Bruce Springsteen fans believe the legendary songwriter could be ready to wrap up his touring for an extended period.
While The Boss once said he would keep touring and writing new music until the wheels come off, fans noticed a different attitude from Springsteen at his most recent show. Springsteen had toured with The E Street Band and Tom Morello on the North American leg of the Land of Hope and Dreams tour. The tour came to an end on the last day of May with a gig in Philadelphia. While the show featured Springsteen’s greatest hits, as well as covers of The Clash and Bob Dylan, attendees noted that Springsteen did not sign off with his usual wish to see his fans later. Instead, attendees were given a heartfelt thanks from The Boss, which has some worried it will be his last show, at least for a while.
One worried fan took to the r/BruceSpringsteen subreddit and wrote: “For the current tour, my wife and I saw Bruce in Boston, while one child saw him in Chicago and another saw him in D.C. For those who have seen this tour, you know that he sits near the end and reminisces about venues he played when he was young in each respective city. He also thanks each audience for a ‘lifetime of memories.’
“In the other 70+ shows I have seen, he always, or at least usually, said ‘we’ll see you real soon, ‘ or ‘down the road,’ or ‘again.’ He did not say anything like that in the three shows my family saw. It’s making me wonder whether this might be the last tour for the E Street Band. I think Bruce will continue to tour solo, but maybe not with the band. Just wondering if others feel similarly.”
Some fans speculate that this is merely Springsteen acknowledging it could be his last tour, even if he does not plan on making it so. One fan replied: “I think he’s just preparing for the fact that everybody is older and it could be his last tour without him knowing. He doesn’t want to miss the chance to say thank you.”
Another added: “Every tour for the last 20 years has people online asking if it’s the last E Street tour. I don’t think that’s how he works. Maybe it’ll be the last one. Maybe not. I doubt he, or anyone, knows.” A third suggested that, despite the desire to keep on touring until the wheels fall off, Springsteen’s bandmates may not have the same wish.
They suggested: “Yes, I caught that. This was a fiery tour full of passionate performances. But you know they are all getting into the late seventies. The physical decline has started, and after their typical break they would be at the end of their seventies. Bruce will never stop, but I think he’ll adjust to what his body gives him. Plus, these performances are a banger to go out on. Honestly, it’ll be hard to top this.”
Another added: “Bruce has always said there will be no farewell tour, however, it seems like it may be that the next time we see Bruce out on the road is solo in smaller venues. Maybe something towards the end of next year, the man has earned his rest, and with Patti’s health, I’m sure he wants to stay at home with her. Supposedly, there is one, if not two, new albums in the can, ready to go. But I said when this tour was announced that there was no way it would be a tour announcement, and here we are, so what do I know.”
A third believes this North American leg of the Land of Hope and Dreams tour is absolutely the last time we will see The E Street Band. They speculated: “The absence of ‘we’ll be seeing you’ is intentional. Including it was then, not so is now. Happy to be wrong but think this last go round for full band tour.”
There is no confirmation yet as to whether Springsteen and The E Street Band will tour again. The Boss is set to feature as part of a benefit line-up in October, which also features Joan Baez.
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