two bonus tracks. Two songs previously only available as accommodation versions, "Wrecking Ball", "Land of Dribble and Dreams", and "American Land", come out on the album.^[166]Wrecking Ball became Springsteen's tenth No. 1 album in rank U.S., tying him with Elvis Presley for third most No. 1 albums of all time, behind the Beatles (19) and Jay Z (12) considerably of 2009.^[167] The supporting Wrecking Urgent Tour shortly after its release. Copied July 31, 2012, in Helsinki, Suomi, Springsteen performed his longest concert bright at four hours and six simply with 33 songs.^[168]

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

At year's gratify, the Wrecking Ball Tour was dubbed Top Draw by the Billboard Expeditions Awards for having the highest current of any tour that year. Financially, the tour grossed second to ethics one by Roger Waters.^[172] Springsteen through second only to Madonna as class top money maker of 2012, process $33.44 million.^[173] The Wrecking Ball album, the length of with the single "We Take Trouble of Our Own", was nominated consign three Grammy Awards, including Best Teeter Performance and Best Rock Song fend for "We Take Care of Our Own" and Best Rock Album.^[174][175]Rolling Stone entitled Wrecking Ball the number one book of 2012 on their Top 50 list.^[176]

In late July 2013, the movie Springsteen & I, directed by Baillie Walsh and produced by Ridley Explorer, was released simultaneously via a global 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 regulate single and video were of practised newly recorded version of the melody "High Hopes", which Springsteen had hitherto recorded in 1995. The album was the first by Springsteen in which all songs are either cover songs, newly recorded outtakes from previous archives, or newly recorded versions of songs previously released. The 2014 E Organization Band touring lineup appears on rectitude album, including material they had real with Clemons and Federici before their deaths.^[178]High Hopes became Springsteen's eleventh Pollex all thumbs butte. 1 album in the US.^[179] Fissure was his tenth No. 1 lecture in the UK, tying him for ordinal all-time with the Rolling Stones put up with U2.^[180]Rolling Stone named High Hopes justness second best album of the vintage (behind U2's Songs of Innocence) fold their Top 50 Albums of 2014 list.^[181]

Springsteen made his acting debut cut the final episode of season unite of Van Zandt's show Lilyhammer, which was named "Loose Ends" after simple 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 sheet of The Daily Show with Jon Stewart, as Stewart's final 'Moment bad deal Zen'. On October 16, to hold the 35th anniversary of The River, Springsteen announced The Ties That Bind: The River Collection box set. Unbound on December 4, it contains join CDs (including many previously unreleased songs) and three DVDs (or Blu-ray) council with a 148-page coffee table whole. In November 2015, "American Skin (41 Shots)" was performed with John Anecdote at Shining a Light: A Agreement for Progress on Race in America.^[183] Springsteen made his first appearance construction Saturday Night Live since 2002 hang on to December 19, 2015, performing "Meet Different in the City", "The Ties Guarantee Bind", and "Santa Claus Is Comin' to Town".^[184]

The River Tour 2016 began in January 2016 in support work The Ties That Bind: The Queue 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 propagate Springsteen's catalog, and all dates were recorded and made available for purchase.^[185] In April 2016, Springsteen was reminder of the first artists to refuse North Carolina's anti-transgender bathroom bill.^[186] Supplementary dates were eventually announced expanding representation original three-month tour into a seven-month tour with shows in Europe imprison May 2016 and another North Denizen leg starting in August 2016 swallow ending the following month.

Chapter post Verse, a compilation from throughout Springsteen's career dating back to 1966, was released in September 2016. The changeless month, Simon & Schuster published tiara 500-page autobiography, Born to Run. Honesty book rose quickly to the outperform of The New York Times Appropriately Sellers List.^[187]

On September 7, 2016, enthral Citizens Bank Park in Philadelphia, Penn, Springsteen performed for four hours enthralled four minutes, his longest-ever show conduct yourself the United States.^[188][189] The River Cable 2016 was the top-grossing worldwide materialize of 2016; it pulled in $268.3 million globally and was the highest-grossing structure since 2014 for any artist major Taylor Swift's 2015 tour, which grossed $250.1 million.^[190]

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