“Farewell to what? A thousand people screaming your name? Get the hell out,” the Boss told the crowd in Philadelphia.
Bruce Springsteen performs live at Strawberry Arena on July 18, 2024 in Stockholm, Sweden. Iwi Onodera/Redferns
Bruce Springsteen has no plans to hang up his guitar anytime soon.
The legendary rocker, who has been a cornerstone of rock music for over five decades, made it clear during his Aug. 23 performance at Citizens Bank Park in Philadelphia that rumors of his impending retirement are far from the truth.
In front of a passionate crowd, Springsteen dismissed any talk of a farewell tour with his signature sass. “We’ve been around for 50 f***ing years, and we ain’t quitting!” he declared. “We ain’t doing no farewell tour bullsh*t! Jesus Christ! No farewell tour for the E Street Band!”
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He added, “Farewell to what? A thousand people screaming your name? Get the hell out. I ain’t going anywhere!”
The statement came in response to ongoing speculation about the longevity of Springsteen and the E Street Band’s current tour.
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The show was part of the North American leg of their ongoing tour, which has seen them play across the U.S. and Europe despite setbacks, including Springsteen’s battle with peptic ulcer disease last year.
While rumors of a possible farewell tour have swirled of late, guitarist Steven Van Zandt also dispelled any notion of an imminent end, saying recently, “I don’t see the end anywhere in sight, to be honest, especially in Europe, where we’re bigger than we’ve ever been. I think we can play every summer for evermore, man.”
In a review of Springsteen’s Pittsburgh show earlier this month, Billboard noted Springsteen’s “earth-quaking exuberance” and the band’s ability to deliver “magic moments” night after night. The same energy was palpable in Philadelphia, where the band delivered a set that spanned decades of hits.
However, the tour has not been without its challenges. Last September, Springsteen was forced to postpone several dates due to health issues, rescheduling them for 2024.
The current leg of the tour will continue with performances in Toronto and Vancouver before wrapping up on Nov. 22.
Fans can also look forward to the upcoming documentary, Road Diary: Bruce Springsteen And The E Street Band, set to be released on Disney+ and Hulu this October.
