Photo Credit: Bill Kelly
After an exhaustive summer of appearances in the U.S. and Europe for his 2024 arena tour, Bruce Springsteen is still running hot and readily subverting expectations. The rock legend returned to the States on August 18 (following a second sit-in with Zach Bryan) to kick off the final leg of his summer tour with a three-night series in Philadelphia; when the final staging from that trio came around on Friday, Aug. 23, Springsteen spoke out against the tropes of superstardom and gave fans an impression of what they can expect in the coming years.
During his third show with the E Street Band at Philadelphia’s Citizens Band Park, the vaunted 74-year-old artist candidly and boldly addressed rumors of his impending retirement from the stage. “We’ve been around 50 fuckin’ years, and we ain’t quittin’!,” he declared. “We ain’t doing no farewell tour bullshit! No farewell tour for the E Street Band! Farewell to what? A thousand people screaming your name? Get the hell out.” He paused for a wave of cheers from the crowd, then guaranteed: “I ain’t going anywhere!”
After this declaration, Springsteen swiftly moved into a more retrospective mode, recalling those “earth-shaking years” in the mid-’60s when he first took the stage as “an incredible time to be young and in a rock band.” The artist recalled the tragic passing of George Theiss in 2018, and his realization that he had become the last surviving member of the original lineup of The Castiles, Springsteen’s group before the E Street Band. With the ensuing and soul-stirring acoustic treatment of “Last Man Standing” dedicated to the memory of his longtime friend, he reminded fans that through health issues and cancelled shows, The Boss still knew better than anyone how to get back on that stage and make musical memories all over again.
Springsteen will take the stage next on Sept. 7 with a night at Washington, D.C.’s Nationals Park, followed by a performance at Baltimore’s Oriole Park at Camden Yards on Sept. 13. After a hometown headliner engagement at Asbury Park, N.J.’s Sea.Hear.Now Festival on Sept. 15, the icon will close out his year of touring with an eight-stop November run across Canada. For tickets and more information, visit brucespringsteen.net/tour.
Watch fan-recorded videos of Springsteen’s message below.
#Springsteen had some thoughts on the concept of farewell tours at his show in Philly tonight pic.twitter.com/jBh3lNQPCS
— Your pal, CJ! (@yourpalCJ) August 24, 2024
Bruce Springsteen saying there will never be a Farewell Tour! pic.twitter.com/lPx3zOjqSj
— EZ Rider (@EZRideryoyall) August 24, 2024
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