Bruce Springsteen’s 2024 Journey: Major Milestones, Collaborations, and Personal Triumphs

Bruce Springsteen’s 2024 Journey: Major Milestones, Collaborations, and Personal Triumphs

In 2023, Bruce Springsteen faced a setback when his tour with the E Street Band was postponed due to peptic ulcer disease. However, by April 2024, Springsteen was back on the road, resuming his tour in Phoenix and covering both the U.S. and Europe. Although a few European dates were delayed due to vocal issues, he swiftly announced another European tour for the summer of 2025, showcasing his determination to continue performing.

2024 was a year packed with exciting developments for the legendary musician. One of the early highlights came in January when it was revealed that a film based on Springsteen’s 1982 album Nebraska was in the works. Deliver Us From Nowhere, adapted from Warren Zanes’ book Deliver Me from Nowhere: The Making of Bruce Springsteen’s Nebraska, stars Jeremy Allen White, best known for The Bear, as Springsteen. Directed by Scott Cooper, the film is already in production, adding another layer to Springsteen’s enduring cultural impact.

Beyond the stage, Springsteen made several surprise appearances. During his tour, he made the cross-country trip from San Diego to Brooklyn to join country star Zach Bryan on stage. They performed “Sandpiper,” a song from Bryan’s album The Great American Bar Scene. He later appeared at Bryan’s concert in Philadelphia in August, where they performed both “Sandpiper” and Springsteen’s classic “Atlantic City.” In addition, Springsteen made a memorable guest appearance on the HBO Max comedy Curb Your Enthusiasm, where Larry David humorously infects him with COVID-19.

Springsteen’s year was also marked by significant accolades. He was named the next Academy Fellow by The Ivors Academy, becoming the first international songwriter to receive this honor. The prestigious recognition is one of the highest awards given by the British songwriting community. June saw the celebration of the 40th anniversary of his iconic Born in the U.S.A., which included the release of a special anniversary edition on translucent red vinyl. Additionally, rumors of his billionaire status circulated in July, though Springsteen later denied the claims.

The year also saw Springsteen giving back to his roots by headlining the Sea. Hear. Now festival in Asbury Park, New Jersey. His performance was a nostalgic return to his early career, and he made guest appearances with fellow New Jersey acts like the Gaslight Anthem and Trey Anastasio Band. Springsteen also contributed to the tribute album Silver Patron Saints, honoring New York City punk legend Jesse Malin, with a performance of “She Don’t Love Me Now” featuring the E Street Band’s saxophonist Jake Clemons.

As 2024 drew to a close, Springsteen released the Hulu documentary Road Diary: Bruce Springsteen and The E Street Band, offering fans an intimate behind-the-scenes look at his life on tour. The film, which premiered at the Toronto Film Festival, revealed personal stories, including a powerful account from Patti Scialfa, Springsteen’s wife, who shared her battle with multiple myeloma, a form of blood cancer. To top it off, Springsteen celebrated his 75th birthday in September, adding another milestone to his legendary career.

Not to be overshadowed, Springsteen’s bandmate Stevie Van Zandt also had a remarkable year. He and his brother Billy were honored with a street name in their hometown of Middletown, New Jersey. Additionally, Van Zandt starred in his own documentary, Stevie Van Zandt: Disciple, which premiered at the Tribeca Film Festival and earned a Grammy nomination for Best Music Film. This documentary, which later aired on Max, further solidified Van Zandt’s influential place in music history.

In 2024, both Springsteen and Van Zandt proved that their legacies are as vibrant as ever, continuing to inspire fans worldwide with their music, stories, and personal triumphs.